The market has picked up lately when it comes to adding someone who can chase down an opposing quarterback. Some of those recent additions are listed below. In a league where throwing the football continues to be a big priority, preventing a quarterback from putting up big numbers is just as important to a defensive unit.
Here are five talented performers that have joined teams that were looking to improve their pass rush. What kind of impact could these relentless defenders have in 2023?
5. DE Tyree Wilson, Raiders
He stood out the past two seasons for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and now hopes to do the same for a Raiders franchise that has struggled for more than a decade to field an adequate defense. Defensive end Tyree Wilson is recovering from a foot injury suffered late last season. He played in 13 games in 2021 and finished with 38 sacks and seven sacks. Wilson was limited to 10 contests this past season and still came up with 61 tackles and seven QB traps. He and Maxx Crosby could be quite the bookends.
4. DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans
The team made a bold move on the first night of April’s draft. After taking Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick, they swung a deal with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire the third overall selection and grab University of Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. In 41 contests with the Crimson Tide, the 6’4”, 235-pound prospect totaled an impressive 34.5 sacks. Only two teams in the league gave up more total yards than Houston in 2022. A solid pickup for new head coach DeMeco Ryans.
3. DE Frank Clark, Broncos
The eight-year pro was part of three Super Bowl teams in Kansas City the past four years but was released by the Chiefs this offseason. He began his career in Seattle in 2015 where he put up big numbers for Pete Carroll’s team. He was a teammate of quarterback Russell Wilson for four seasons. Now both players are reunited in the Mile High City. The talented Clark has totaled 58.5 sacks in 120 regular-season contests, but he’s also amassed an impressive 13.5 QB traps in 17 postseason games with the Seahawks and Chiefs.
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2. OLB Leonard Floyd, Bills
Last offseason, Bills’ GM Brandon Beane bolstered his defense by giving two-time Super Bowl champion Von Miller big bucks to come to Buffalo. His season was cut short by a knee injury but he still tied for the team lead with eight sacks. Miller remains on the mend, so Beane went out and secured the services of outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. He and Miller were teammates with the Rams in 2021 when the club won Super Bowl LVI. Floyd totaled at least nine sacks in each of his three seasons with Sean McVay’s club.
1. DE/OLB Za’Darius Smith, Browns
Browns’ defensive end Myles Garrett has totaled 74.5 sacks and 13 forced fumbles in only 84 regular-season contests. The six-year pro figures to be even more dangerous with quite the talented bookend opposite of him. Cleveland orchestrated a trade with the Vikings to obtain Za’Darius Smith. He racked up a combined 26.0 sacks in his first two seasons with the Packers and 10 more QB traps with the Vikings in 2022. He began his career with the Ravens in 2015 and three-time Pro Bowler returns to the AFC North.