To preview the 2020 NFL season, we asked more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 different positions (sorry, special-teamers). The results might surprise you. They surprised me.
Here's how it worked: Voters gave their best 10 to 15 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, interviews and research. We had several ties, so we broke them by isolating the two-man matchup with additional voting and follow-up calls. 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 2020. This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who's the best today? Pretty simple.
We'll roll out a position per day over the next 11 days. Here's the schedule:
Week 1: tight ends (July 7); quarterbacks (July 8); running backs (July 9); wide receivers (July 10); offensive tackles (July 11)
Week 2: interior offensive linemen (July 12); edge defenders (July 13); interior defensive linemen (July 14); off-ball linebackers (July 15); cornerbacks (July 16); safeties (July 17)
Some of the NFL's most dynamic all-around players are on this list. Pass-rushers make elite money because of their rare skills to rip up game plans and change momentum.
The category of edge rusher -- outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense, defensive ends in a 4-3 -- is so stocked with talent that a 15-sack season in 2019 isn't enough to lock up a spot.
A mix of explosive young players, savvy veterans and close calls -- particularly for the last spot -- makes this one of the NFL's most compelling positions.
1. Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears
Age: 29 | Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 5
Nearly every vote for Mack was top-three, helping to separate him from Chandler Jones in a tight race for the top spot.
Mack's 8.5 sacks and 19.6% pass-rush win rate don't begin to demonstrate his capacity for disruption.
"He can get home in every way -- he can go through you or around you," said one NFL defensive coordinator.
Added a defensive assistant coach: "Your game plan doesn't matter with him."
Chicago's defense last season paled in comparison to the 2018 edition, which coaches say affected Mack's bottom line. The Bears bet on Leonard Floyd winning on the other side and he failed, resulting in more attention sent Mack's way. New addition Robert Quinn can anchor one side to help Mack, who still posted an 86.2 Pro Football Focus grade.
"He doesn't get past the quarterback very often because he bends so well, has speed-to-power and finishes at the level of the quarterback," a veteran defensive coach said. "And he's relentless."
2. Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals
Age: 30 | Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 7
Jones has become the league's most consistent edge player, averaging 14.5 sacks each season since 2015, four times with Arizona.
"His rush skill set is as diverse and versatile as anybody I've been around," a longtime NFL defensive coach said. "You don't see it as much with the way they use him in Arizona, but he is an excellent interior pass-rusher and they don't put him in there very much. He's more than capable rushing inside. Unbelievable flexibility and body control. Uses hands very well, student of the game. He's got everything."
Jones also gets credit for producing despite playing without many stars around him in Arizona. He can stop the run or dominate third down. And he tied for the league lead with eight forced fumbles.
"Nobody talks about him because his team stunk," one NFL offensive coach said. "But he produces every week."
3. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Age: 22 | Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 8
Bosa surpassed expectations in the voting, and made a serious push for the No. 1 overall spot.
The league is envious of the 49ers for stealing Bosa No. 2 overall in 2019 thanks in part to Jimmy Garoppolo missing 13 games the year before.
"Jimmy G's busted knee was a blessing," one NFL general manager said. "Motor, speed, smart, hard to block."
One exec whose team played the 49ers last year was impressed -- and frustrated -- watching Bosa in person, pointing out his nine sacks don't do him justice.
"We literally had no answer for him," the exec said. "Completely dominated us."
To be sure, Bosa is fortunate to play on a dynamic defensive line across the board. And he's more of a compact rusher than one who dominates with length. But evaluators say his talent stands alone.
"It's very difficult to be impactful as rookie, even for great players," a longtime defensive line coach said. "He did that as well as anybody I can think of. Great quickness and speed."
4. Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Age: 31 | Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 7
Miller had recorded at least 10 sacks in every full season he played since 2011, but with production dropping to eight sacks in 15 games last year, questions exist about whether the premier rusher of the decade has slipped slightly.
Here's the truth with Miller: Even a slightly diminished version of Miller is better than just about anyone else.
"You're still sliding protection to him most of the game," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "There are only a handful of players who command that attention, and he still does."
Miller still bends the edge among the best, and the return of Bradley Chubb from injury should open more rushing lanes for the 10-year vet. And his 20.3% pass-rush win rate is still solid.
"I'd still take him over just about anyone," an NFC exec said. "If I need one player to get me one sack on a crucial third down, he's the guy."
5. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Age: 24 | Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Raw talent and a wild combination of speed to power have him knocking on the door of the top three. But many coaches and evaluators say he's not there yet; they're waiting on him to put it all together.
"You can set up a plan to neutralize him," an NFL defensive coach said. "He won't dominate each game plan. You do build the plan around him. He gets long in his movement, can't take those quick 3-4 seconds around the edge."
A different assistant says Garrett has "first-ballot ability" and completely dominates whole games at times, as evidenced by his 26.2% pass rush win rate. But that dominance comes and goes.
In 10 games last year, Garrett had zero sacks in four of them, and two or more in three of them.
"If it's going well early, he's unstoppable," the coach said. "If he starts slow, it's survival mode until it's a passing down. A physical tackle with decent ability makes him struggle a little bit."
Then there's the six-game suspension last year for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph over the head with his own helmet. The evaluators interviewed about Garrett didn't condone the incident and cited it an example of immaturity, but also didn't label Garrett a character concern. He simply made a mistake, most say.
As far as pass-rushing traits, only Khalil Mack has more than Garrett, several execs said.
6. Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
Age: 24 | Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: 9
Bosa didn't get enough top-five votes to crack the threshold, but as far as pure pass rushing, there aren't many better.
He's channeling Tim Duncan when he rushes, combining textbook discipline with flair.
"Uses length well, long arm stab, fundamentals, dynamic moves -- he's got it all," one NFL coordinator said. "He's got unique tape, because he's wide, and because of the way he runs and moves, it's hard to tell what he'll do."
That Bosa has one pass deflection in four seasons is curious. Mack, Jones and Miller all have more than 10 over that span. But it's hard to complain with 40 sacks in 51 career games to launch a decorated career.
Most agree Joey Bosa is a more refined pass-rusher than Nick right now, but they prefer Nick's motor and explosion for the long term.
7. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 25 | Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: 12
Not many players maximize their abilities quite like Watt, who was wildly productive with 14.5 sacks and a league-leading eight forced fumbles (tied with Jones). If that wasn't enough, Watt won on 27.7% of his pass rushes, tops among this group.
"He does it in every category," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "If he had Josh Allen's athletic ability, he would be No. 1 on this list."
That's really the only knock on Watt: Some prefer the raw explosion from the players ranked higher. But Watt still got several top-five votes while surprising many along the way.
As one Steelers player told me, he didn't really know what to expect when Watt got drafted three years ago. He had knee ligament issues at Wisconsin, where he started as a tight end.
That uncertainty changed in a hurry.
"As soon as he showed up it was like, oh s---," the player said.
8. Frank Clark, Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 27 | Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: 12
There are more productive rushers than Clark, but follow the money on this one. The Chiefs knew what they were doing when they made him the second-highest-paid edge rusher at $21 million per year, behind Mack.
Clark slightly edged out Cam Jordan in composite voting, logging more combined fifth- and sixth-place votes.
"He's not in conversation solely based on the year he had [eight sacks], but this year he will end up being a major presence," an NFL coordinator said. "Second year in the [Chiefs'] system, he's got speed and power, good feel for countermoves, and can play the run."
Clark, who had two double-digit-sack seasons in Seattle, sometimes gets overeager chasing sacks, but is a complete player when he's more disciplined, according to one NFC exec.
9. Cam Jordan, New Orleans Saints
Age: 30 | Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: 10
Jordan hasn't missed a game in nine seasons and continues to get better, posting a career-high 15.5 sacks with an 87.6 Pro Football Focus rating last year. But if you're looking for stylish play, Jordan isn't tops on the list.
"He's got Frankenstein feet. It's not a fun watch," one NFL defensive coach said. "But he makes plays every year and he's their leader."
If you're looking for results, consider Jordan made every Top 10 ballot, a sign of respect for an elite player on an elite team.
Though his 15.9% pass-rush win rate ranked 44th in the league, his game is hardly limited to numbers.
"Gets better every year, three-down player, run and pass -- the whole package gets him on the list," a veteran defensive coach said.
10. DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys
Age: 28 | Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Off the ballot
Lawrence and Danielle Hunter had an equal number of votes, but Lawrence broke the tie with two more top-five votes than Hunter. It's surprising to see a player with five sacks last season on this list, but Lawrence drew steady double-teams while Quinn ate up sacks.
"At some point you have to go through somebody -- if you can't, the tackle will sit soft on you and speed will be mitigated," an NFC exec said. "[Lawrence] is one of the best at using his power."
Lawrence won on 25.8% of his pass rushes, which makes his low sack total curious. But coaches like his versatility to rush the passer or stop the run. He also earned an 86.3 PFF rating last year.
"He's not as consistent a pass-rusher as I'd like, but he's deserving," a veteran defensive coach said. "Can rush inside and out."
Honorable mention
Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings: "Not as bendy or twitchy as you'd like, but one of the strongest players in the league. He really surprised me. I didn't think he would be this good coming out of LSU." -- NFL defensive coach
Za'Darius Smith, Green Bay Packers: "You saw him start to take. He's more explosive than given credit for. And he's got a plan for every down." -- NFL coordinator
Jadeveon Clowney, free agent: "Double-teamed all the time, lots of touches on the QB, picks and chooses when he wants to play the run." -- NFL offensive coach
Matt Judon, Baltimore Ravens: "Fascinated to see how this plays out in Baltimore, because he had a great year and natural pass-rush talent, but Baltimore also surrounded him with a lot of talent and set him up for success, too." -- AFC scout
Yannick Ngakoue, Jacksonville Jaguars: "He's a DPR: Designated Pass Rusher. He's not known for stopping the run, though I think he can do that, too. But he's mostly disruptive as a pass rusher. He can do that well." -- NFC exec