The Houston Texans may have added two of the most important veteran pieces of the 2024 NFL offseason — and I’m not talking about Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon. I’m talking defense, specifically pass rushers.
Elsewhere, Maxx Crosby picked up quite a running mate in Las Vegas. The New York Jets inked a veteran pass rusher to replace Bryce Huff (assuming that veteran pass rusher actually shows up). The Cleveland Browns managed to keep the core of what should be an elite pass rush. Oh, and how did one team rank fifth in sacks but 26th in pressure percentage last year?
Advertisement
Let’s take a look at the AFC’s pass rush landscape to find out how each team stacks up heading into the 2024 season. I dove into the last season’s numbers, via TruMedia and Pro Football Focus, to examine which teams are potentially in the best or worst shape.
Here’s a glimpse at the stats within this study:
- Pressure percentage
- Sacks
- Total pressures
- Hits
- “Splash plays” per snap (splash plays: sacks, tackles for loss, pressures leading to throwaways, run and pass stuffs, interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, passes defended/batted, stops on third and fourth down)
In the charts below, the blue shading is positive and the red shading is negative. Players had to tally at least 200 pass rush snaps last season to qualify for the rankings.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
38.3 (10) | 54.0 (4) | 250 (9) | 112 (5) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
15.8 (20) | 5.0 (78) | 55 (37) | 17.4 (12) | |
14.5 (36) | 9.5 (25) | 65 (21) | 15.1 (4) | |
13.9 (38) | 6.5 (56) | 29 (111) | 14.4 (2) | |
8.1 (139) | 1.0 (154) | 18 (152) | 42.5 (150) | |
6.4 (158) | 1.0 (154) | 14 (167) | 47.0 (164) | |
5.4 (172) | 5.0 (78) | 15 (163) | 31.6 (106) | |
5.0 (175) | 0.0 (177) | 16 (161) | 44.5 (156) |
Greg Rousseau walks into 2024 having been one of the most consistent pressure players during his three NFL seasons. He’s improved every year, with his rate reaching a career high in 2023. And there’s nothing to complain about when you have two of the league’s best players in splash plays per snaps, Ed Oliver and A.J. Epenesa.
Getting Matt Milano (36.5 percent pressure rate on 52 pass rush snaps in 2022) and DaQuan Jones (15.7 percent pressure rate in 2023) back after each went down before midseason should bolster an already strong pass rush. But has Von Miller (7.9 percent pressure rate in 2023) hit the 2011 NFL Draft class wall?
Miami Dolphins
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
41.3 (4) | 56.0 (3) | 273 (4) | 132 (1) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
15.7 (25) | 11.0 (15) | 70 (14) | 16.5 (5) | |
14.6 (35) | 4.5 (91) | 49 (49) | 19.8 (33) | |
11.2 (74) | 10.0 (22) | 56 (35) | 26.3 (75) | |
10.8 (81) | 6.5 (56) | 42 (72) | 21.7 (43) | |
6.7 (155) | 1.0 (154) | 19 (149) | 67.5 (182) | |
4.6 (178) | 1.0 (154) | 13 (173) | 46.2 (160) |
Jaelan Phillips missed the chart by two snaps, as a knee injury ended his 2023 season after only eight games — the edge rusher was en route to a career year (6.5 sacks with a 13.6 percent pressure rate). Adding him to Bradley Chubb and the newly acquired Shaq Barrett should make up a strong edge rushing group. The Dolphins also tossed 2024 first-rounder Chop Robinson on top of those three proven players.
Miami will have a bit of a different look without Christian Wilkins up the middle, though. There’s no doubt offenses will focus more on Zach Sieler, now that Wilkins is in Las Vegas. Adding 37-year-old Calais Campbell should be a short-term fix, as his numbers indicate he can still produce.
![go-deeper](https://cdn.theathletic.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=128,height=128,fit=cover,format=auto/app/uploads/2024/05/23220213/052724_WRbreakdown-1024x683.jpg)
GO DEEPER
2024 NFL wide receiver outlook: How do AFC pass catchers stack up?
New England Patriots
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
32.8 (23) | 36.0 (27) | 209 (25) | 77 (28) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
17.1 (14) | 3.0 (118) | 37 (87) | 18.7 (27) | |
10.7 (86) | 8.5 (33) | 49 (49) | 22.9 (55) | |
9.9 (100) | 4.5 (91) | 36 (89) | 37.5 (136) | |
8.1 (138) | 1.5 (147) | 21 (138) | 21.3 (42) | |
6.8 (153) | 1.0 (154) | 20 (144) | 28.1 (85) | |
2.2 (186) | 0.0 (177) | 7 (184) | 109.7 (185) |
Losing pass rush extraordinaire Matthew Judon after four games with a biceps injury simply piled on the misery of the Patriots’ 2023 season. His return should bring an instant jolt. The Patriots also had to feel fortunate to hang on to Joshua Uche after the linebacker hit free agency — he’s been a top pressure player, but his sack total dropped significantly last season after an 11-sack campaign in 2022. Middle linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley played well on the blitz (18.5 percent pressure rate and 4.5 sacks on 121 pass rush snaps).
Advertisement
Kudos to New England for securing defensive tackle Christian Barmore with a long-term deal this offseason, because he’s only getting better. You’d have to assume the pass rush will improve this season. Now, about that offense …
New York Jets
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
40.3 (5) | 48.0 (7) | 243 (14) | 101 (14) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
16.1 (19) | 5.5 (69) | 70 (14) | 22.1 (46) | |
13.3 (45) | 7.5 (46) | 56 (35) | 19.0 (29) | |
12.7 (53) | 11.0 (15) | 67 (18) | 28.3 (89) | |
10.3 (95) | 3.5 (108) | 31 (104) | 43.1 (152) | |
8.0 (141) | 5.0 (78) | 17 (156) | 38.8 (142) |
Anyone seen Haason Reddick? Anyone? Maybe he’ll show up for training camp. There’s no doubt the Jets need him to remain the prolific pass rusher that we’ve watched the last few years with the Cardinals, Panthers and Eagles — especially with Bryce Huff off to Philadelphia. Reddick has four consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks. Will contract acrimony get on the way of a fifth?
At least New York should feel comfortable with its young core of Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson, the latter of whom found Pro Bowl status after becoming a full-time player in Year 2. After losing John Franklin-Myers, the Jets are banking on former 49ers first-rounder Javon Kinlaw to maintain his upward career arc. Kinlaw played every game last year after suiting up for only 10 total regular-season games the previous two years.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
39.3 (8) | 60.0 (1) | 288 (1) | 115 (3) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
17.2 (13) | 5.0 (78) | 51 (45) | 25.9 (72) | |
15.3 (27) | 9.0 (28) | 48 (53) | 16.6 (6) | |
13.4 (44) | 13.0 (9) | 65 (21) | 29.0 (91) | |
8.3 (132) | 1.5 (147) | 22 (133) | 22.3 (47) | |
8.2 (135) | 1.0 (154) | 31 (104) | 30.6 (100) | |
7.4 (148) | 2.0 (134) | 17 (156) | 36.1 (128) |
The pressure rates for Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy rank among the league’s best. They both served as pass rush specialists last year, though, while Jadeveon Clowney was more of the every-down workhorse. But Clowney’s vagabond career has now taken him to Carolina, so you’d have to assume Owah and Van Noy will be asked for more in terms of snap count. Can 2022 second-round pick David Ojabo give the Ravens a boost after playing a combined five games in two seasons?
There are fewer question marks up the middle, with Justin Madubuike having transformed into one of the league’s most potent pass rushers, regardless of position. There’s been progression each season for Madubuike, so there’s no reason to believe his play should fall after he cashed in this offseason.
![go-deeper](https://cdn.theathletic.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=128,height=128,fit=cover,format=auto/app/uploads/2024/06/05144609/GettyImages-1855768149-1024x683.jpg)
GO DEEPER
How do AFC running back groups stack up heading into the 2024 season?
Cincinnati Bengals
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
35.4 (15) | 44.0 (18) | 229 (18) | 105 (9) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
17.8 (7) | 17.5 (2) | 79 (11) | 18.1 (18) | |
11.0 (77) | 6.0 (61) | 40 (80) | 23.6 (62) | |
10.9 (79) | 1.5 (147) | 22 (133) | 56.0 (176) | |
10.2 (97) | 6.0 (61) | 40 (80) | 34.3 (120) | |
8.9 (121) | 4.5 (91) | 42 (72) | 31.7 (107) | |
5.2 (174) | 0.0 (177) | 13 (173) | 60.6 (178) |
Trey Hendrickson probably deserves more money, but it doesn’t seem like that’s happening right now — he’s easily one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. Sam Hubbard pitched in solid, but not great, play as Hendrickson’s complement. And Cincinnati is hoping 2023 first-rounder Myles Murphy will produce like a first-rounder. He picked up three sacks with a 9.5 percent pressure rate on 158 pass rush snaps last year.
Advertisement
Sheldon Rankins, former Saints teammate of Hendrickson, should provide a boost to the interior pass rush. He’s coming off the highest pass pressure rate of his career with the Texans in 2023. No more D.J. Reader playing alongside B.J. Hill will sting, though. That’s why the Bengals also went defensive tackle heavy in April’s draft, taking Kris Jenkins (Round 2) and McKinnley Jackson (Round 3).
Cleveland Browns
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
42.5 (2) | 49.0 (6) | 262 (7) | 105 (9) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
18.3 (4) | 14.0 (7) | 86 (7) | 19.1 (30) | |
16.5 (16) | 5.5 (69) | 60 (27) | 20.1 (35) | |
12.8 (51) | 4.5 (91) | 33 (102) | 13.4 (1) | |
12.7 (55) | 6.0 (61) | 29 (111) | 23.5 (60) | |
10.0 (99) | 5.0 (78) | 21 (138) | 19.2 (31) | |
9.9 (100) | 3.0 (118) | 36 (89) | 53.4 (173) | |
9.5 (111) | 1.5 (147) | 21 (138) | 21.1 (39) |
There’s probably no other team in the league that possesses as much edge depth as the Browns. Myles Garrett is Myles Garrett, and wooing Za’Darius Smith back despite Smith hitting free agency should feel like a coup. Then there’s Ogbo Okoronkwo yielding the best splash play per snaps rate in this study, and 2022 third-rounder Alex Wright taking a nice leap from Year 1 to Year 2.
It also doesn’t hurt to have Quinton Jefferson in the middle as one of the best pass pressure defensive tackles in the league. Yes, this will be his fifth team in five years, but his sack totals have only improved at every stop — and he’s now next to Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris. The Browns added Mike Hall Jr. as a Day 2 pick to round out one of the most impressive fronts in football.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
37.7 (11) | 47.0 (11) | 246 (11) | 106 (8) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
16.7 (15) | 19.0 (1) | 86 (7) | 17.3 (11) | |
14.6 (34) | 7.0 (51) | 69 (16) | 33.3 (113) | |
8.6 (126) | 1.0 (154) | 22 (133) | 51.6 (170) | |
7.9 (142) | 3.0 (118) | 35 (92) | 45.5 (158) | |
6.9 (152) | 2.0 (134) | 18 (152) | 26.4 (76) | |
6.4 (161) | 0.0 (177) | 15 (163) | 32.8 (112) |
Thankfully, T.J. Watt escaped the 2023 season with only a sprained knee suffered in the Steelers’ final game. We all know what to expect from him. Alex Highsmith watched his sack total drop from 14.5 in 2022 to 7.0 last season, yet his pressure rate jumped significantly (11.0 percent in 2022 to 14.6 percent). Don’t sleep on Patrick Queen in blitz situations, either — the Steelers’ new middle linebacker yielded a 23.8 percent pressure rate on 101 pass rush snaps.
A groin injury certainly slowed down the now 35-year-old Cameron Heyward last season, considering he compiled a 12.3 percent pressure rate and 10.5 sacks in 2022. And Larry Ogunjobi’s two-year sack total (4.5) in Pittsburgh is nowhere near his one-year total (7.0) in 2021 with Cleveland. Second-year defensive tackle Keeanu Benton showed signs of promise in spurts during his rookie season.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
36.8 (13) | 46.0 (13) | 238 (16) | 109 (7) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
15.8 (21) | 7.0 (51) | 59 (30) | 23.6 (61) | |
13.4 (43) | 16.5 (5) | 80 (10) | 21.0 (38) | |
11.5 (67) | 3.0 (118) | 30 (107) | 25.3 (69) | |
11.3 (71) | 11.5 (12) | 53 (40) | 21.2 (41) | |
10.4 (94) | 2.0 (134) | 22 (133) | 47.4 (166) | |
8.9 (119) | 2.0 (134) | 20 (144) | 28.6 (90) | |
7.5 (145) | 0.0 (177) | 16 (161) | 44.8 (157) | |
6.5 (157) | 1.0 (154) | 14 (167) | 89.5 (183) | |
4.9 (177) | 0.5 (171) | 11 (178) | 46.6 (161) |
It’s pretty rare that a team can invest in two game-changing free agents like Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry. (Thanks, C.J. Stroud’s rookie contract!) Hunter’s stat line speaks for itself and should be an upgrade from Jonathan Greenard in the short term. And though Autry turns 34 in mid-July, he’s truly showing no signs of slowing down coming off the highest sack total of his career.
We’re just now getting to 2023 No. 3 pick Will Anderson Jr., who’s certainly a star in the making. Having players like Hunter and Autry might allow Anderson to tee off on opposing quarterbacks. Derek Barnett didn’t make the charts, having registered just 150 pass rush snaps in six games with Houston, but he still tallied a 12.0 percent pressure rate and 2.5 sacks.
Advertisement
Indianapolis Colts
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
32.4 (26) | 51.0 (5) | 208 (26) | 104 (11) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
17.5 (9) | 4.0 (101) | 44 (66) | 18.4 (23) | |
11.1 (76) | 9.5 (25) | 48 (53) | 17.7 (14) | |
10.9 (80) | 8.0 (37) | 52 (42) | 17.0 (8) | |
8.9 (120) | 1.0 (154) | 23 (128) | 37.1 (133) | |
8.3 (131) | 8.0 (37) | 29 (111) | 29.9 (96) | |
7.1 (149) | 0.5 (171) | 15 (163) | 37.7 (137) | |
7.1 (150) | 8.5 (33) | 28 (119) | 23.1 (57) |
When the Colts pressured a quarterback, it was very likely they’d sack that QB — it’s the silver lining between having the fifth most sacks in a season while ranking in the bottom quarter in pressure rate. And the player with one of the best individual pressure rates last season (Tyquan Lewis) notched only four sacks. Anomalies everywhere!
Veteran edge rusher Samson Ebukam is coming off a career year (9.5 sacks), in his first season in Indy. Former Niners teammate DeForest Buckner still served as a force up the middle, while Dayo Odeyingbo and Kwity Paye certainly exuded the sacks-versus-pressure-percentage rate anomaly. The Colts added to the front line by taking Laiatu Latu at No. 15 in April.
![go-deeper](https://cdn.theathletic.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=128,height=128,fit=cover,format=auto/app/uploads/2024/07/08100656/GettyImages-2147786620-1024x683.jpg)
GO DEEPER
2025 NFL Draft QB self scout: Carson Beck, Will Howard and others evaluate themselves
Jacksonville Jaguars
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
35.3 (16) | 40.0 (25) | 245 (13) | 104 (11) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
18.3 (5) | 17.5 (2) | 90 (5) | 22.7 (50) | |
12.7 (56) | 10.0 (22) | 59 (30) | 28.1 (86) | |
12.2 (60) | 5.0 (78) | 42 (72) | 60.8 (179) | |
9.5 (109) | 3.5 (108) | 42 (72) | 52.6 (172) | |
8.2 (134) | 1.0 (154) | 20 (144) | 35.0 (126) | |
4.0 (180) | 0.0 (177) | 8 (183) | 32.7 (110) |
Josh Hines-Allen piled up 17.5 sacks last season; the Jags’ top edge rusher produced 17 sacks total the previous three seasons. Here’s his progression in pressure rate the past four seasons:
- 2020: 9.5 percent
- 2021: 11.9
- 2022: 15.0
- 2023: 18.3
Maybe Travon Walker will turn out to be worth the 2022 No. 1 pick after all — his numbers jumped noticeably in his second year, up from 3.5 sacks and a 9.2 percent pressure rate in 2022. Adding 49ers lifer Arik Armstead through free agency and LSU’s Maason Smith in the second round of April’s draft should help the pass rush up the middle.
Tennessee Titans
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
31.8 (28) | 45.0 (16) | 206 (27) | 82 (26) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
12.8 (50) | 5.5 (69) | 47 (58) | 18.6 (25) | |
11.5 (66) | 10.5 (17) | 47 (58) | 18.5 (24) | |
9.0 (117) | 6.0 (61) | 40 (80) | 29.9 (93) | |
7.6 (144) | 3.0 (118) | 25 (124) | 36.4 (130) |
Jeffery Simmons lost his running mate when Autry signed with the Texans. There’s zero question now that teams will focus more energy on slowing down Simmons, without a second force up the middle. How much can veteran addition Sebastian Joseph-Day and 2024 second-rounder T’Vondre Sweat help fill the void?
Tennessee will lean on veterans Harold Landry and Arden Key for pressure along the edges. Though Key nearly had a career high with 6.0 sacks last season, his pressure rate dropped massively, down from 15.0 percent in 2021 and 14.4 percent in 2022. Landry looked back to form last season after missing all of 2022 with a knee injury — he posted the second best sack total and pressure rate of his career.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
34.1 (20) | 42.0 (21) | 219 (21) | 99 (15) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
18.0 (6) | 8.0 (37) | 47 (58) | 17.3 (10) | |
15.1 (29) | 4.5 (91) | 35 (92) | 25.6 (70) | |
14.9 (31) | 3.5 (108) | 50 (47) | 34.1 (118) | |
14.0 (37) | 8.5 (33) | 55 (37) | 24.4 (65) | |
11.4 (68) | 5.0 (78) | 60 (27) | 29.9 (95) | |
5.8 (164) | 2.0 (134) | 18 (152) | 23.6 (63) |
If you’re going to have the weakest quarterbacks room in the division, you might as well have able bodies to chase down the others teams’ QBs. The Broncos are the only AFC defense with four players that yielded an individual pressure rate of at least 14.0 percent last year — not even the Browns can match. That’s thanks to the addition of Franklin-Myers.
Advertisement
Denver’s edge-rushing trio of Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper has to be one of the most encouraging aspects of this team. Bonitto enjoyed a sharp uptick last season, improving from 1.5 sacks and a 10.7 percent pressure rate in his rookie season of 2022. Browning proved his 14.2 percent pressure rate from 2022 wasn’t a fluke. And Cooper went from a 10.1 percent pressure rate on 189 pass rush snaps in 2022 to 14.0 percent rate on 392 pass rush snaps.
![go-deeper](https://cdn.theathletic.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=128,height=128,fit=cover,format=auto/app/uploads/2024/07/14222659/0715_FF_Breakouts-1024x512.png)
GO DEEPER
Fantasy football breakouts for all 32 NFL teams, led by Bijan Robinson, Jameson Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
39.1 (9) | 57.0 (2) | 253 (8) | 118 (2) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
16.5 (17) | 10.5 (17) | 75 (12) | 23.1 (58) | |
14.8 (32) | 10.5 (17) | 64 (24) | 28.2 (88) | |
12.2 (61) | 7.0 (51) | 29 (111) | 22.7 (49) | |
9.3 (116) | 6.5 (56) | 41 (77) | 43.5 (154) | |
7.0 (151) | 2.0 (134) | 17 (156) | 48.3 (168) | |
3.9 (181) | 1.0 (154) | 9 (180) | 120.3 (186) |
We all know Chris Jones. As for George Karlaftis, he may be the most anonymous player in the league to have picked up double-digit sacks last season. That anonymity might not last long, though — the 2022 first-round pick only improved after a solid rookie campaign (6.0 sacks and a 10.9 percent pressure rate).
The Chiefs will have to lean on veteran Mike Danna and second-year edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah with Charles Omenihu on the mend from the torn ACL he suffered during last year’s AFC Championship Game. Kansas City re-signed Danna in the later phase of free agency after a solid 2023 sacks total. Anudike-Uzomah didn’t contribute much his rookie year, though.
Las Vegas Raiders
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
34.8 (18) | 46.0 (13) | 228 (20) | 87 (24) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
15.7 (26) | 8.0 (37) | 52 (42) | 17.9 (17) | |
14.9 (30) | 14.5 (6) | 94 (4) | 17.7 (15) | |
11.0 (78) | 9.0 (28) | 58 (32) | 30.4 (99) | |
8.1 (137) | 3.5 (108) | 24 (127) | 35.0 (124) | |
8.0 (140) | 5.0 (78) | 28 (119) | 26.6 (77) | |
5.7 (167) | 1.0 (154) | 15 (163) | 40.9 (146) |
Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins. Me likey. Me likey a lot. Both players are coming off the best sack totals of their careers, too. You’d be hard-pressed to point to a better edge/interior pass rush combo in the league right now.
Now, I wouldn’t have guessed Malcolm Koonce to have the Raiders’ top pressure rate last season. He had nearly as many sacks in 2023 (8.0) as he had total tackles (nine) in 2022. The 2021 third-round pick will undoubtedly be a player to watch heading into a contract year. And, obviously, the Raiders want to see more from 2023 No. 7 pick Tyree Wilson in Year 2 — maybe hoping for a sophomore surge like Walker experienced in Jacksonville last season.
Los Angeles Chargers
Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
---|---|---|---|---|
34.4 (19) | 48.0 (7) | 231 (17) | 92 (20) |
player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
---|---|---|---|---|
17.3 (12) | 17.0 (4) | 88 (6) | 14.8 (3) | |
12.3 (59) | 5.5 (69) | 37 (87) | 36.3 (129) | |
11.9 (62) | 4.5 (91) | 51 (45) | 36.7 (131) | |
9.3 (115) | 6.5 (56) | 38 (85) | 22.9 (54) |
It sounds like any day now that Khalil Mack will retire. Pardon my slight exaggeration there, but it’s more of a topic these days rather than his All-Pro numbers from last season. If I were the Chargers, I’d try as hard as possible to keep Mack going for as long as possible.
Joey Bosa missed the above chart by three snaps after injuries limited him to nine games last season. He still amassed 6.5 sacks with a 12.2 pass pressure percentage — solid numbers. His absence allowed second-rounder Tuli Tulipulotu a chance to develop and shine in his rookie season. Tulipulotu’s pressure rate ranked fourth among rookies in 2023. Plus, Morgan Fox built upon his 2022 campaign (11.7 percent pressure rate, 6.5 sacks) with an equally solid year.
(Photo of Za’Darius Smith and Myles Garrett: Nick Cammett / Diamond Images via Getty Images)