NFL's top 10 edge defenders in 2022
Elite edge defenders are some of the highest-paid players in the NFL. This is because they have the ability to severely disrupt any offensive game plan that their opponents may come up with.
Pressuring opposing quarterbacks has long been a reliable way to slow down any offense and elite edge defenders allow their team to accomplish this without blitzing.
While sacks are probably the most important statistic when analyzing edge defenders, pressure can be accomplished without completing the official sack.
Top edge defenders wreak havoc on quarterbacks on a consistent basis by constantly pressuring them. The best ones in the league right now are determined by recent past results, as well as production during the 2022 NFL season so far.
Here's a look at the top 10 current NFL edge defenders.
#1 - TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
TJ Watt is currently the most productive edge defender in the NFL. He is also already one of the most dominant pass rushers of all time, recording 73 sacks across his first five years in the league. He and JJ Watt are one of the best pairs of NFL siblings of all time.
TJ Watt tied a single-season NFL record during the 2021 NFL season when he recorded a massive 22.5 sacks. He has been increasing his single-season sack total every season that he's been in the league. It's hard to comprehend, but this shows he may be getting even better as time goes on.
#2 - Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Like TJ Watt, Myles Garrett has also been one of the best edge defenders in the NFL during his entire five-year career so far. Garrett has totaled 58.5 sacks during his first five seasons, while adding an additional five sacks already at the conclusion of Week 6 of the 2022 NFL season.
After recording seven sacks during his rookie season, Garrett has totaled double-digit sacks in every other season of his career so far. He's well on his way to doing so again in 2022, as his five sacks are well over the pace. Only nine players have had more sacks so far this season.
#3 - Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Micah Parsons possesses the potential skillset to emerge as the best edge defender in the entire NFL. He also has a real chance to go down as a truly special pass rusher in NFL history if he continues on the current trajectory.
Despite only rushing the pass rusher on a part-time basis, he led the NFL with a 22.4 pressure rate last year.
Parsons was so dominant during the 2021 NFL season that he was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was also a legitimate candidate to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
He's picked up from right where he left off in the last season, recording six sacks in six games, currently ranking second.
#4 - Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
Khalil Mack has played for three different teams during his NFL career so far, but he has been one of the best edge defenders in the league while a member of all of them.
He joined the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2022 NFL offseason to pair up with Joey Bosa, forming one of the best edge rushing duos in the NFL.
Mack has thrived with his defense during the 2022 NFL season so far, recording six sacks in his first six games with the team. He has also established himself as an excellent defender against the rush, receiving the highest PFF grade in each of the last two seasons.
#5 - Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Injuries have been a bit of an issue for Nick Bosa during his short career so far, but when he plays, he's one of the best defensive pass rishers in the NFL. He has played in just 40 games so far for the San Francisco 49ers, but has already recorded a massive 30.5 sacks.
Bosa has also added an impressive six forced fumbles, further demonstrating his dominance on the edge. He accounted for six sacks across his first five games of the 2022 NFL season, so he's showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
#6 - Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Maxx Crosby had an incredible breakout season with the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2021 NFL season. He recorded a massive 101 quarterback pressures, leading the NFL. His efforts have ranked him in the top five for most pressures in a single season over the last 20 years.
Crosby continues to go after opposing quarterbacks during the 2022 NFL season. His six sacks rank second so far this year, while his 11 tackles for a loss are more than any other player after six games.
#7 - Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
Now entering his seventh season, Joey Bosa has been consistently dominant throughout his career so far. He has a total of 62 sacks and 75 quarterback hits, including four seasons with double-digit sacks and double-digit quarterback hits. He has also forced 12 fumbles, including six during the 2021 NFL season.
Bosa now forms a dynamic duo with Khalil Mack on the edge of the Los Angeles Chargers defense. In addition to being two excellent pass rushers, they are also two of the best defenders against the rush at the position.
#8 - Von Miller, Buffalo Bills
Von Miller once had a case for being the best edge defender in the entire NFL. While that may no longer be the case, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer is still among the top 10 edge defenders in the league.
Miller was paired with Aaron Donald to help the Los Angeles Rams win a Super Bowl during the 2021 NFL season. He will now be looking to do the same with the Buffalo Bills after joining them during the 2022 NFL offseason. He currently has six sacks in six games with his new team.
#9 - Za'Darius Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Za'Darius Smith missed almost the entire 2021 NFL season due to injuries. He spent the prior two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, where he was one of the top edge defenders in the NFL. He led the entire league in quarterback pressure during his time there while totaling 29 sacks.
Smith is healthy again for the 2022 NFL season, now joining Danielle Hunter with the Minnesota Vikings, and appears to have picked up where he left off. In six games, he has already recorded five sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, and forced a fumble.
#10 - Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings
Danielle Hunter has struggled with injuries over the last couple of years. He has appeared in just seven games between the 2020 and 2021 NFL seasons. Prior to that, he was one of the best edge defenders in the NFL, including the 2018 and 2019 seasons with 15 sacks in each of them.
Hunter is looking to get back to his dominant ways during the 2022 NFL season. He has recorded three sacks in his first six games, forming an impressive tandem with newly acquired Za'Darius Smith.