Packers: Ranking NFC North edge defenders ahead of 2021 NFL season
We’re fresh off a season where the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to dominate the entire playoffs and Super Bowl in large part due to their amazing pass rush upfront. The Bucs showed once again how elite edge rushers can be the ultimate equalizer. That got us to thinking about who the top edge-defenders are in the NFC North.
The Green Bay Packers found their stud edge defender in free agency two years ago and he’s lived up to the hype. Za’Darius Smith has been all Green Bay could’ve asked for and more since coming over from the Baltimore Ravens and has been a great locker room guy as well.
However, Smith isn’t the only great pass-rusher in a division that sports two of the very best in the game. We’ve ranked offensive positions such as quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end so let’s move to the other side of the ball now and rank the top edge defenders in the North.
With pass-rushers at a premium let’s see how the Green Bay Packers’ top edge defenders stack up against the rest of the NFC North.
4. Trey Flowers, Detroit Lions
Although the Detroit Lions have been a mess over the last few seasons, Trey Flowers has continued to produce on the defensive side of the ball. He’s proven to be a good all-around defender who can not only get after the quarterback at a decent rate, but who can also excel in the run game. After playing in only seven games in 2020, he’ll look to stay healthy this season so he can help his rebuilding Lions improve on defense.
3. Za’Darius Smith, Green Bay Packers
As previously mentioned, Smith is entering his third year as a Packer and will look to continue to dominate from the outside linebacker position. In two years in Green Bay, he’s accrued 26 sacks, 29 tackles for loss and 60 quarterback hits. Talk about an immediate impact. With some emerging defenders such as Rashan Gary and Kingsley Keke on the roster, as well as Smith being just 28-years-old, he should have another huge year in store as Green Bay’s defense looks to take a step forward.
2. Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings
If Danielle Hunter was healthy last season, he could’ve pushed the next guy on this list for the top spot. Unfortunately, he missed the entire season and now enters this year as a bit underrated. From 2018 to 2019, he racked up a massive 29 sacks, 36 tackles for loss and 41 quarterback hits. The Vikings’ defense has some additional talent up front to take some attention away from Hunter so don’t be surprised when he pushes for 15 sacks once again in 2020.
Next. 5 Packers who need to step up in 2021. dark
1. Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears
The cream of the crop when it comes to edge defenders, the Chicago Bears’ gigantic trade for Khalil Mack continues to pay off. Mack has demanded at least two blockers at all time and is equally elite in the passing and running phases of the game. Although his raw numbers don’t show someone with elite production, make no mistake that Mack is the best of the best at his position.