Denver Broncos
Starter
Who were ACTUALLY the best pass rushers in 2024?
Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...o-were-actually-the-best-pass-rushers-in-2024
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Trey Hendrickson led the league in sacks, but sacks are over-hyped. Pressures are the truest measure of a pass rusher’s effectiveness. Elite pass rushers may go games without a sack, but they rarely get shut-out – have a game with zero pressures.
So first let’s talk about a QB pressure. A pressure is when a rusher gets close enough to a QB to effect the QB without actually hitting the QB. A QBhit is a pressure. A QB knockdown is a pressure and a QBhit. A sack puts a check in all four boxes. Unfortunately, different sites credit pressures differently since they are the most subjective of the pass rush stats.
SISdatahub.com is much more free with pressures. Trey Hendrickson led the league in pressures according to SIS (85) and pro-football-reference.com (54). The player who got screwed over the most by PFR was Jared Verse. Sis credited him with 39 more QB pressures than PFR did. Seven other guys were shorted 30 or more pressures by PFR. See the table below (PRSS SIS – PFR)
Pass Rusher POS Team Games Rushes Pass Rushes/Game Rush% Sacks Pressures PRSS SIS – PFR Pressures/Game Press% Jared Verse DE Rams 17 449 26.4 93.7 4.5 72 39 4.24 16.04% Maxx Crosby DE Raiders 12 419 34.9 95.7 7.5 68 33 5.67 16.23% Will McDonald DE Jets 17 410 24.1 94.5 10.5 70 32 4.12 17.07% Josh Sweat LB Eagles 16 378 23.6 91.5 8.0 48 32 3.00 12.70% Trey Hendrickson DE Bengals 17 476 28.0 92.6 17.5 85 31 5.00 17.86% Yaya Diaby DE Buccaneers 17 421 24.8 82.2 4.5 63 31 3.71 14.96% T.J. Watt DE Steelers 17 527 31.0 94.3 11.5 61 30 3.59 11.57% Nnamdi Madubuike DT Ravens 17 509 29.9 97.9 6.5 51 30 3.00 10.02%
If you read my work, you know I like rate stats. So I figured pressures per game for both sites (min 20 pressures on SIS). Looking at it this way we can see the most effective pass rushers and the least effective pass rushers (on a per game basis, not on a per rush basis). This really only works for comparing guys whose job it is to primarily rush the passer (>85% pass rush). If you rank guys by pressures per game, you have to get to the 39th ranked player (Nik Bonitto) to find a player who dropped into coverage more than 15% of the time. Bonitto only rushed 83.2% of the time on passing downs that he played.
Nik’s sack to pressure rate (SIS) was the 3rd best among heavy pass rushers (min 100 rushes and 20 pressures) at 28.1%. Only Dexter Lawrence (34.6%) and Patrick Jones II (29.2%) were higher. On the other end of the spectrum two pass rushers had a 0% conversion rate (sacks/pressures). Myles Murphy and Moro Ojomo both had zero sacks and more than 20 pressures (23 and 26).
Pass Rusher POS Team Games Rushes Pass Rushes/Game Rush% Sacks Pressures Pressures/Game Sack/Prss Press% Aidan Hutchinson DE Lions 5 177 35.4 96.7 7.5 38 7.60 19.7% 21.47% Maxx Crosby DE Raiders 12 419 34.9 95.7 7.5 68 5.67 11.0% 16.23% Micah Parsons DE Cowboys 13 387 29.8 93.0 12.0 70 5.38 17.1% 18.09% Trey Hendrickson DE Bengals 17 476 28.0 92.6 17.5 85 5.00 20.6% 17.86% Alex Highsmith LB Steelers 11 273 24.8 90.4 6.0 49 4.45 12.2% 17.95% Zach Allen DE Broncos 16 586 36.6 98.2 8.5 69 4.31 12.3% 11.77% Jared Verse DE Rams 17 449 26.4 93.7 4.5 72 4.24 6.3% 16.04% Will McDonald DE Jets 17 410 24.1 94.5 10.5 70 4.12 15.0% 17.07% Nick Bosa DE 49ers 14 397 28.4 98.3 9.0 57 4.07 15.8% 14.36% Chris Jones DT Chiefs 15 506 33.7 99.2 5.0 61 4.07 8.2% 12.06% Myles Garrett DE Browns 17 445 26.2 95.9 14.0 69 4.06 20.3% 15.51% Jonathan Greenard DE Vikings 17 502 29.5 86.0 12.0 68 4.00 17.6% 13.55% Brian Burns LB Giants 17 432 25.4 90.8 8.5 63 3.71 13.5% 14.58% Yaya Diaby DE Buccaneers 17 421 24.8 82.2 4.5 63 3.71 7.1% 14.96% Gregory Rousseau DE Bills 16 436 27.3 95.8 8.0 58 3.63 13.8% 13.30% T.J. Watt DE Steelers 17 527 31.0 94.3 11.5 61 3.59 18.9% 11.57% Osa Odighizuwa DT Cowboys 17 483 28.4 99.6 4.5 61 3.59 7.4% 12.63% George Karlaftis III DE Chiefs 16 511 31.9 95.3 8.0 54 3.38 14.8% 10.57% Danielle Hunter LB Texans 17 469 27.6 98.5 12.0 57 3.35 21.1% 12.15% Carl Granderson DE Saints 17 481 28.3 94.1 5.5 57 3.35 9.6% 11.85% Boye Mafe LB Seahawks 15 314 20.9 83.3 6.0 49 3.27 12.2% 15.61% Calijah Kancey DT Buccaneers 12 351 29.3 97.2 7.5 39 3.25 19.2% 11.11% Josh Hines-Allen DE Jaguars 16 436 27.3 94.8 8.0 52 3.25 15.4% 11.93% Kayvon Thibodeaux DE Giants 12 328 27.3 97.0 5.5 39 3.25 14.1% 11.89% Travon Walker DE Jaguars 17 506 29.8 97.5 10.5 55 3.24 19.1% 10.87% Kyle Van Noy LB Ravens 16 367 22.9 85.7 12.5 51 3.19 24.5% 13.90% Jonathon Cooper LB Broncos 17 424 24.9 85.1 10.5 53 3.12 19.8% 12.50% Chase Young DE Saints 17 445 26.2 95.5 5.5 53 3.12 10.4% 11.91% Will Anderson DE Texans 14 341 24.4 97.2 11.0 43 3.07 25.6% 12.61% Leonard Williams DE Seahawks 16 442 27.6 96.3 11.0 48 3.00 22.9% 10.86% Josh Sweat LB Eagles 16 378 23.6 91.5 8.0 48 3.00 16.7% 12.70% Nnamdi Madubuike DT Ravens 17 509 29.9 97.9 6.5 51 3.00 12.7% 10.02% Keion White DE Patriots 17 391 23.0 86.5 5.0 50 2.94 10.0% 12.79% Jalen Carter DT Eagles 16 504 31.5 99.2 4.5 47 2.94 9.6% 9.33% Khalil Mack LB Chargers 16 354 22.1 95.7 6.0 46 2.88 13.0% 12.99% Quinnen Williams DT Jets 16 403 25.2 98.1 6.0 46 2.88 13.0% 11.41% Zach Sieler DT Dolphins 15 443 29.5 97.1 10.0 43 2.87 23.3% 9.71% Nik Bonitto LB Broncos 17 367 21.6 83.2 13.5 48 2.82 28.1% 13.08% Jadeveon Clowney LB Panthers 14 317 22.6 87.1 5.5 39 2.79 14.1% 12.30% Cameron Heyward DT Steelers 17 445 26.2 100.0 8.0 47 2.76 17.0% 10.56% Chop Robinson DE Dolphins 17 322 18.9 87.3 6.0 47 2.76 12.8% 14.60% Dayo Odeyingbo DE Colts 17 413 24.3 98.8 3.0 47 2.76 6.4% 11.38% John Franklin-Myers DE Broncos 17 347 20.4 98.6 7.0 46 2.71 15.2% 13.26% DeForest Buckner DT Colts 12 316 26.3 100.0 6.5 32 2.67 20.3% 10.13% Andrew Van Ginkel LB Vikings 17 376 22.1 64.8 11.5 45 2.65 25.6% 11.97% Braden Fiske DT Rams 17 402 23.6 99.0 8.5 45 2.65 18.9% 11.19% Rashan Gary DE Packers 17 391 23.0 99.2 7.5 45 2.65 16.7% 11.51% Montez Sweat DE Bears 16 339 21.2 97.1 5.5 42 2.63 13.1% 12.39% Odafe Oweh LB Ravens 17 403 23.7 92.6 10.0 44 2.59 22.7% 10.92% Derick Hall LB Seahawks 17 345 20.3 89.6 8.0 44 2.59 18.2% 12.75% Vita Vea DT Buccaneers 16 442 27.6 97.6 7.0 41 2.56 17.1% 9.28% Dorance Armstrong Jr. DE Commanders 16 343 21.4 95.8 5.0 41 2.56 12.2% 11.95% Kwity Paye DE Colts 15 360 24.0 97.0 8.0 38 2.53 21.1% 10.56% DeMarcus Walker DE Bears 17 392 23.1 96.8 3.5 43 2.53 8.1% 10.97% D.J. Wonnum LB Panthers 8 213 26.6 86.2 4.0 20 2.50 20.0% 9.39% Arden Key DE Titans 16 373 23.3 93.7 6.5 40 2.50 16.3% 10.72% Joey Bosa DE Chargers 14 294 21.0 98.3 5.0 35 2.50 14.3% 11.90% Jeffery Simmons DT Titans 16 421 26.3 96.6 5.0 40 2.50 12.5% 9.50% Michael Hall DT Browns 8 152 19.0 96.2 1.0 20 2.50 5.0% 13.16% Leonard Floyd DE 49ers 17 355 20.9 97.8 8.5 42 2.47 20.2% 11.83% Dre’Mont Jones DE Seahawks 17 346 20.4 96.1 4.0 42 2.47 9.5% 12.14% Al-Quadin Muhammad DE Lions 9 151 16.8 95.0 3.0 22 2.44 13.6% 14.57% Emmanuel Ogbah DE Dolphins 16 385 24.1 88.1 5.0 39 2.44 12.8% 10.13% Kobie Turner DT Rams 17 486 28.6 99.6 8.0 41 2.41 19.5% 8.44% Nick Herbig LB Steelers 13 200 15.4 83.7 5.5 31 2.38 17.7% 15.50% Dante Fowler DE Commanders 17 303 17.8 91.3 10.5 40 2.35 26.3% 13.20% Maliek Collins DT 49ers 17 413 24.3 99.5 5.0 40 2.35 12.5% 9.69% B.J. Hill DT Bengals 15 399 26.6 98.0 3.0 35 2.33 8.6% 8.77% Blake Cashman LB Vikings 14 155 11.1 26.8 4.5 31 2.21 14.5% 20.00% K’Lavon Chaisson DE Raiders 15 281 18.7 86.2 5.0 33 2.20 15.2% 11.74% Joseph Ossai DE Bengals 17 319 18.8 90.6 5.0 37 2.18 13.5% 11.60% Dexter Lawrence DT Giants 12 311 25.9 99.4 9.0 26 2.17 34.6% 8.36% Alim McNeill DT Lions 14 392 28.0 97.5 3.5 30 2.14 11.7% 7.65% Ed Oliver DT Bills 14 365 26.1 98.1 3.0 30 2.14 10.0% 8.22% Carl Lawson DE Cowboys 15 274 18.3 95.5 5.0 32 2.13 15.6% 11.68% Gervon Dexter DT Bears 15 336 22.4 98.8 5.0 32 2.13 15.6% 9.52% Levi Onwuzurike DT Lions 16 379 23.7 97.9 1.5 34 2.13 4.4% 8.97% Tuli Tuipulotu LB Chargers 17 361 21.2 83.4 8.5 36 2.12 23.6% 9.97% Byron Young LB Rams 17 336 19.8 70.3 7.5 36 2.12 20.8% 10.71% Calais Campbell DE Dolphins 17 374 22.0 95.9 5.0 36 2.12 13.9% 9.63% Jarran Reed DT Seahawks 17 369 21.7 94.6 4.5 36 2.12 12.5% 9.76% Laiatu Latu DE Colts 17 353 20.8 97.2 4.0 36 2.12 11.1% 10.20% Azeez Ojulari LB Giants 11 187 17.0 96.4 6.0 23 2.09 26.1% 12.30% Nolan Smith LB Eagles 16 260 16.3 86.7 6.5 33 2.06 19.7% 12.69% Bryan Bresee DT Saints 17 439 25.8 98.9 7.5 35 2.06 21.4% 7.97% Arnold Ebiketie LB Falcons 17 315 18.5 85.4 6.0 35 2.06 17.1% 11.11% Tershawn Wharton DT Chiefs 17 423 24.9 97.2 6.5 34 2.00 19.1% 8.04% Kaden Elliss LB Falcons 17 149 8.8 23.4 5.0 34 2.00 14.7% 22.82% Haason Reddick LB Jets 10 222 22.2 92.1 1.0 20 2.00 5.0% 9.01% Harold Landry DE Titans 17 387 22.8 81.3 9.0 33 1.94 27.3% 8.53% Chauncey Golston DE Cowboys 17 429 25.2 98.6 5.5 33 1.94 16.7% 7.69% Milton Williams DT Eagles 17 280 16.5 99.3 5.0 33 1.94 15.2% 11.79% Zaven Collins LB Cardinals 17 281 16.5 77.6 5.0 33 1.94 15.2% 11.74% Tyree Wilson DE Raiders 16 313 19.6 95.1 4.5 31 1.94 14.5% 9.90% Devonte Wyatt DT Packers 14 236 16.9 97.1 5.0 27 1.93 18.5% 11.44% Von Miller DE Bills 13 196 15.1 95.1 6.0 25 1.92 24.0% 12.76% Za’Darius Smith LB Lions 17 203 11.9 97.1 4.0 32 1.88 12.5% 15.76% Arik Armstead DT Jaguars 17 353 20.8 99.2 2.0 32 1.88 6.3% 9.07% Jihad Ward LB Vikings 17 372 21.9 97.9 1.0 32 1.88 3.1% 8.60% Dalvin Tomlinson DT Browns 16 299 18.7 98.0 3.0 30 1.88 10.0% 10.03% Bryce Huff DE Eagles 12 171 14.3 96.6 2.5 22 1.83 11.4% 12.87% Anthony Nelson DE Buccaneers 17 267 15.7 74.2 4.0 31 1.82 12.9% 11.61% Mario Edwards DE Texans 13 289 22.2 100.0 3.0 23 1.77 13.0% 7.96% Myles Murphy DE Bengals 13 202 15.5 90.6 0.0 23 1.77 0.0% 11.39% Frankie Luvu LB Commanders 17 204 12.0 36.8 8.0 30 1.76 26.7% 14.71% Grady Jarrett DT Falcons 17 430 25.3 98.2 2.5 30 1.76 8.3% 6.98% Dondrea Tillman LB Broncos 12 141 11.8 92.8 5.0 21 1.75 23.8% 14.89% Josh Paschal DE Lions 14 333 23.8 96.0 2.0 24 1.71 8.3% 7.21% Anfernee Jennings LB Patriots 16 317 19.8 79.6 2.5 27 1.69 9.3% 8.52% Jacob Martin DE Bears 11 116 10.5 92.1 3.0 18 1.64 16.7% 15.52% Patrick Jones II LB Vikings 15 298 19.9 91.1 7.0 24 1.60 29.2% 8.05% Tim Settle DT Texans 17 377 22.2 99.7 5.0 27 1.59 18.5% 7.16% Daron Payne DT Commanders 17 407 23.9 99.8 4.0 27 1.59 14.8% 6.63% Morgan Fox DE Chargers 17 353 20.8 97.5 3.5 27 1.59 13.0% 7.65% Baron Browning LB Cardinals 13 128 9.8 82.6 2.0 20 1.54 10.0% 15.63% Javon Kinlaw DT Jets 17 359 21.1 99.4 4.5 26 1.53 17.3% 7.24% Michael Hoecht LB Rams 17 208 12.2 60.5 3.0 26 1.53 11.5% 12.50% Moro Ojomo DT Eagles 17 251 14.8 100.0 0.0 26 1.53 0.0% 10.36% Darrell Taylor DE Bears 16 216 13.5 93.5 3.0 24 1.50 12.5% 11.11% Bud Dupree LB Chargers 17 323 19.0 93.4 6.0 25 1.47 24.0% 7.74% Adam Butler DT Raiders 17 476 28.0 93.0 5.0 25 1.47 20.0% 5.25% Travis Jones DT Ravens 17 359 21.1 98.9 1.0 25 1.47 4.0% 6.96% Deatrich Wise Jr. DT Patriots 15 245 16.3 99.2 5.0 22 1.47 22.7% 8.98% Joe Tryon-Shoyinka LB Buccaneers 15 261 17.4 75.4 2.0 22 1.47 9.1% 8.43% Solomon Thomas DT Jets 16 241 15.1 99.6 3.5 23 1.44 15.2% 9.54% Kingsley Enagbare DE Packers 17 274 16.1 89.8 4.5 24 1.41 18.8% 8.76% Micheal Clemons DE Jets 17 298 17.5 97.7 4.5 24 1.41 18.8% 8.05% Cameron Jordan DE Saints 17 324 19.1 96.4 4.0 24 1.41 16.7% 7.41% Kyzir White LB Cardinals 17 99 5.8 16.8 2.5 24 1.41 10.4% 24.24% Ogbo Okoronkwo DE Browns 16 260 16.3 96.3 3.0 22 1.38 13.6% 8.46% Za’Darius Smith LB Browns 17 194 11.4 96.5 5.0 23 1.35 21.7% 11.86% Derek Barnett DE Texans 16 205 12.8 99.5 5.0 21 1.31 23.8% 10.24% A.J. Epenesa DE Bills 17 334 19.6 96.3 6.0 22 1.29 27.3% 6.59% A’Shawn Robinson DT Panthers 16 336 21.0 99.4 5.5 20 1.25 27.5% 5.95% Sam Okuayinonu DT 49ers 16 233 14.6 98.3 3.0 20 1.25 15.0% 8.58% Karl Brooks DT Packers 17 277 16.3 97.5 3.5 21 1.24 16.7% 7.58% T’Vondre Sweat DT Titans 17 328 19.3 96.2 1.0 21 1.24 4.8% 6.40% Matt Judon LB Falcons 17 303 17.8 77.7 5.5 20 1.18 27.5% 6.60% Lavonte David LB Buccaneers 17 135 7.9 19.8 5.5 20 1.18 27.5% 14.81% Poona Ford DT Chargers 17 326 19.2 99.4 3.0 20 1.18 15.0% 6.13% Malcolm Roach DT Broncos 17 253 14.9 97.7 2.5 20 1.18 12.5% 7.91% Keeanu Benton DT Steelers 17 344 20.2 99.4 1.0 20 1.18 5.0% 5.81% Kenny Clark DT Packers 17 394 23.2 98.7 1.0 20 1.18 5.0% 5.08%
Aidan Hutchinson was having a monster season before you got hurt last season. 7.60 pressures per game is insane! That’s almost two pressures better than Maxx Crosby who was second. When 4.o per game is elite, getting almost double that is amazing. Former DPOY TJ Watt only got 3.6 per game last season. So let’s talk about consistency.
How often do these rushers have huge games and how often do they get shut out. I’m going to use SIS since they show pressures in their game logs. Because this is time consuming and I have other things to do over Labor Day weekend, I only looked at pass rushers who were greater than 14.50% pressure rate (I polished the SIS data which can have some errors). I then plotted pressures per game for all 23 players who were better than 14.50% (plus Nik Bonitto and John Franklin-Myers).
QB pressures by the top rushers (> 14.5% pressure rate) by game in 2024. Very few "shut-outs" (0 pressure games) for these guys
— Joe Mahoney (@ndjomo.bsky.social) 2025-08-28T19:04:10.295Z
There were only 28 games when one of these 23 rushers got shut-out and five of those belonged to Chop Robinson who was very boom and bust. He had 32 of his 47 pressures (SIS) over seven games. In the other nine games he had only 15 pressures. While Bonitto, JFM and Zach Allen did not get above 14.5% pressure rates last season (the only Bronco who did was Tillman), I added Nik and JFM to the chart below.
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Of course with a player like Dondrea Tillman, you also have to look at how many pressures he didn’t get because another Bronco defender got there first. Unfortunately, no site shows team QB pressures per game (at least in front of a pay-wall) so we can’t see how often a particular player was the only defender to be able to get pressure in a game. That would be an interesting study for someone who has a subscription to PFF or another site that has that data. Notice the both Bonitto and JFM were fairly consistent in terms of pressures per game. Neither Bronco defender had more than six pressures in a game last season. Zach Allen had the most in any game for Denver last season with nine pressures (in the first loss to the Chargers).
Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...o-were-actually-the-best-pass-rushers-in-2024