Ranking each NFL team's defensive 'triplets'
theScore's Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, and Dan Wilkins rank all 32 teams' top trio of defensive linemen/pass-rushers, linebackers, and defensive backs.
Offense I Defense1. Chicago BearsDL Khalil Mack, LB Roquan Smith, DB Eddie Jackson
The pinnacle of defensive football in 2018, the Bears were led by two superstars and a budding rookie. Mack and Jackson were both first-team All-Pros after the former notched 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles while the latter led the league in turnovers forced. Smith, meanwhile, flashed dominant coverage skills in the later stages of his rookie campaign and a sophomore leap is well within reach for the 2018 first-rounder. With studs at each level of the field, Chicago's stop unit is set to dominate once again this season, even without Vic Fangio.
2. Jacksonville JaguarsDL Calais Campbell, LB Myles Jack, DB Jalen Ramsey
A close second to the Bears, Jacksonville boasts star power at every level of its defense. Campbell gets the nod over Yannick Ngakoue, one of the league's rising stars, thanks to versatility and dominance against both the pass and run. Ramsey's in the conversation for the NFL's best cornerback, but the plateau in his performance after a breakout 2017 campaign was a big reason the Jaguars missed out on our top spot. Few linebackers are as athletic and rangy as Jack, who'll be asked to do even more with Telvin Smith sitting out 2019.
3. Dallas CowboysDL DeMarcus Lawrence, LB Leighton Vander Esch, DB Byron Jones
The Cowboys' defensive triplets are all 27 or younger, so the best may be yet to come. Lawrence is a menace on the edge, starring in every facet of the game; you'd be hard-pressed to find a more complete defensive end in the NFL. Jones has emerged as one of the league's top coverage cornerbacks after a full-time position switch, and Vander Esch flashed elite potential as a rookie. It's been a while since Dallas had this much talent on its stop unit.
4. Los Angeles Rams
John McCoy / Getty Images Sport / GettyDL Aaron Donald, LB Cory Littleton, DB Aqib Talib
When your defense features the NFL's premier player, you're bound for a top spot on this list. A defensive tackle leading the league with 20.5 sacks is absurd, and Donald appears to be refining his game with each passing season - a terrifying prospect for opposing offensive linemen. Littleton and Talib are no slouches either: the former excelled in pass coverage in 2018 and the latter remains one of the more difficult defenders to complete a pass against.
5. Denver BroncosDL Von Miller, LB Todd Davis, DB Chris Harris Jr.
Miller screaming around the edge is still the scariest sight for an NFL offensive lineman. The 30-year-old has unreal bend and speed and should have several more seasons of elite production left in the tank. Harris might not be long for Denver despite reworking his contract for 2019. If he hits the open market next year, teams will be falling over themselves to secure the game's best slot defender. Though Davis is a serviceable linebacker, he drags the Broncos down from a top-three ranking.
6. Minnesota VikingsDL Danielle Hunter, LB Anthony Barr, DB Harrison Smith
These three talented and productive defenders have combined for nine Pro Bowl appearances and are all among the top players at their respective positions. Hunter - still somehow just 24 - broke out in a big way with 14.5 sacks last season and could be even more dominant in 2019. Barr returns to Minnesota as a versatile off-ball linebacker, while Smith has set the bar for safeties over the last five years. The Vikings feature one of the NFL's toughest defenses for a reason.
7. Atlanta FalconsDL Grady Jarrett, LB Deion Jones, DB Keanu Neal
Young staples of Atlanta's speedy and aggressive defense, Jarrett, Jones, and Neal are already among the league's best. The star defensive tackle doesn't get enough attention despite excelling in both run defense and the pass rush. Jones and Neal, meanwhile, are perhaps the two most important pieces of Dan Quinn's defense, as evidenced by the Falcons' struggles when injuries cost the duo extended portions of the 2018 campaign. A healthy year could quickly vault Atlanta into the top five.
8. New Orleans Saints
Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyDL Cameron Jordan, LB Demario Davis, DB Marshon Lattimore
Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara receive most of the attention in New Orleans, but the Saints' defense should get equal credit for the team's recent success. Jordan is the unquestioned leader, torturing opposing offensive lines over the last two seasons en route to 25 sacks. Lattimore wasn't as consistent in Year 2 as he was as a rookie, but he still possesses elite upside. Davis, meanwhile, is an underappreciated veteran presence in the middle of New Orleans' stop unit, but his lack of coverage skills places these triplets a step below some of their NFC counterparts.
9. Arizona CardinalsDL Chandler Jones, LB Jordan Hicks, DB Patrick Peterson
Peterson will begin the 2019 season with a six-game suspension, but he's Arizona's top defensive back and the unquestioned leader of its defense; the eight-year veteran can still shadow top wideouts with the best of them. Jones has continued to assault opposing tackles since leaving the Patriots, notching a league-topping 41 sacks in his first three seasons in the desert. Though Hicks doesn't have the pedigree of his two teammates, he's an effective coverage linebacker when healthy. Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray will grab the headlines, but the Cardinals certainly have talent on the other side of the ball, too.
10. Los Angeles ChargersDL Joey Bosa, LB Denzel Perryman, DB Derwin James
The Chargers could be far higher on this list by the end of 2019. James far surpassed expectations in his first campaign, and the do-it-all defensive back could reach new heights this season after L.A. drafted the perfect free safety to pair with him. Bosa has racked up an eye-popping 28.5 sacks in 35 career games and combines a ridiculous motor with one of the league's deepest set of pass-rushing moves. Perryman is the weak link, relatively speaking, but there's a reason he's known as the "hammer" of the Chargers' defense.
11. Cleveland BrownsDL Myles Garrett, LB Joe Schobert, DB Denzel Ward
The Browns are another unit on the rise, with two burgeoning superstars in Garrett and Ward. The pass-rusher had 13.5 sacks in his sophomore year and did so despite being - by his own admission - held back by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Many an eyebrow was raised when Cleveland took Ward over Bradley Chubb at fourth overall last year, but it's hard to find a doubter after the cornerback erased receiver after receiver as a rookie. Schobert is the best of an underwhelming linebacking corps, but he's a liability in run defense.
12. Carolina Panthers
Scott Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / GettyDL Kawann Short, LB Luke Kuechly, DB James Bradberry
Kuechly's presence alone is enough to vault the Panthers into the top half of the league. The five-time All-Pro linebacker is one of the NFL's premier defenders and negates Bradberry's lower value. The young cornerback is a fine player, but he's a step behind other defensive backs sitting higher on this list. Short, meanwhile, is the standout on a stacked defensive line that recently added Gerald McCoy. The former second-round pick is a productive pass-rusher and elite run defender.
13. New York JetsDL Leonard Williams, LB C.J. Mosley, DB Jamal Adams
Mike Maccagnan might've deserved to be fired, but the former Jets general manager sure knew how to nail his first-round picks. Adams - the team's top pick in 2017 - instantly became one of the game's most complete safeties the moment he stepped onto an NFL field. Williams - the third overall selection in 2015 - has developed into a great pass-rushing interior lineman. Mosley cost New York big bucks in free agency, and though he's an outstanding run defender, it remains to be seen if he can improve enough in coverage to justify his price tag.
14. Philadelphia EaglesDL Fletcher Cox, LB Nigel Bradham, DB Malcolm Jenkins
The Eagles field an experienced defensive trio highlighted by 2018 All-Pro Cox. If not for Aaron Donald's dominance, the stud defensive tackle would surely be mentioned more often among the NFL's best players. Jenkins, however, may be more directly linked to Philadelphia's overall success. The veteran lines up at nearly every position on defense and is Jim Schwartz's on-field play caller and communicator; he's a rare defensive chess piece. Bradham, meanwhile, is a stout run defender and a key cog behind a strong front four.
15. New England PatriotsDL Michael Bennett, LB Dont'a Hightower, DB Stephon Gilmore
After shutting down receivers on a weekly basis last season, Gilmore rightfully received first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career. If he isn't the NFL's best corner, he's close. New England lacks a top playmaker in the front seven, but that's by design as Bill Belichick prefers to rely on a group effort. Though Bennett and Hightower aren't the players they were just a few years ago, they remain highly effective veterans who can pull out the occasional game-changing play.
16. Detroit Lions
Leon Halip / Getty Images Sport / GettyDL Trey Flowers, LB Jarrad Davis, DB Darius Slay
Free-agent addition Flowers provides a considerable boost to the Lions' defensive trio. The former Patriot puts the finishing touches on a talented defensive line in Detroit with his versatility and pass-rush prowess. While Slay is one of the top coverage defenders in the NFL, Davis' inconsistencies decrease the potency of this group. The 2017 first-rounder is still just 24 years old but has yet to live up to his potential, particularly struggling in run defense and shedding blocks.
17. Houston TexansDL J.J. Watt, LB Benardrick McKinney, DB Johnathan Joseph
Watt isn't the defender who dominated the league from 2012-15, but the fact he's at least close to his previous level despite a host of injuries speaks to his Hall of Fame talent. But after Watt - who edged out the younger but less productive Jadeveon Clowney - Houston has question marks. Joseph played his best football in years last season but just turned 35. McKinney was a Pro Bowler in 2019, but the old-school thumper needs significant refinement in coverage.
18. San Francisco 49ersDL DeForest Buckner, LB Kwon Alexander, DB Richard Sherman
An intriguing blend of youth and experience defines the 49ers' stop unit. Sherman isn't quite the player he was in Seattle, but he can still make big plays. There's no doubting Buckner's abilities, though, as his 12 sacks in 2018 illustrated advanced pass-rush skills for an interior lineman. Alexander became the league's second-most expensive off-ball linebacker this spring, but his inconsistencies in coverage and shortcomings as a run defender actually hinder San Francisco's ranking instead of boosting it.
19. Kansas City ChiefsDL Frank Clark, LB Darron Lee, DB Tyrann Mathieu
The Chiefs' trifecta is undoubtedly more talented than the No. 19 spot, but until the players actually take the field together, it's hard to gauge how good they'll be in a new-look 4-3 defense under Steve Spagnuolo. Clark, who had 13 sacks a year ago, is a far more natural defensive end than Dee Ford, and Mathieu brings much-needed versatility and playmaking to the secondary. The uber-athletic Lee should be an ideal modern inside linebacker but failed to play to his potential in New York.
20. Tennessee Titans
Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyDL Jurrell Casey, LB Jayon Brown, DB Kevin Byard
One of the NFL's most overlooked defenders, Byard is a year removed from tying for the league lead with eight interceptions; he's one of the rare true center fielders. Casey's been a consistent presence on the Titans' defensive line for eight years and hasn't produced fewer than five sacks in each of the last six seasons. At 29, though, he's likely given us his best. Few outside Tennessee know Brown, but that could change soon. He's great in space and racked up six sacks in 2018.
21. Buffalo BillsDL Jerry Hughes, LB Tremaine Edmunds, DB Tre'Davious White
The key cog of one of the league's best secondaries, White showed his rookie season was no fluke, excelling in 2018 despite consistently being tasked with shadowing opponents' top wideouts. Though Hughes has long shed the bust label and remains an effective player, he's best suited as a compliment to a No. 1 pass-rusher at this stage of his career. Edmunds is a physical freak, but his mental game has a long way to go to match his athleticism.
22. Indianapolis ColtsDL Justin Houston, LB Darius Leonard, DB Malik Hooker
Indy's shocking defensive improvement in 2018 was due in large part to the emergence of Leonard, who became the Colts' go-to playmaker en route to Defensive Rooke of the Year honors. Hooker didn't make the splash plays last year that he did as a rookie, but his top-tier range kept quarterbacks looking elsewhere for most of the campaign. If Houston can stay healthy and the two youngsters remain among the best up-and-comers at their positions, these triplets will soar up our rankings.
23. Cincinnati BengalsDL Geno Atkins, LB Preston Brown, DB William Jackson III
Even on the wrong side of 30, Atkins is still one of the league's top interior pass-rushers. The veteran notched at least nine sacks in each of his last four seasons, hitting double digits for the third time in his career last year. Though Jackson flashed all the talent in the world in 2017, he took a slight step back in his third campaign. Cincinnati features young talent at every level of its defense, but linebacker is a weak spot on the roster. Brown is the veteran of the group, though he struggled in coverage and against the run before a knee injury ended his season.
24. Green Bay Packers
Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyDL Kenny Clark, LB Blake Martinez, DB Adrian Amos
Clark is as underrated and unheralded as first-round picks get. The defensive tackle was utterly dominant in 2018, notching six sacks while playing elite run defense. Martinez is a solid coverage linebacker, and Amos was perhaps the Packers' biggest free-agent addition this year. The former Chicago Bear provides a dependable presence in Green Bay's secondary behind its young, talented cornerbacks.
25. Washington RedskinsDL Ryan Kerrigan, LB Mason Foster, DB Landon Collins
The Redskins were higher on this list until Reuben Foster - easily their best linebacker - suffered a season-ending, non-contact knee injury in practice. Foster's best days are behind him, and he's a liability in coverage. But the only players with more sacks than Kerrigan since 2016 are Chandler Jones, Von Miller, and Aaron Donald. That's it. He's ridiculously underrated at this point. Collins was the Redskins' big free-agent addition, but can he rediscover the elite, do-it-all form from his outstanding 2016 campaign?
26. Seattle SeahawksDL Ezekiel Ansah, LB Bobby Wagner, DB Bradley McDougald
Wagner and fellow linebacker K.J. Wright are the lone holdovers from the Seahawks' Super Bowl-winning defense. Wagner remains at the top of his game and only Luke Kuechly can match his ability to make those around him better. Ansah was a solid late addition, but relying on him as the primary pass-rusher after a host of injuries is optimistic. The Legion of Boom is no more, but Seattle's secondary has grown into a respectable group and McDougald is its most consistent performer.
27. Pittsburgh SteelersDL T.J. Watt, LB Devin Bush, DB Joe Haden
Pittsburgh finally appears to have solved its long-standing issue at linebacker with Bush, a speedy playmaker who thrived in coverage at Michigan. The 2019 first-rounder has yet to play an NFL snap, however, so the jury is still out regarding his immediate pro impact. Watt is a consistent, productive presence for the Steelers, jumping from seven sacks as a rookie to 13 in Year 2. Haden is likely past his prime but remains an effective zone defender and the most dependable member of Pittsburgh's leaky secondary.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDL Ndamukong Suh, LB Lavonte David, DB Justin Evans
Franchise stalwart Gerald McCoy is out, and his draftmate Suh is in. The Bucs believe Suh's a better fit for their defense, and though that might be true, McCoy is the more complete player at this stage of their careers. David lacks any significant weaknesses but his strengths have waned of late, and at 29 years old, he could follow McCoy out the door next offseason. Evans is the best of a poor group of defensive backs.
29. Baltimore RavensDL Michael Pierce, LB Patrick Onwuasor, DB Earl Thomas
Thomas is still the game's preeminent free safety. But it can't be ignored that he's 30 years old, coming off a broken leg, and changing systems for the first time his storied career. Baltimore lacks a top pass-rusher, so Pierce - an elite run defender - gets the nod. He didn't have an ideal start to camp, though, as he was benched for poor conditioning. Onwuasor has big shoes to fill after C.J. Mosley's departure, and his play so far hasn't been convincing.
30. Miami DolphinsDL Christian Wilkins, LB Jerome Baker, DB Xavien Howard
Though Howard isn't a household name, he deserves every cent of his position-topping five-year, $76.5-million extension. After the corner, though, Miami's closet is bare. Wilkins was viewed as one of the draft's most advanced defenders, but the fact he's instantly the team's best lineman illustrates just how far the rebuilding Dolphins have to go.
31. Oakland RaidersDL Clelin Ferrell, LB Vontaze Burfict, DB Lamarcus Joyner
The pass-rusher drafted to replace Mack was always going to be under intense pressure, and Oakland didn't help matters by reaching for Ferrell at fourth overall. Maybe he'll prove his doubters wrong, but asking him to be the team's top pass-rusher from Day 1 is a tall order. Joyner is the standout of the group, and his ability to patrol the center of the field and move into the slot will be invaluable to Oakland. Burfict is just a name at this stage of his career.
32. New York Giants
Elsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyDL Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Alec Ogletree, DB Janoris Jenkins
A solid if unspectacular presence in the middle of James Bettcher's defense, Tomlinson thrives against the run but has just one sack in two seasons. Ogletree and Jenkins have name value, but neither impressed in 2018. The former was inconsistent in his first campaign with the Giants, particularly struggling in space, while the latter's sticky coverage abilities appear to have faded over the last two years. New York will be hoping rookies Deandre Baker and Dexter Lawrence can supplant the two veterans, and soon.
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