The NFL’s 11 best edge defenders

The NFL places a premium on the ability to get to the quarterback. Here are the league’s 11 best pass-rushers heading into the 2020 season.

11. Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)

A remarkably consistent player, Jordan has at least 70 total pressures in each of the last five seasons, and only Chandler Jones and Aaron Donald have more sacks since 2015 than Jordan’s 58. Moreover, Jordan has maintained that consistency through some realty dismal times for New Orleans’ defense — the three years from 2014 through 2016 where the defense never ranked higher than 28th overall in points allowed, Drew Brees was passing for about 20,000 yards per season, and the franchise could never get above 7-9. Things have been better for that defense of late, but Jordan has been badly under-represented for the most part when it comes to complementary pass-rushers to help him avoid double teams. No matter, though — in 2019, Jordan set a career high with 16.5 sacks, and his 84 total pressures was his highest mark since he put up 88 in 2017. One of the best outside rushers in the league, Jordan is also capable of kicking inside the giving guards more trouble than they’d prefer.