Offense has been ranked. Now let’s move to defense starting with interior defender.
1a Kenny Clark (Packers): Super stud with super stud grades and production. Time to pay him big money before his 5th year. Pass rush is elite and run defense is solid. Ranked 14th in 2019.
1b Grady Jarrett (Falcons): Great pass rusher and run defender as well. Ranked 4th in the league in 2019 at Interior defender. He’s a force.
1c Akiem Hicks (Bears): He is a beast in pass rush and the Bears missed him due to injury in 2019. That defense with him back can get back to elite.
2a Kawaan Short (Panthers): Very good DT for Carolina that can rush the passer. Big injury in 2019
2b Vita Vea (Bucs): Great rookie year in pass rush and run defense similar to Hand. 1st round pick has a high ceiling for Tampa Bay
3a Eddie Goldman (Bears): Above average pass rusher and run defender. Anchors the nose for the Bears. 35th ranked
3b D’Shawn Hand (Lions): Graded really well in 12 games his rookie year. Injured in 2019 and it really hurt the Lions on the interior pass rush. 13th ranked in 2018
4 Danny Shelton (Lions): Good run defender and had a solid pass rush. Good year with the Patriots for the former 1st round pick. The Lions got a nice player. 37th ranked. Upgrade over 2019 Damon Harrison who had an average year
5 Michael Pierce (Vikings): Great run defender but average pass rush coming from Ravens to Vikings to replace Linval Joseph
6a Ndmakong Suh (Bucs): Remember this guy. Still a good run defender but his pass rush has dropped to average
6b Derrick Brown (Panthers): First round pick for the Panthers. They expect big things from the Auburn production. Great run defender but not athletic
7 Malcom Brown (Saints): Had a solid year in run D and pass rush. Former 1st round pick from the Patriots. 48th ranked
7b Sheldon Rankins (Saints) Slightly above average but the Saints expect more out of a 1st round pick
8 William Gholston (Bucs): Solid 3-4 DE with above average run defense but average pass rush
9 Roy Robertson Harris: (Bears) Underrated solid player for the Bears at 3-4 DE. 48th ranked
10a Nick Williams (Lions): Had a nice year in pass rush for the Bears with 6 sacks. This is an upgrade for the Lions for sure with solid run defense as well.
10b: Tyler Davison (Falcons): Same ranking as Nick Williams. Solid DT and moved from Saints to Falcons
10c Allen Bailey (Falcons): Solid player but not flashy for the Falcons. Ranked just below Williams/Davison
11a John Jenkins (Bears): Backup nose for the Bears coming off a solid year
11b Zach Kerr (Panthers): Well rated in 300 snaps
12 Mario Edwards (Saints) Good pass rush but average run defense in 300 snaps for the Saints. Former Raiders 2nd round pick found himself a niche.
13 Dean Lowry (Packers): Below average player with an average grade
14 Shamar Stepehen (Vikings): Another below average player as the Vikings 3 tech
15 Tyler Lancaster (Packers): Another below average grade below Lowry and Stephen in 400 snaps
16 David Oneymata (Saints): Terrible grade but has potential
17 Bilal Nichols (Bears): More terrible grade with potential from his rookie year
18 Jaleel Johnson (Vikings): Terrible 4th round pick
19 Montravius Adams (Packers): Awful and off-field problems
Other Backups
Kevin Strong and John Atkins were terrible for the Lions. New rookies John Penisini and Jashon Cornell should challenge them for the 4th roster spot. Keke Kingsley was above average in 100 snaps. Jalyn Homes another mid round fail for Vikings. Margus Hunt comes to Saints after a terrible year but Shy Tuttle graded well in 300 snaps. Rakeem Nunes-Roches was average for Bucs.