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Who 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 RusherPOSTeamGamesRushesPass Rushes/GameRush%SacksPressuresPRSS SIS – PFRPressures/GamePress%
Jared VerseDERams1744926.493.74.572394.2416.04%
Maxx CrosbyDERaiders1241934.995.77.568335.6716.23%
Will McDonaldDEJets1741024.194.510.570324.1217.07%
Josh SweatLBEagles1637823.691.58.048323.0012.70%
Trey HendricksonDEBengals1747628.092.617.585315.0017.86%
Yaya DiabyDEBuccaneers1742124.882.24.563313.7114.96%
T.J. WattDESteelers1752731.094.311.561303.5911.57%
Nnamdi MadubuikeDTRavens1750929.997.96.551303.0010.02%

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 RusherPOSTeamGamesRushesPass Rushes/GameRush%SacksPressuresPressures/GameSack/PrssPress%
Aidan HutchinsonDELions517735.496.77.5387.6019.7%21.47%
Maxx CrosbyDERaiders1241934.995.77.5685.6711.0%16.23%
Micah ParsonsDECowboys1338729.893.012.0705.3817.1%18.09%
Trey HendricksonDEBengals1747628.092.617.5855.0020.6%17.86%
Alex HighsmithLBSteelers1127324.890.46.0494.4512.2%17.95%
Zach AllenDEBroncos1658636.698.28.5694.3112.3%11.77%
Jared VerseDERams1744926.493.74.5724.246.3%16.04%
Will McDonaldDEJets1741024.194.510.5704.1215.0%17.07%
Nick BosaDE49ers1439728.498.39.0574.0715.8%14.36%
Chris JonesDTChiefs1550633.799.25.0614.078.2%12.06%
Myles GarrettDEBrowns1744526.295.914.0694.0620.3%15.51%
Jonathan GreenardDEVikings1750229.586.012.0684.0017.6%13.55%
Brian BurnsLBGiants1743225.490.88.5633.7113.5%14.58%
Yaya DiabyDEBuccaneers1742124.882.24.5633.717.1%14.96%
Gregory RousseauDEBills1643627.395.88.0583.6313.8%13.30%
T.J. WattDESteelers1752731.094.311.5613.5918.9%11.57%
Osa OdighizuwaDTCowboys1748328.499.64.5613.597.4%12.63%
George Karlaftis IIIDEChiefs1651131.995.38.0543.3814.8%10.57%
Danielle HunterLBTexans1746927.698.512.0573.3521.1%12.15%
Carl GrandersonDESaints1748128.394.15.5573.359.6%11.85%
Boye MafeLBSeahawks1531420.983.36.0493.2712.2%15.61%
Calijah KanceyDTBuccaneers1235129.397.27.5393.2519.2%11.11%
Josh Hines-AllenDEJaguars1643627.394.88.0523.2515.4%11.93%
Kayvon ThibodeauxDEGiants1232827.397.05.5393.2514.1%11.89%
Travon WalkerDEJaguars1750629.897.510.5553.2419.1%10.87%
Kyle Van NoyLBRavens1636722.985.712.5513.1924.5%13.90%
Jonathon CooperLBBroncos1742424.985.110.5533.1219.8%12.50%
Chase YoungDESaints1744526.295.55.5533.1210.4%11.91%
Will AndersonDETexans1434124.497.211.0433.0725.6%12.61%
Leonard WilliamsDESeahawks1644227.696.311.0483.0022.9%10.86%
Josh SweatLBEagles1637823.691.58.0483.0016.7%12.70%
Nnamdi MadubuikeDTRavens1750929.997.96.5513.0012.7%10.02%
Keion WhiteDEPatriots1739123.086.55.0502.9410.0%12.79%
Jalen CarterDTEagles1650431.599.24.5472.949.6%9.33%
Khalil MackLBChargers1635422.195.76.0462.8813.0%12.99%
Quinnen WilliamsDTJets1640325.298.16.0462.8813.0%11.41%
Zach SielerDTDolphins1544329.597.110.0432.8723.3%9.71%
Nik BonittoLBBroncos1736721.683.213.5482.8228.1%13.08%
Jadeveon ClowneyLBPanthers1431722.687.15.5392.7914.1%12.30%
Cameron HeywardDTSteelers1744526.2100.08.0472.7617.0%10.56%
Chop RobinsonDEDolphins1732218.987.36.0472.7612.8%14.60%
Dayo OdeyingboDEColts1741324.398.83.0472.766.4%11.38%
John Franklin-MyersDEBroncos1734720.498.67.0462.7115.2%13.26%
DeForest BucknerDTColts1231626.3100.06.5322.6720.3%10.13%
Andrew Van GinkelLBVikings1737622.164.811.5452.6525.6%11.97%
Braden FiskeDTRams1740223.699.08.5452.6518.9%11.19%
Rashan GaryDEPackers1739123.099.27.5452.6516.7%11.51%
Montez SweatDEBears1633921.297.15.5422.6313.1%12.39%
Odafe OwehLBRavens1740323.792.610.0442.5922.7%10.92%
Derick HallLBSeahawks1734520.389.68.0442.5918.2%12.75%
Vita VeaDTBuccaneers1644227.697.67.0412.5617.1%9.28%
Dorance Armstrong Jr.DECommanders1634321.495.85.0412.5612.2%11.95%
Kwity PayeDEColts1536024.097.08.0382.5321.1%10.56%
DeMarcus WalkerDEBears1739223.196.83.5432.538.1%10.97%
D.J. WonnumLBPanthers821326.686.24.0202.5020.0%9.39%
Arden KeyDETitans1637323.393.76.5402.5016.3%10.72%
Joey BosaDEChargers1429421.098.35.0352.5014.3%11.90%
Jeffery SimmonsDTTitans1642126.396.65.0402.5012.5%9.50%
Michael HallDTBrowns815219.096.21.0202.505.0%13.16%
Leonard FloydDE49ers1735520.997.88.5422.4720.2%11.83%
Dre’Mont JonesDESeahawks1734620.496.14.0422.479.5%12.14%
Al-Quadin MuhammadDELions915116.895.03.0222.4413.6%14.57%
Emmanuel OgbahDEDolphins1638524.188.15.0392.4412.8%10.13%
Kobie TurnerDTRams1748628.699.68.0412.4119.5%8.44%
Nick HerbigLBSteelers1320015.483.75.5312.3817.7%15.50%
Dante FowlerDECommanders1730317.891.310.5402.3526.3%13.20%
Maliek CollinsDT49ers1741324.399.55.0402.3512.5%9.69%
B.J. HillDTBengals1539926.698.03.0352.338.6%8.77%
Blake CashmanLBVikings1415511.126.84.5312.2114.5%20.00%
K’Lavon ChaissonDERaiders1528118.786.25.0332.2015.2%11.74%
Joseph OssaiDEBengals1731918.890.65.0372.1813.5%11.60%
Dexter LawrenceDTGiants1231125.999.49.0262.1734.6%8.36%
Alim McNeillDTLions1439228.097.53.5302.1411.7%7.65%
Ed OliverDTBills1436526.198.13.0302.1410.0%8.22%
Carl LawsonDECowboys1527418.395.55.0322.1315.6%11.68%
Gervon DexterDTBears1533622.498.85.0322.1315.6%9.52%
Levi OnwuzurikeDTLions1637923.797.91.5342.134.4%8.97%
Tuli TuipulotuLBChargers1736121.283.48.5362.1223.6%9.97%
Byron YoungLBRams1733619.870.37.5362.1220.8%10.71%
Calais CampbellDEDolphins1737422.095.95.0362.1213.9%9.63%
Jarran ReedDTSeahawks1736921.794.64.5362.1212.5%9.76%
Laiatu LatuDEColts1735320.897.24.0362.1211.1%10.20%
Azeez OjulariLBGiants1118717.096.46.0232.0926.1%12.30%
Nolan SmithLBEagles1626016.386.76.5332.0619.7%12.69%
Bryan BreseeDTSaints1743925.898.97.5352.0621.4%7.97%
Arnold EbiketieLBFalcons1731518.585.46.0352.0617.1%11.11%
Tershawn WhartonDTChiefs1742324.997.26.5342.0019.1%8.04%
Kaden EllissLBFalcons171498.823.45.0342.0014.7%22.82%
Haason ReddickLBJets1022222.292.11.0202.005.0%9.01%
Harold LandryDETitans1738722.881.39.0331.9427.3%8.53%
Chauncey GolstonDECowboys1742925.298.65.5331.9416.7%7.69%
Milton WilliamsDTEagles1728016.599.35.0331.9415.2%11.79%
Zaven CollinsLBCardinals1728116.577.65.0331.9415.2%11.74%
Tyree WilsonDERaiders1631319.695.14.5311.9414.5%9.90%
Devonte WyattDTPackers1423616.997.15.0271.9318.5%11.44%
Von MillerDEBills1319615.195.16.0251.9224.0%12.76%
Za’Darius SmithLBLions1720311.997.14.0321.8812.5%15.76%
Arik ArmsteadDTJaguars1735320.899.22.0321.886.3%9.07%
Jihad WardLBVikings1737221.997.91.0321.883.1%8.60%
Dalvin TomlinsonDTBrowns1629918.798.03.0301.8810.0%10.03%
Bryce HuffDEEagles1217114.396.62.5221.8311.4%12.87%
Anthony NelsonDEBuccaneers1726715.774.24.0311.8212.9%11.61%
Mario EdwardsDETexans1328922.2100.03.0231.7713.0%7.96%
Myles MurphyDEBengals1320215.590.60.0231.770.0%11.39%
Frankie LuvuLBCommanders1720412.036.88.0301.7626.7%14.71%
Grady JarrettDTFalcons1743025.398.22.5301.768.3%6.98%
Dondrea TillmanLBBroncos1214111.892.85.0211.7523.8%14.89%
Josh PaschalDELions1433323.896.02.0241.718.3%7.21%
Anfernee JenningsLBPatriots1631719.879.62.5271.699.3%8.52%
Jacob MartinDEBears1111610.592.13.0181.6416.7%15.52%
Patrick Jones IILBVikings1529819.991.17.0241.6029.2%8.05%
Tim SettleDTTexans1737722.299.75.0271.5918.5%7.16%
Daron PayneDTCommanders1740723.999.84.0271.5914.8%6.63%
Morgan FoxDEChargers1735320.897.53.5271.5913.0%7.65%
Baron BrowningLBCardinals131289.882.62.0201.5410.0%15.63%
Javon KinlawDTJets1735921.199.44.5261.5317.3%7.24%
Michael HoechtLBRams1720812.260.53.0261.5311.5%12.50%
Moro OjomoDTEagles1725114.8100.00.0261.530.0%10.36%
Darrell TaylorDEBears1621613.593.53.0241.5012.5%11.11%
Bud DupreeLBChargers1732319.093.46.0251.4724.0%7.74%
Adam ButlerDTRaiders1747628.093.05.0251.4720.0%5.25%
Travis JonesDTRavens1735921.198.91.0251.474.0%6.96%
Deatrich Wise Jr.DTPatriots1524516.399.25.0221.4722.7%8.98%
Joe Tryon-ShoyinkaLBBuccaneers1526117.475.42.0221.479.1%8.43%
Solomon ThomasDTJets1624115.199.63.5231.4415.2%9.54%
Kingsley EnagbareDEPackers1727416.189.84.5241.4118.8%8.76%
Micheal ClemonsDEJets1729817.597.74.5241.4118.8%8.05%
Cameron JordanDESaints1732419.196.44.0241.4116.7%7.41%
Kyzir WhiteLBCardinals17995.816.82.5241.4110.4%24.24%
Ogbo OkoronkwoDEBrowns1626016.396.33.0221.3813.6%8.46%
Za’Darius SmithLBBrowns1719411.496.55.0231.3521.7%11.86%
Derek BarnettDETexans1620512.899.55.0211.3123.8%10.24%
A.J. EpenesaDEBills1733419.696.36.0221.2927.3%6.59%
A’Shawn RobinsonDTPanthers1633621.099.45.5201.2527.5%5.95%
Sam OkuayinonuDT49ers1623314.698.33.0201.2515.0%8.58%
Karl BrooksDTPackers1727716.397.53.5211.2416.7%7.58%
T’Vondre SweatDTTitans1732819.396.21.0211.244.8%6.40%
Matt JudonLBFalcons1730317.877.75.5201.1827.5%6.60%
Lavonte DavidLBBuccaneers171357.919.85.5201.1827.5%14.81%
Poona FordDTChargers1732619.299.43.0201.1815.0%6.13%
Malcolm RoachDTBroncos1725314.997.72.5201.1812.5%7.91%
Keeanu BentonDTSteelers1734420.299.41.0201.185.0%5.81%
Kenny ClarkDTPackers1739423.298.71.0201.185.0%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.

top-pass-rushers-pressure-by-game.png

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
 
Broncos vs. Titans Week 1 practice participation report

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Game week is fully in swing as the first injury report for the 2025 regular season just dropped for the Denver Broncos as they prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans. Typically, the Week 1 report is light for all teams but there is one name on Denver’s list that is adding a bit of concern: Dre Greenlaw.

Mike Klis of 9News reported that Greenlaw is continuing to struggle to get healthy. He did not practice on Wednesday and spent his time on the side field. He has missed significant time all offseason and now we should be concerned he is not as far along as many had hoped with his rehab. While missing a Wednesday practice isn’t a big deal and Sean Payton did note some guys will be on ‘pitch counts’ heading into the season. Hopefully we see him practicing by Friday. The other starters dinged up in the preseason are all full participants, however, so that is the good news heading into this Sunday’s game.

Here is your full practice report for Wednesday.

Denver Broncos Injury Report​

PlayerPos.InjuryWednesdayThursdayFridayGame Status
Nik BonittoOLBFootFULL
Marvin MimsWRThighFULL
Alex SingletonILBThumbFULL
Nate AdkinsTEAnkleDNP
Dre GreenlawLBQuadDNP

Tennessee Titans Injury Report​

PlayerPos.InjuryWednesdayThursdayFridayGame Status
L’Jarius SneedCBKneeLIMITED
Kevin Winston Jr.SHamstringLIMITED
Dan Moore Jr.TAnkleDNP

BOLD – Indicates change in status; NIR- Indicates not injury related; *- Team conducted a walk-through / report is an estimation; UNDERLINE– Player is on Reserve or Exempt List and has returned to practice
STATUS DEFINITIONS: Did not participate (DNP); Limited: means less than 100 percent of a player’s normal repetitions; Full—100 percent of player’s normal repetitions; Out: will not play; Doubtful: Unlikely to play; Questionable: Uncertain to play

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-injuries/156571/broncos-vs-titans-week-1-injury-report
 
BREAKING: Broncos sign Nik Bonitto to a four-year extension worth up to $120 million dollars

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The Broncos extended another star player!

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Denver Broncos and edge rusher Nik Bonitto have reached an agreement on a four-year extension that is worth up to $120 million dollars and includes $70 million dollars in guaranteed money. The Broncos’ star pass rusher was entering the final year of his rookie deal, and GM George Paton and the rest of the Broncos front office made sure he would be around for the foreseeable future.

9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis confirms the deal and provides some added insight. It’s a four-year deal, worth $106 million, but he can earn up to $120 million with incentives. He is scheduled to make $5,35 million this season and will still get that along with whatever signing bonus he is receiving.

Another deal in Denver: Nik Bonitto and the Broncos reached agreement today on a four-year extension worth up to $120 million, including $70 million guaranteed. Bonitto is now the highest paid non-qb in Broncos’ franchise history in a deal negotiated by @ToryDandy of… pic.twitter.com/cvssg9jzbg

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 4, 2025

Bonitto and the Broncos signing an extension always seemed like a matter of when, not if. Unlike the Micah Parsons situation, the two sides were confident something would get done. Bonitto showed up and participated throughout camp without issues, dominating in the one preseason game he played in, and will now enter the season freshly signed and worry-free.

Good luck, Cam Ward.

The former second-round pick by the Broncos had a breakout year for the team last season and was a big part of their top-ranked defense. He finished the year with 13.5 sacks and has 2 game-changing INT/Fumble recoveries for a touchdown late in the year. Bonitto would go on to be named 2nd team All-Pro by the Associated Press, was named to the Pro Bowl, and while teammate CB Pat Surtain II won the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, Bonitto made a strong case for that, too.

Expectations are high for the Broncos and their defense this season, and Bonitto is their top pass rusher on the team. He dominated last season, looked explosive during the preseason, and now that he has signed his deal, he can be worry-free heading into week one against a rookie quarterback making his first-career start.

I would anticipate Bonitto to come close, match, or even exceed his sack total from last season and lead the Broncos’ top-ranked pass rush in sacks once again. He is just as important to this defense as Pat Surtain II, and hopefully, these two can help lead the Broncos on a deep postseason run this season.

One last thing before we finish this. We need to be thankful for the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group. Since they have bought the Broncos, they have handed out extensions to Nik Bonitto, Pat Surtain II, Quinn Meinerz, Courtland Sutton, Jonathon Cooper, Garett Bolles, and D.J. Jones while also being very active in free agency. They have locked up a talented core for the Broncos, added key free agents, and Sean Payton and George Paton have drafted very well recently.

The future is bright in Denver.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv.../broncos-bonitto-signed-extension-parsons-nfl
 
Thursday Night Football Week 1: Cowboys at Eagles Open Thread

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Welcome to Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season! It has finally arrived.

The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will be hosting their NFC East division rival Dallas Cowboys to open the season. One team is close to ascending to the level of NFL dynasty, while the other just traded away one of the best players in the NFL because they didn’t want to offer a big contract. It would appear Jerry Jones plans to tank the franchise as his final act, but who knows maybe he’ll draft two Micah Parsons with those two first round picks he got from the trade. lol, doubt it.

Kickoff is set for Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 6:20 p.m. Mile High time at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and will air on NBC.

My Prediction​


According to FanDuel, the Eagles are 8.5-point favorites over the visiting Cowboys. Last season, the Eagles start off the season pretty sloppy before winning 15 of their next 16 games including the playoffs. If that were to happen again in 2025, I’d still give them the edge here at home and on prime time. The crowd is going to be electric and the Cowboys likely in disarray after losing one of their core leaders and best player. A few late garbage time scores makes it closer, but give me the Eagles with a 1-0 start to the year.

Prediction: Eagles 30, Cowboys 20

Open thread in the comments section below. Discuss the games action there!​


Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/game-day-threads/156612/tnf-week-1-cowboys-vs-eagles
 
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