Who's the NFL's best pass-rusher? Wide receiver? Cornerback? What about the second-best defensive tackle -- after Aaron Donald? To preview the 2021 NFL season, we set out to answer those questions and much more.
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 linemen and all the way through tight ends. This is the second edition of these rankings, and there are several players who moved up and dropped from last year's lists.
Here's how our process 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, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. 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 2021. 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: edge rushers (July 5), interior defensive line (July 6), off-ball linebackers (July 7), cornerbacks (July 8), safeties (July 9), offensive tackles (July 10), interior offensive line (July 11)
Week 2: quarterbacks (July 12), running backs (July 13), wide receivers (July 14), tight ends (July 15)
Execs typically rank interior defensive linemen by one criterion: Which player most often wrecks your game plan with force, length and speed -- over and over?
The first choice is obvious, and is a candidate for best overall player in the NFL. Then, the next few choices were pretty clear-cut. After that? It got incredibly difficult. Players 6 through 15 were in a virtual tie, requiring at least 30 tiebreakers.
Young interior linemen ascended at a rapid pace while the play of top veterans largely hadn't fall off. And at least one legend had to be left off the list.
The NFL's interior defensive line -- defensive tackles in any setup, and defensive ends in a 3-4 defensive alignment -- will have interior offensive linemen and quarterbacks questioning the sanctity of their pockets in 2021.
1. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 4
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 1
For the second straight year, Donald earned more first-place votes than any player regardless of position.
"I would put a space between him and all the defensive tackles or edge guys, honestly," an AFC scout said. "He's by himself."
Yes, someone voted Donald fourth. That particular voter prioritized youth and upside. But Donald has shown zero signs of slowing down at age 30. His 24.2% pass-rush win rate leads all defensive tackles by a wide margin, and that's with facing a double-team on 219 of his 314 rushes, the most in the league. Donald created 30 incompletions, second to edge rusher T.J. Watt.
"You're not stopping him," an NFC exec said. "[You] just hope to get the ball out fast."
2. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 5
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 2
Jones keeps his No. 2 ranking thanks to another imposing season. His 20.4% pass-rush win rate is tied for second among defensive tackles, and though his 7.5 sacks were his lowest total since 2017, the Chiefs were pleased with his overall growth.
"He has gotten better in a number of areas," said an AFC coordinator. "If he's one-on-one in a pass-rush situation, rarely does he lose that matchup. Tremendously better as a run-stopping player."
Jones won 25% of his single-teamed pass rushes, third-best among tackles. And the Chiefs will work to get him free this year as more of an edge rusher. Jones held up against double-teams, too, with a 17.5% pass-rush win rate when taking on two blockers.
Not everyone is a fan, though.
"Used to be really high on him, but there are some inconsistencies in his game," said an AFC scout. "He's productive, but he'll give up stuff, too."
3. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 6
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 4
Buckner set the tone of disruption in his first year with the Colts, posting 58 tackles, 9.5 sacks, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus gave Buckner a stellar 89.7 grade on the season.
"He's a damn problem," an NFC exec said. "Once he gets those long arms on you, he can drive you back. Doesn't stop coming each play. Incredible motor."
The Colts defense improved from 16th to 8th in total defense ranking year-over-year, and the trade with the 49ers for Buckner was a catalyst. Indianapolis allowed 3.7 yards per rush when Buckner was on the field and 4.9 yards per rush when he was on the sideline.
Buckner is also highly effective as an edge defender, winning on 33.3% of his edge rushes to lead all NFL defensive players. He tied for the team lead in total pressures.
4. Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 11
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 6
Heyward isn't in the top five for everyone, but he rarely falls past No. 7 on the ballots. One of the league's most consistent performers inside is still playing at a high level. The only real knock is he might have missed a few sacks (four on the year, down from an 8.5 average the previous two seasons).
But his 21 incompletions created is the third-best mark on this list, using his length (34.25-inch arms) and power to penetrate the line.
"Steady, consistent, productive, technician," an AFC scout said. "Once he gets those long arms in your chest, he can push you back."
Added an NFC exec: "He really came on late in the year. For that stretch he was back to doing what he does. ... When you ply Pittsburgh, he was the guy we said we had to stop. The reason why is you can't block that joker inside."
5. Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 12
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 3
Cox has made six Pro Bowls in nine seasons, and is one of the defining defensive tackles of the last decade, a blur of speed and power inside or on the edge.
In 2020, Cox was still productive, with 6.5 sacks and a 74.1 Pro Football Focus rating. But his nine QB hits was his lowest total since 2014.
"A little bit on the descent, but you know where he is at all times," said an NFC scout. "He's still tops on the scouting report when you prepare for Philly's defense. There was a time not too long ago when he was No. 2 [among interior D-linemen] and you wouldn't look back."
Added an NFC exec: "He's still a problem to me. He was on a bad defense."
6. Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 15
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: N/A
Simmons might be the least accomplished on this list, but he is also one of the scariest.
"No one is Aaron Donald, but he might be the closest," said an NFL general manager.
Added an NFC exec: "He's the one everyone knows is coming. Talent-wise, he's probably top-three. He's respected as such, at least how we block him."
Opponents double-teamed Simmons on 190 pass-rush snaps, higher than every interior rusher aside from Donald and Grady Jarrett. Simmons led all players in the top 10 in interior line run-stop win rate, at 39.8%.
The pass-rush production isn't there yet -- he had just three sacks in 2020, along with a 6.7% pass-rush win rate -- but it will be as he stacks healthy seasons. A torn ACL limited his rookie campaign in 2019.
"Highest upside -- he just does different stuff, and was basically playing on one leg and was pretty good early on," an AFC scout said.
7. Leonard Williams, New York Giants
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: N/A
The most polarizing player on the list, Williams was labeled an underachiever before his 11.5-sack breakout in 2020 prompted a massive contract extension with the Giants.
"He doesn't know what he can be yet," said a Pro Bowl defensive player.
Added an NFC scout: "That combination of size and athleticism is just rare."
The positional flexibility is a challenge for defenses. Williams can line up inside, or become the Giants' best pass-rusher off the edge. But evaluators aren't sure whether his breakout this past season is an anomaly.
"Talented, just doesn't put it together consistently," the NFC scout said.
One veteran NFL defensive coach said he "wasn't sure what he was looking at' when he evaluated Williams' tape during the player's tenure with the Jets.
"Last year was not shocking based on ability, and my guess is he'll have a similar year [in 2021]," the coach said. "But it's hard to tell with him."
8. Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: N/A
Tuitt broke out in his seventh season with 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and 25 quarterback hits.
"Incredibly gifted player," an NFC scout said. "Comes and goes, but when he's on, he's a massive problem."
That problem manifests in defensive attention. Tuitt demanded 187 double teams on pass rushes (sixth most in the league) despite playing alongside stars Heyward, T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree.
"Take away the injuries and inconsistencies from past years and he's top-five, easily," an AFC exec said. "[Heyward] has been that guy on the [Steelers] D-line for a while, but it kind of started to flip this year where Tuitt got some of the attention."
9. Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: 14
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: N/A
Watching Vea crash through an offensive line can be an experience through space and time.
"Serious physics of mass and explosion," one NFL GM said when asked to describe Vea.
The 6-foot-4, 347-pounder doesn't have the gaudy stats, but doesn't need them. His one tackle in two playoff games doesn't begin to describe his impact.
The size with the quickness (near-5.0 40-yard dash time at the 2018 combine) was a problem for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
"Once he got back in the playoffs, they were different. You couldn't do anything against them," said an NFC executive. "Vita can rush [the] passer, has force -- more a Deebo [the "Friday" character], not a craftsman. If he wants to get in, he gets in."
10. Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: 14
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 9
Jarrett's ability to rush the passer keeps him a fixture in the top 10. He's second to Donald among defensive tackles in several pass-rush categories, including win rate (20.4%) and win rate while single-teamed (30.1%).
But evaluators say he's not a fit for every scheme, is small against the run (6-foot, 305 pounds) and can get washed out of plays with double-teams. Not everyone agrees.
"He's a game-wrecker when we play them. He plays his ass off," an NFC executive said. "He'll sack the quarterback or hustle downfield to chase down a screen play for 15 yards. Never stops playing hard."
Jarrett's interior run-stop win rate is second-best on this list, at 39.3%.
Interior defensive linemen also receiving votes
Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers: "He was great in the [NFC] Championship Game, maybe the most disruptive in that game for them. He's not a big name but really, really good and underrated." -- NFC executive
Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team: "Complete player. Really good technique, plays the run really well, pass well, good locker-room guy -- just a good football player." -- AFC defensive coach
Quinnen Williams, New York Jets: "He's going to have a huge year. They had him in that two-gap scheme, but [new Jets coach] Robert [Saleh] will just have him attacking. He's good enough to jump a gap and get back in a gap. Teams have to scheme for him more than most." -- NFC executive
J.J. Watt, Arizona Cardinals: "If he stays healthy, he's still a monster. He got tripled some games. Teams still give him that attention. Tackles can handle him but against the guard he's still a problem. Not out of realm [of possibility] to have a 10-sack season." -- NFC executive
Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears: "He's still one of those guys whom you hate to play against. He's such a force. But you wonder if his best years are ahead of him." -- AFC defensive coach
David Onyemata, New Orleans Saints: "Extraordinary talents. Getting better every year." -- NFC executive
Jarran Reed, Kansas City Chiefs: "The Chiefs got an absolute steal picking him up this offseason." -- AFC scout
Arik Armstead, San Francisco 49ers: "He's a really good player, but you're always aware of him but never scared of him." -- NFC executive
Calais Campbell, Baltimore Ravens: "He can still be productive in that defense, just not sure how much he has left." -- AFC executive