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offensive lines as a unit and more recently, how each team stacks up in the passing gameAaron Donald can interrupt games at another level while linebackers like Jerrell Freeman
The Texans Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus make this a formidable unit, but add in arguably the best defensive player the world has seen this decade in J.J. Watt, and they become downright terrifying for opposing quarterbacks. Brian Cushing, Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunninghamprovide a combination of experience, talent and potential at the linebacker position. D.J. Reader
The Seahawks boast the most productive linebacker duo of 2016 in Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, who both graded in the top eight last season. Michael Bennett is still effective as a versatile chess piece, while Frank Clark and Cliff AvrilMalik McDowell, their top draft pick of 2017.
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This 2017 Eagles unit could easily challenge for the No. 1 or No. 2 spot on this list as the season progresses, as there are no real weakness to this front seven. Fletcher Cox and Jordan Hicks both ranked in the top five in their positional grades, while Brandon GrahamDerek Barnett, as well as veteran Timmy Jernigan, who had the best stop percentage last season among all 3-4 defensive ends (10.8 percent).
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Luke KuechlyKawann Short finished last season as the third highest graded interior defender with an 87.7. Edge rushers Mario Addison (second at 14.1) and Charles Johnson (10th at 10.8) both were top 10 last season in pass-rush productivity among 4-3 defensive ends, and Julius Peppers returns to add depth and experience.
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Aaron Donald, alone is good enough to rank this unit higher than some other front sevens. Donald not only led all interior defenders with 82 QB pressures, that mark was good enough for fourth among all defensive linemen, edge rushers included. A healthy Robert Quinn would be a big boost if he can return to form, as well as solid players such as Michael Brockers and Mark Barron lands this unit in the top five. Dominique Easley is another solid young player who has flashed some potential to disrupt plays as an interior defender as well.
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Linebacker Anthony Barr had a down year in 2016, but in 2015, he played to an elite level, and still has the talent to do so. In his sophomore campaign, Danielle Hunter finished with the sixth best pass-rush productivity rate (11.5) among 4-3 defensive ends and it still just 22 years old, while Everson Griffengraded out as the 26/109 best edge defender last season. Both Eric Kendricksand Linval Joseph
Von Miller is as effective as any at getting to the quarterback, and he has graded at an elite level in every season of his career, while his pass rush productivity of 14.4 was surpassed by only Khalil Mack (15.0) last season. DeMarcus Ware retired, but young talents Shane Ray and Shaq Barrettprovide a solid edge rotation. The interior of the defensive line was a weakness last season, and it remains to be seen if any of the journeymen acquisitions such as Billy Winn or Zach Kerr can step up their game on the inside.
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The Cardinals strength will be getting after the quarterback, as Chandler Jones was the seventh best edge defender last season, and Markus Goldenfinished his sophomore campaign grading at a solid 81.5, 24th best among all edge defenders. Deone Buchanan and Haasan Reddick are exciting young players, but are both undersized linebackers, and combined with the loss of elite interior defender Calais Campbell, the Cardinals have question marks against the run.
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The key for the Chiefs front seven unit this season will be to stay healthy, as they had a handful of players either miss chunks of time or play hampered by injury. Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali are aging but proven veterans, but a healthy return of Justin Houston would be a game-changer. The emergence of Chris Jones, who finished as the highest graded rookie interior defender last season, should help ease concern over the free agent departures of Dontari Poe and Jaye Howard.
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James Harrison still played at such a high level last season. He finished seventh among 3-4 OLBs in pass-rush productivity rate of 12.2, and his coverage grade (75.8) was the best among all edge defenders. Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt are both extremely talented young players, but they miss way too many tackles. Despite missing three games last season, Shazier missed 21 tackles, fourth most among all linebackers, while Tuitt had the most missed tackles among all interior linemen.
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The Chargers found a diamond in the rough in 2016 fifth round pick Jatavis Brown, who finished as the 27th highest graded linebacker. They also have an outstanding pair of edge-rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin IngramCorey Liuget has had an up-and-down career, but last year posted the worst grade of his career since his rookie year at 49.3. If Liuget can improve from last year, this group could easily be on the rise.
The Texans Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus make this a formidable unit, but add in arguably the best defensive player the world has seen this decade in J.J. Watt, and they become downright terrifying for opposing quarterbacks. Brian Cushing, Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunninghamprovide a combination of experience, talent and potential at the linebacker position. D.J. Reader
The Seahawks boast the most productive linebacker duo of 2016 in Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, who both graded in the top eight last season. Michael Bennett is still effective as a versatile chess piece, while Frank Clark and Cliff AvrilMalik McDowell, their top draft pick of 2017.
3.
This 2017 Eagles unit could easily challenge for the No. 1 or No. 2 spot on this list as the season progresses, as there are no real weakness to this front seven. Fletcher Cox and Jordan Hicks both ranked in the top five in their positional grades, while Brandon GrahamDerek Barnett, as well as veteran Timmy Jernigan, who had the best stop percentage last season among all 3-4 defensive ends (10.8 percent).
4.
Luke KuechlyKawann Short finished last season as the third highest graded interior defender with an 87.7. Edge rushers Mario Addison (second at 14.1) and Charles Johnson (10th at 10.8) both were top 10 last season in pass-rush productivity among 4-3 defensive ends, and Julius Peppers returns to add depth and experience.
5.
Aaron Donald, alone is good enough to rank this unit higher than some other front sevens. Donald not only led all interior defenders with 82 QB pressures, that mark was good enough for fourth among all defensive linemen, edge rushers included. A healthy Robert Quinn would be a big boost if he can return to form, as well as solid players such as Michael Brockers and Mark Barron lands this unit in the top five. Dominique Easley is another solid young player who has flashed some potential to disrupt plays as an interior defender as well.
6.
Linebacker Anthony Barr had a down year in 2016, but in 2015, he played to an elite level, and still has the talent to do so. In his sophomore campaign, Danielle Hunter finished with the sixth best pass-rush productivity rate (11.5) among 4-3 defensive ends and it still just 22 years old, while Everson Griffengraded out as the 26/109 best edge defender last season. Both Eric Kendricksand Linval Joseph
Von Miller is as effective as any at getting to the quarterback, and he has graded at an elite level in every season of his career, while his pass rush productivity of 14.4 was surpassed by only Khalil Mack (15.0) last season. DeMarcus Ware retired, but young talents Shane Ray and Shaq Barrettprovide a solid edge rotation. The interior of the defensive line was a weakness last season, and it remains to be seen if any of the journeymen acquisitions such as Billy Winn or Zach Kerr can step up their game on the inside.
8.
The Cardinals strength will be getting after the quarterback, as Chandler Jones was the seventh best edge defender last season, and Markus Goldenfinished his sophomore campaign grading at a solid 81.5, 24th best among all edge defenders. Deone Buchanan and Haasan Reddick are exciting young players, but are both undersized linebackers, and combined with the loss of elite interior defender Calais Campbell, the Cardinals have question marks against the run.
9.
The key for the Chiefs front seven unit this season will be to stay healthy, as they had a handful of players either miss chunks of time or play hampered by injury. Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali are aging but proven veterans, but a healthy return of Justin Houston would be a game-changer. The emergence of Chris Jones, who finished as the highest graded rookie interior defender last season, should help ease concern over the free agent departures of Dontari Poe and Jaye Howard.
10.
James Harrison still played at such a high level last season. He finished seventh among 3-4 OLBs in pass-rush productivity rate of 12.2, and his coverage grade (75.8) was the best among all edge defenders. Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt are both extremely talented young players, but they miss way too many tackles. Despite missing three games last season, Shazier missed 21 tackles, fourth most among all linebackers, while Tuitt had the most missed tackles among all interior linemen.11.
The Chargers found a diamond in the rough in 2016 fifth round pick Jatavis Brown, who finished as the 27th highest graded linebacker. They also have an outstanding pair of edge-rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin IngramCorey Liuget has had an up-and-down career, but last year posted the worst grade of his career since his rookie year at 49.3. If Liuget can improve from last year, this group could easily be on the rise.
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