NFL training camps are fast approaching, which means it is again time for the league's true insiders to have their say. As part of ESPN's 2023 NFL season preview, we surveyed league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This is the fourth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players have moved up or fallen off last year's lists.
By way of refresher, here's how our process works: Voters give us their best 10 players at a position, then we compile the results and rank candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 80 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 those surveyed.
Each section includes quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player -- even the honorable mentions. The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2023. This is not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today? Check out who makes the list at every position on ESPN+.
We will roll out a position per day over 11 days. The schedule: Off-ball linebackers (July 8), defensive tackles (July 9), edge rushers (July 10), cornerbacks (July 11), safeties (July 12), tight ends (July 13), running backs (July 14), offensive tackles (July 15), guards and centers (July 16), quarterbacks (July 17) and wide receivers (July 18).
It's a beautiful year to be a top-shelf defensive tackle, and a rough year for a team to have to pay one.
Four tackles have received extensions or free agency contracts worth $84 million or more, and the likes of Chris Jones, Quinnen Williams and Christian Wilkins could join the party soon enough.
A disruptive force inside with the versatility to rush the passer, absorb double teams and anchor a run defense is worth serious coin.
Making more than $20 million without the name "Donald" on the back of the jersey used to be difficult, but no longer.
The defensive tackle position is so loaded that several voters were eager to help us sort it out. Several major players were left in the honorable mention category.
Let's look at some of the game's top interior defenders as ranked by execs, coaches, scouts and players around the NFL.
1. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 3
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 1
Most evaluators still consider Donald the best, but his hold on the rankings is not as strong as in previous years.
The field is gaining steam as Donald approaches his 10th NFL season.
Last season was the first since Donald's rookie year in which he didn't push for first-team All-Pro or Defensive Player of the Year. A high ankle sprain played a part, causing Donald to miss a career-high six games.
"I would say a slight decline -- not much, he's still the best," a high-ranking NFL scout said. "Some of that is a byproduct of what's around him -- neither side of the ball was as good for the Rams last year."
Donald has faced 1,797 double-teams since 2017, 152 more than anyone else in the defensive field. Yet he still leads all defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate during that span (26%).
"[In] certain matchups he still affects the game better than anyone -- going against linemen who are big but don't have quickness," the scout said.
2. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 3
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 3
Jones entered a new stratosphere after a monster 15.5-sack season.
He's firmly in Tier 1 now, receiving several No. 1 votes.
"One-on-one matchups, he has a natural answer for everything," said an AFC exec who voted Jones No. 1. "Wrecked our games."
He led all defensive tackles with a 22% pass rush win rate last season, the first time someone not named Donald has led all tackles since 2017. The PRWR gap between Jones and the No. 2 (Javon Hargrave) was roughly the same as the gap between second and 10th (Grady Jarrett).
Another AFC exec saw things differently, saying others are "more consistent and dominant" than Jones.
"I think a lot of his production is inflated," the exec said. "And he's not always consistent against the run."
3. Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 6
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 2
Simmons was pacing for his first double-digit-sack season before an ankle injury affected his explosion late in the year. He fought through it, playing 15 games on his way to 7.5 sacks, 7 passes defended and a second consecutive Pro Bowl.
"I'd still take him No. 2 because he's very consistent," an NFC executive said. "Always plays hard, great against run or pass, affects the opposing game plan every snap. You have to account for him."
Simmons' 61 pressures over the past two seasons are tied for fifth among defensive tackles. The Titans signed him to a four-year, $94 million deal in April.
"My only concern with him is durability," said an NFC scout, citing Simmons' ACL injury coming out of Mississippi State in 2019.
4. Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Williams has been knocking on the door of the top 10 the past few years and broke through in a big way with 12 sacks last year, second among defensive tackles.
The only other Jets player to hit the 12-sack mark over the past 15 years is Muhammad Wilkerson in 2015.
"As good as a defensive tackle that I've studied coming out of Bama (in 2019) -- he was a young guy who needed time to mature," an NFL scout said. "It took him a while, but now it's clicking and he's still ascending. When he gets paid, I don't think he'll regress. He's as good as any pass-rusher out there right now."
Williams, a 2024 free agent, is eligible for an extension and wants one from the Jets before training camp. He'll undoubtedly hit a high number, and the Jets would be smart to keep him happy as they pursue a championship in the Aaron Rodgers era.
5. Javon Hargrave, San Francisco 49ers
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Long underrated, Hargrave has been disruptive for years and finally has the cachet thanks to a four-year, $84 million free agency deal with San Francisco.
Hargrave was a pivotal player in the Eagles' NFC championship run in 2022.
"He has natural leverage, quickness and power," an NFL personnel director said. "That combo makes it hard for offensive guards and centers to really have a chance because he can vary his rush toward their weaknesses."
Hargrave ranked second among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate last season (17.6%), trailing Jones. He finished third in 2021.
"He's exactly what San Francisco needs up front," an NFL personnel evaluator said.
6. Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: Unranked
Lawrence has had an impressive seven months. He capped off a 7.5-sack season by helping lead the Giants to the playoffs and a wild-card win in Minnesota. In May, he landed a four-year, $90-million extension with the club.
"Flat-out dominant run defender," an NFC executive said. "He can create for himself or others. Can overwhelm. If your center isn't a top-level guy, he will dominate him. Sack production isn't elite but he was better last year."
Lawrence's 43 pressures ranked second among defensive tackles last year, behind Jones. That's more pressures than Lawrence had in 2020 and 2021 combined (42).
"Now that he has the contract, I'm curious if he keeps up the same level of play," an AFC executive said. "I thought his intensity would come and go a bit coming out of college."
7. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 4
Buckner is one of the most consistent performers among defensive tackles in the rankings since 2020. Before this year, he never finished lower than fourth. He has averaged 8.8 sacks per season since 2018, and he should have multiple prime years left.
"He's been so good for a long time," an NFL scout said. "It's hard to be consistent when the offense is not scoring and the defense is on the field a lot. Was a hard situation for him last year. But I thought he [maintained] his high level of play the best he could. He's still a guy you would take all day."
Buckner has faced 1,645 double-teams since 2017, more than any player save Donald.
8. Daron Payne, Washington Commanders
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: Unranked
As Payne's name circulated at last year's trade deadline, the Commanders were smart not to indulge. They knew they had an elite player.
Payne's 21.5 disrupted dropbacks -- a combination of sacks, interceptions, batted/tipped/defended passes -- ranked second among defensive tackles behind Jones (23) and tied for seventh among all positions. His 11.5-sack season earned him a four-year, $90 million extension with the club.
"I always thought since I studied him that he has the most talent out of all of those linemen [on the Commanders]," an NFC exec said. "He has a great combination of talent and football intelligence. And he matured and came into his own last year."
An AFC scout added: "He has everything -- power, explosion, can stop run or pass. Probably a bit underrated at this point."
9. Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 34 | Last year's ranking: 5
Heyward continues to defy age better than just about any player. The oldest player in the top 10 pumped out 10.5 sacks last year and is one of four NFL defensive players to make six consecutive Pro Bowls.
"An instinctive pass-rusher, has great strength -- still one of the better power rushers," a veteran NFL scout said. "We thought he was starting to decline last year, which is to be expected given his age."
Heyward is also incredibly durable, missing two games since 2016. He's the leader of a storied Steelers defense. And his 23 quarterback hits last year tied a career high.
"He's still got elite hands where if he gets them on you, he immediately has an advantage," an AFC defensive coach said. "Powerful dude."
10. Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 10
It's no coincidence that Allen, coming off back-to-back Pro Bowls and 16.5 sacks over the past two years, has also landed in our top 10 both times.
Appreciation for his game had been overdue leading up to last year.
"Low-key elite," an AFC executive said. "Powerful, can take over a game in both phases. Super impactful and honestly makes life for Payne easy."
Allen was double-teamed on pass rushes at the second-highest rate of any player in the NFL last season (67%), behind Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
Honorable mentions
Christian Wilkins, Miami Dolphins: Wilkins led all defensive tackles in defensive stops (79) and stuffs (20) last season. "Complete player: versatile, rugged, tough, high motor," a high-ranking NFL official said. "He was their best defensive player when we played them."
Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vea had 31 tackles and 6.5 sacks. "He's a great player, but he's a nose [tackle] so he can disappear a bit," an NFC executive said. "It's hard to affect the run and the pass every down, which makes him hard to put above some of these others. But he's a great disruptor."
Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers: Clark had a season-high seven QB pressures, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in Week 17 against the Vikings. "Complete player with a relentless motor, doesn't take plays off, very underrated in my opinion," a high-ranking NFL official said. "Plays the run and pass equally well."
Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers: Brown posted career highs in tackles (67), interceptions (one), passes defended (seven) and stuffs (11.5). "He's coming. He was a bit out of position early in his career as a read-and-react guy, but late last year they had him attacking more," an NFC exec said. "He's 320 pounds and a hell of an athlete. I imagine he'll be top 10 by next year."
Leonard Williams, New York Giants: In eight NFL seasons, Williams has collected 449 tackles, 38 sacks and 46.5 stuffs. "Still some tread left on tires, not what he used to be," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "He's been a force, probably not quite the same guy but still productive. Not done by any stretch."
Also receiving votes: Grady Jarrett (Atlanta Falcons), Arik Armstead (San Francisco 49ers), DJ Reader (Cincinnati Bengals), Dre'Mont Jones (Seattle Seahawks), Dalvin Tomlinson (Cleveland Browns), Ed Oliver (Buffalo Bills), Grover Stewart (Indianapolis Colts)