Ranking the NFL's Top 10 Defensive Lines for 2016
In a three-part series, theScore breaks down the NFL's top 10 position groups at each of the main areas on the defensive side of the ball.
The NFL's most successful teams are often built from the inside out. In the same way that a quarterback can struggle to overcome issues with his offensive line, talent on the back end of a defense can go to waste without a strong group up front.
Here's a look at the league's top 10 defensive lines heading into the 2016 season, including those from both three- and four-man fronts.
- Defensive Lines
- Linebacker Corps
- Secondaries
Honorable Mentions: 49ers, Cardinals, Bills, Jaguars
10. Texans
Projected Starters (3-4): J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork, Brandon Dunn
Depth: Jeoffrey Pagan, Christian Covington, Devon Still
The Texans' three-man front doesn't look all that spectacular when taking into account both the starters and depth. With the league's unquestioned top defensive player leading the way, though, it'd be unfair to leave Houston off this list. Wilfork continuing to make an impact in the running game will allow Watt and Houston's explosive pairing of edge linebackers to go to work on passing downs.
9. Vikings
Projected Starters (4-3): Everson Griffen, Sharrif Floyd, Linval Joseph, Brian Robison
Depth: Danielle Hunter, Scott Crichton, Tom Johnson, Stephen Weatherly
Don't be fooled by a relative lack of star power - Minnesota's defensive front will give any offensive line fits. Joseph and Floyd make for a stout interior tandem against the run, and the latter is also starting to show signs of ability to get after the quarterback. Griffen is a legitimate No. 1 edge defender, Robison is a solid veteran, and Hunter is coming along nicely as a rotational rusher.
8. Eagles
Projected Starters (4-3): Connor Barwin, Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan, Vinny Curry
Depth: Brandon Graham, Beau Allen, Marcus Smith, Mike Martin
The Eagles' defensive line will have the luxury of working under Jim Schwartz amid a switch back to a 4-3 system. Most notably, the transition puts Cox into a 3-technique role that can best highlight his ability as an interior pass-rusher. Logan is quickly becoming a stout run defender, and a group of Barwin, Curry, and Graham provides plenty of explosiveness on the edge. Much like the Bills defense Schwartz oversaw in 2014, don't be surprised if this unit is among the league leaders in sacks.
7. Bengals
Projected Starters (4-3): Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, Domata Peko, Michael Johnson
Depth: Margus Hunt, Brandon Thompson, Andrew Billings, Pat Sims, Marcus Hardison
Cincinnati returns the majority of a unit that set the tone for yet another strong defense in 2015. Atkins has re-established himself as an elite interior presence since making a full recovery from his 2013 injury, and the Dunlap-Johnson tandem provides consistently strong production on the edge. Billings, who was thought by many to be a first- or second-round talent heading into this year's draft, will have an opportunity to push Peko for snaps sooner than later.
6. Seahawks
Projected Starters (4-3): Michael Bennett, Jarran Reed, Jordan Hill, Cliff Avril
Depth: Frank Clark, Chris Clemons, Ahtyba Rubin, Sealver Siliga
For as much praise as the Seahawks' defense receives overall, this unit somehow seems to be underrated year after year. The league's top run defense heads into the 2016 season having made yet another upgrade by adding Reed on the interior. Further dominance from that group should create all the more opportunities for the nickel package to go to work, and no opposing quarterback wants to see Bennett slide inside with Clark or Clemons rotating in opposite Avril.
5. Dolphins
Projected Starters (4-3): Cameron Wake, Ndamukong Suh, Earl Mitchell, Mario Williams
Depth: Andre Branch, Jordan Phillips, Jason Jones, Dion Jordan, Deandre Coleman
Suh's contract created some ridiculous expectations heading into last year. The veteran tackle is still one of the NFL's most dominant defenders, and there's once again plenty of talent at his side. Williams, for one, should be in for a major bounce-back season in his return to his natural defensive end spot. Wake getting healthy in time for Week 1 rounds out a group for which offensive lines will have to plan carefully. Getting any production from Jordan upon his presumed return from suspension is just a bonus.
4. Panthers
Projected Starters (4-3): Charles Johnson, Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, Kony Ealy
Depth: Vernon Butler, Paul Soliai, Mario Addison, Wes Horton
Though Carolina's linebackers are deserving of all the credit they get, this group controlling the line of scrimmage is what puts them in position to make plays. Short and Lotulelei provide an elite tandem of pass rush- and run-stopping talent, and the additions of Butler and Soliai make the tackle spot the deepest position on the roster. The healthy return of Johnson, combined with some continued development from Ealy, should alleviate the issues this group had on the edge last year.
3. Rams
Projected Starters (4-3): Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, William Hayes
Depth: Quinton Coples, Ethan Westbrooks, Dominique Easley, Eugene Sims
Going a long way toward balancing out the extended run of disappointment on the offensive side, this group deserves plenty of praise for keeping the Rams competitive in recent seasons. The scariest part for opposing teams is Quinn should now be healthy, and Donald is only just getting started. Deploying those two on the same side of a four-man line presents an impossible matchup itself, and the Rams also have plenty of complementary talent.
2. Giants
Projected Starters (4-3): Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, Johnathan Hankins, Jason Pierre-Paul
Depth: Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Jay Bromley, Louis Nix, Kerry Wynn
Dishing out the money to add Vernon and Harrison in free agency suddenly gives the Giants' defensive line talent to rival that of their recent Super Bowl teams. If Pierre-Paul can find a way to work around the limitations he now has as a result of his major hand injury, there's no reason why this group can't be the NFL's best for years to come. The supporting talent may help Vernon become the rare free agent to improve after landing a mega deal.
1. Jets
Projected Starters (3-4): Muhammad Wilkerson, Steve McLendon, Sheldon Richardson
Depth: Leonard Williams, Jarvis Jenkins, Deon Simon
Losing Damon Harrison to free agency certainly hurts, as his presence was a primary reason why the Jets have long been one of the league's top run-defending teams. But a young trio of incredibly talented lineman still has New York atop this list. Rotating Wilkerson, Richardson, and Williams into the game on early downs, and letting all three go to work in passing situations, is borderline unfair. Don't sleep on McLendon's ability to step in and fill Harrison's role, either.