We all love best-of lists, but what if people around the NFL created their own? To preview the 2022 NFL season, we surveyed more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from edge rusher to interior offensive lineman. This is the third edition of these rankings, and there are several players who moved up or dropped from last year's lists. Today, we focus on the defensive tackles.
Here's how our process worked: Voters gave us their best 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, hundreds of interviews, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 50 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. We had several ties, so we broke them with the help of additional voting and follow-up calls with our rankers. Each section is packed with quotes and nuggets from the voters on every guy -- even the honorable mentions.
The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2022. This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who are the best players today? Pretty simple.
We rolled out a position per day over 11 days. Here's the schedule: edge rushers (July 5), defensive tackles (July 6), off-ball linebackers (July 7), cornerbacks (July 8), safeties (July 9), interior offensive linemen (July 10), quarterbacks (July 11), running backs (July 12), wide receivers (July 13), tight ends (July 14) and offensive tackles (July 15).
The discussion for any interior defensive line list naturally starts with No. 2. Aaron Donald takes his rightful place as the top defensive tackle and possibly the best player in all of football, then the rest of the field fills in behind him.
This year's group featured a reshuffled top five and two new players. Overall, the crop was slightly thinner than a year ago, when nearly 20 interior defensive linemen garnered serious consideration. The retirement of Pittsburgh's Stephon Tuitt (No. 8 last year), opened a spot. Let's look at some of the game's top interior pass-rushers and run-stoppers as ranked by execs, coaches, scouts and players around the NFL.
1. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 1
Age: 31 | Last year's ranking: 1
Zero quotes or argument needed here. Donald got every single first-place vote.
He's a three-time Defensive Player of the Year with 98 sacks in eight seasons. His 26.7% pass rush win rate was nearly seven points higher than that of any other defensive tackle in 2021. And the Rams just gave him $40 million in additional contract money just for being him.
"I just try to appreciate his greatness," an NFC scout said. "But I don't have to play him as a guard."
2. Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 6
In last year's ranking, a general manager said Simmons might be the closest thing to Donald as far as NFL defensive tackles go. No one is close to Donald, to be sure. But as far as game-wreckers, Simmons exploded onto the scene in his third season.
"One of the best defenders in football," an NFL scouting director said. "Right behind Donald as far as tackles. He's the scary guy you don't want to see."
In 2021, Simmons produced 8.5 sacks while recording the highest run stop win rate on this list (38.4%, 20th in the NFL).
"Game-wrecker," an AFC scout said. "Can play 3-technique or nose tackle, high motor, physical, unique blend of get-off quickness and power, impacts the game in both phases. Another guy you have to know where he is at all times."
Some evaluators argue he's not as pure a pass-rusher as some of the others listed here. But that's nit-picking. His presence and power cause disruption.
3. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 2
Jones' pass-rush prowess is among the game's best. Despite facing double-teams on nearly 50% of his pass rushes, he wins on 20% of his overall rushes, second on this list behind Donald.
"Very effective as a pass-rusher, specifically when he is able to get one-on-one matchups, which isn't very often," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "The Chiefs needed more of those in the playoffs. He also has an excellent feel for batting passes down."
Jones finished last year with nine total pass breakups (five passes defended, four batted passes). His 42 pressures ranked him second among interior defensive linemen behind Donald, and he posted 9.0 sacks in 2021. Most agree Jones is a dominant force when he wants to be. But he struggled early in his career with erratic play.
"I give the tiebreak to Simmons [at No. 2] because Jones can be inconsistent," an NFC personnel executive said. "But Jones is probably the better pure rusher."
4. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 8
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 3
Buckner might be the most complete player on this list, save Donald. In each of the past four seasons, Buckner has produced at least seven sacks, 58 tackles and nine tackles for loss.
One of Colts GM Chris Ballard's savviest moves was acquiring Buckner via a trade with the 49ers two years ago. Since then, the Colts have had a perennial top-five player at the position with 16.5 sacks since 2020.
"Tough, instinctive, needs to be accounted for in both phases," an AFC scout said. "Routinely beats single blocks and is racking up the sack numbers since the trade with San Francisco."
5. Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 33 | Last year's ranking: 4
Heyward's early-30s trajectory has been impressive.
"Look at his numbers and watch him -- there's no decline at all," an NFL scouting director said.
Heyward, who turned 33 in May, put together one of his best performances in Year 11 with 10 sacks, 89 tackles and 15 tackles for loss on his way to first-team All-Pro status and a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl.
"I still really like Cam Heyward as a top guy," a separate NFC exec said. "He's just got a power to his game where, when he gets his hands on you, he can drive you back. And he plays his ass off."
Heyward might have a post-playing career in volleyball after recording 16 passes defended (passes either batted or deflected), the highest total among this group. And he did it without recently retired lineman Stephon Tuitt, who missed all of last season, by his side.
6. Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Clark has remained consistent as an interior player with nose tackle and pass-rush capabilities. But this is the first year in the three years of this exercise that he has been a constant among voters' top-10 ballots.
"He came into the league when he was 20, so he was still growing into himself, but he's only getting better," an NFC personnel executive said. "Quick hands, plays with balance and body control, stays square."
In 2021, Clark posted a career-high 13 quarterback hits and 33 pressures on the way to a second Pro Bowl. However, his 34.2% run stop win rate ranked 41st among all defensive linemen.
7. Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 9
Some voters label Vea a two-down player, more of a traditional nose tackle. And yes, his total of 581 snaps in 16 games last year is considered low among top interior players, many of whom logged at least 700. But Vea is still impactful anytime he takes the field.
"The way he can manhandle centers and can also play on third down and be effective when fresh really impresses me," said an NFC exec who voted him in the top three. "I wouldn't want to go against him."
Vea logged 33 tackles and 4.5 sacks with a 10.5% pass rush win rate from the interior (16th among defensive tackles) last year. He has always been a stout run-stopper throughout his career, too. His 38.8% run stop win rate since 2019 ranks him among the top 15 defensive linemen.
"He's a top guy for me, and it's not that close," an NFL scouting coordinator said. "He's got raw power that you can't teach."
8. Arik Armstead, San Francisco 49ers
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Armstead has played defensive end and tackle for the 49ers over the years, but he thrived as a playmaker inside in 2021, racking up 63 tackles and 6.0 sacks. He posted a solid 77.9 grade from Pro Football Focus.
"He can be dominant at times, kind of like a younger Fletcher Cox," an NFC executive said. "Can play with length and quickness."
Armstead's sack total was back up with a healthy Nick Bosa in the lineup. He recorded 3.5 in 2020, which Bosa mostly missed with a torn ACL in his left knee. But that shouldn't be held against him. At 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds, Armstead can affect about any game plan. He posted 29 pressures last season, and his 37.6% run stop win rate was 16th among linemen.
9. Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 10
For the second consecutive year, Jarrett garnered enough votes to sneak into the top 10 but not enough to make a sizable jump.
"A little declined but really good player," an NFL senior personnel exec said. "Wins with initial quickness. Still one of the best at that. So if he keeps that, he'll always be productive."
We saw one sack in 2021 on 12 quarterback hits for Jarrett, whose baseline stats don't tell his full story. His get-off (burst off the line of scrimmage) still stands out. And the Falcons rewarded that skill with a big-money extension this offseason.
Once labeled as a player who struggles against the run, Jarrett comes in with a decently strong 35.5% run stop win rate (35th among defensive linemen) to complement his 15.4% pass rush rate (fourth among defensive tackles).
10. Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Allen makes his first appearance in the top 10 after edging out Leonard Williams and many others due to his consistency. He has always been a high-level tackle, but a career-high 9.0 sacks earned him his first Pro Bowl last season. The Commanders needed more pass-rushing with Chase Young out, and they got it from Allen.
"He played really well last year, and he also gives them a big leadership component," an NFC exec said. "He does everything the way you want, from the way he plays the position to the way he leads."
Allen had a 12.1% pass rush win rate last year from the interior (eighth in the NFL), and he recorded 34 pressures overall.
Honorable mentions
Leonard Williams, New York Giants: Williams had a solid 2021 season with 6.5 sacks and 81 tackles on a bad Giants defense. Many evaluators agree he'd be in the top five based on talent. "He's got more athleticism than most," an AFC executive said. "He's underachieved somewhat, but he's on a bad football team. Talented dude." Williams' 6.2% pass rush win rate (111th in the NFL) last season was unimpressive.
Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles' signing of Hargrave two years ago has looked really smart. He posted 7.5 sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl. "Serious lower-body power," an AFC scout said. "The leverage and quickness he creates is ridiculous."
D.J. Jones, Denver Broncos: Jones' breakout 2021 campaign with San Francisco took him from rotational guy to marquee free agent, earning a three-year, $30 million deal with Denver. Jones' 47.1% run stop win rate was No. 2 in the NFL last season, and first among defensive linemen. "Good player, makes flash plays but always thought he was best in a rotation," an AFC scout said.
Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles: It's a bit of a surprise to see Cox out of the top 10, but after 10 seasons, he's no longer considered the star he once was. In March, the Eagles waived Cox for cap purposes only to bring him back on a one-year deal. "He's declined a little bit, but he's still a good starter," an NFC executive said. "Can still turn it on when you need him."
Also receiving votes: Quinnen Williams (New York Jets), D.J. Reader (Cincinnati Bengals), Christian Wilkins (Miami Dolphins), J.J. Watt (Arizona Cardinals), Calais Campbell (Baltimore Ravens), David Onyemata (New Orleans Saints)