NFL's top 10 interior defensive linemen in 2022 ft. Aaron Donald
Most interior defensive linemen are among the unsung heroes of many NFL teams. They play extremely important roles within their defenses. They make contributions across the board, including stuffing the run and creating a team's pass rush. However, they don't always have the traditional statistics and accolades as most edge defenders.
Interior defensive linemen often serve as the anchors of successful defenses across the NFL. The best players are able to consistently disrupt opposing offensive lines and significantly damage their offensive scheme. The even more elite players at the position also contribute pass-rushing numbers as well, such as sacks and QB pressures.
Here are the 10 interior defensive linemen that currently stand above the rest. Rankings are based on past performances as well as production during the 2022-23 NFL season so far.
#1 - Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald is undoubtedly the best current interior defensive lineman, as well as one of the greatest players in the position in NFL history. He is one of only three players in league history, along with Lawrence Taylor and JJ Watt, to be named the Defensive Player of the Year for three separate seasons.
In addition to being the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL, there's a strong case to be made that he's one of the best overall players in any position. He consistently ranks towards the top of the league in sacks and QB pressures each season. This despite playing on the interior rather than the edge.
#2 - Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Chris Jones is the second-best pass rusher in the NFL from the interior defensive line position, trailing only Aaron Donald. According to PFF's pass-rush win rate, Jones has led the entire league over the last five combined seasons with a 17.8% mark. This is again excluding Aaron Donald, who is on another planet with a 23.3% win rate.
No other interior defensive lineman in the NFL wins more than 16% of their pass rush attempts, so Jones leads the pack by a significant margin. He is truly the anchor of the Kansas City Chiefs defense that's relatively weak in most other areas.
#3 - Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has often been known for its relentless pass rush. They are well known to apply extreme levels of pressure to opposing quarterbacks through different blitzing packages and elite edge rushers such as TJ Watt.
Cameron Hayward is a key player on the Steelers defense who probably doesn't receive nearly as much credit as he deserves. He occupies several opposing offensive linemen on most plays, freeing up the Steelers' pass rush to win a favorable blocking matchup. He is also one of the best interior defensive linemen against the opposing rushing attack.
#4 - Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have consistently been one of the best defenses against opposing rushing attacks in the NFL over the last several years. They have ranked in the top three in rushing yards allowed per game in each of the last three seasons. They have also ranked first twice in the three-year stretch.
Vita Vea is a big reason why the Buccaneers have been so stout in rushing defense. He dominates blockers on the interior defensive line, creating consistent penetration as one of the best rushing defenders in the NFL. He also ranks in the top 10 in pressure rate among interior defensive linemen, according to PFF.
#5 - Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers
Kenny Clark provides the Green Bay Packers with a unique skillset that not many players in NFL history have been able to accomplish on an elite level. He is a nose tackle in a 3-4 defensive scheme, which often serves as a primary run stuffer. Clark was able to do that while also adding a rare pass rush from the position.
Clark's rare weapons are what rank him in the top five among interior defensive linemen. He has also been successful in freeing up other Packers pass rushers over the last few years to record more sacks. This includes Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith.
#6 - DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
DeForest Buckner began his career with the San Francisco 49ers before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts. He has helped free up edge rushers to attack quarterbacks for the 49ers, including Nick Bosa, but has also developed into a pass rusher himself.
Buckner has been one of the top interior defensive linemen rushing opposing quarterbacks. He is also the anchor of the entire Colts defensive front. He has combined to record exactly 50 sacks and quarterback hits since the start of the 2020-21 NFL season, ranking in the top four in the position.
#7 - Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders
Jonathan Allen is playing in one of the most loaded defensive fronts in the entire NFL. He joined two excellent edge defenders, Chase Young and Montez Sweat, to form a stacked defensive line for the Washington Commanders.
Allen is PFF's fourth-highest graded pass rusher among all interior defensive linemen since the start of the 2020-21 NFL season. He has racked up 131 quarterback pressures during that time, also ranking him fourth in the position.
#8 - Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons
Grady Jarrett has been one of the lone bright spots on the Atlanta Falcons defense over the last five years since joining the team. While the Falcons have consistently ranked towards the bottom of the NFL in most defensive metrics, Jarrett has still found a way to be productive.
Jarrett is one of only eight interior defensive linemen with more than 100 quarterback pressures since the start of the 2020-21 NFL season. If he were to be traded to a better overall defense, his numbers would likely rise even more.
#9 - Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Jeffery Simmons is a key member of the Tennessee Titans' underrated defensive front. He joined Bud Dupree and Harold Landry on a stacked defensive line that remains relatively underappreciated around the NFL.
The Titans' overall defensive statistics as a team may have dipped a bit during the 2021-22 NFL season. However, the disruptive nature of their defensive front is a big reason why they earned the top seed in the AFC for the playoffs. Simmons is at the center of it all. He ranked in the top five among all interior defensive linemen in quarterback pressures last year.
#10 - DJ Reader, Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals received a ton of praise for their loaded group of offensive weapons, as they should. They are elite in all skill positions, including Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Mixon.
The Bengals defense was equally as important to their Super Bowl appearance last season as their offense was. They ranked in the top five in rushing yards allowed per game during the 2021-22 NFL season, an important statistic. That likely wouldn't have been possible without DJ Reader, one of the best run stuffers in the NFL in the position.