Ranking NFL Run Defenses by Tiers

June 09, 2022, 8:15 am ET

NFL Offseason - Football Outsiders' founder Aaron Schatz (@FO_ASchatz) and Senior Analyst Mike Tanier (@MikeTanier) are joined by FO staff writer Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) on Thursday to put each of the NFL run defenses into tiers. The guys also talk through some recent news since the last episode.

The results of the run defense tiers are as follows:

Tier List

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Comments

5 comments, Last at 10 Jun 2022, 1:09pm

#1 by Raiderfan // Jun 09, 2022 - 3:09pm

Aaron stated the DL was swapped out completely, and failed to mention that Crosby is still there.

#2 by Bryan Knowles // Jun 09, 2022 - 4:59pm

We consider Maxx Crosby an edge rusher, and not an interior lineman.

#3 by Aaron Brooks G… // Jun 09, 2022 - 5:07pm

DL means defensive line, not interior defenseman.

How many legs does a dog have if you call his tail a leg? Four. Saying that a tail is a leg doesn't make it a leg.

#4 by Theo // Jun 09, 2022 - 10:47pm

I think FO by now considers all 4-3DE/3-4OLB "EDGEs" and all 3-4 DE/NT/DT and 4-3 NT/DT "DL"

So now, there's the DE position that is considered EDGE and not DL.

I really think that DE/OLB have an important role in run support. For example: I remember Myles Garrett particularly being very poor in run support early on in his career.

#5 by mehllageman56 // Jun 10, 2022 - 1:09pm

Not sure how the Jets are in the C level and not last. They were last in run defense last year, and have not added any help at interior defensive line or linebacker.