Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt checks in at No. 2 among all pass rushers in NFL
When it comes to ranking the two of them, both sides can make a strong case for their guy being No. 1 and love to try and punch holes in the game of the other guy. ESPN recently put out their ranking of the top pass rushers in the NFL based on a poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts and to no one's surprise, Garrett and Watt were No. 1 and No. 2.
Advertisement
Based on the voting, the lowest Watt was placed on a ballot was third and the lowest Garrett showed up was fourth. Trying to sort between the two is splitting hairs, but of course, we are biased and think Watt is better. And not just as a better pass rusher, but a better all-around defensive player.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt checks in at No. 2 among all pass rushers in NFL

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
7 most explosive Ravens heading into the 2025 season include two dynamic rookies
With the rookie set to report to the Under Armour Performance Center on Tuesday, we're looking at the seven most explosive players on the Ravens roster. The Baltimore Ravens are less than three days away from having rookies and select veterans report to the Under Armour Performance Center for the start of training camp 2025. John Harbaugh's team is loaded on offense with arguably the best quarterback, running back, and potentially the top center in the NFL. Baltimore had the NFL's most explosive offense in 2024, and last season, the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to have 40 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns. It's also the first to post 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards. Most of that explosive potential returns on both sides of the football, with two rookie defenders adding to the potential. With the rookie set to report to the Under Armour Performance Center on Tuesday, we're looking at the seven most explosive players on the Ravens roster. QB Lamar Jackson Last season, Jackson led the NFL in passer rating (119.6) while becoming the first quarterback in league history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards after he posted 4,172 yards through the air and 915 yards on the ground. RB Derrick Henry In his first season with the Ravens, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards in 17 regular-season games and scored 16 touchdowns. He also added two scores through the air. Baltimore's success percentage last season, according to Next Gen Stats, was even better when eight or more defenders were near the line of scrimmage (50.9%), compared to a neutral defensive approach (43.4%). Of Henry's 16 rushing touchdowns last season, 14 came against a stacked box. WR Zay Flowers Flowers is an explosive threat and a Pro Bowl receiver who led the Ravens in catches (74) and receiving yards (1,059) last season. His 19 big plays (20+ yards) were tied for the fifth-most in the league, just as many as the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase. DB Kyle Hamilton Hamilton plays with poise and maturity while allowing new Ravens DC Zach Orr to implement a dynamic and versatile scheme with three safeties on the field. Last season, Hamilton had the second-highest Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of any safety in the league, trailing only Kerby Joseph and his league-leading nine interceptions. Hamilton is the NFL's only defensive back to post at least 100 tackles, an interception, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. DB Malaki Starks (Rookie) A Swiss army knife that'll pair perfectly with Kyle Hamilton, Starks played three seasons for the Bulldogs, recording 197 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, and six interceptions in his collegiate career. In the 2024 season, he had 77 total tackles, four for loss, and one interception. He was an All-American in 2023. Starks's ability to line up deep, in the slot, and in the box will give defensive coordinator Zach Orr the flexibility to move his playmakers around the formation. OLB Mike Green (Rookie) Last season, as a redshirt sophomore at Marshall, Green led the FBS in sacks (17.0), tackles for loss (22.5), sack yardage (144), and tackles by a defensive lineman (84). His 17 sacks established a new Sun Belt Conference record. Green was the most productive edge rusher by sacks in college football in 2024, and the Ravens acquired a player who should contribute immediately off the edge with his burst and violence. DT Nnamdi Madubuike After a breakout performance in 2023, Madubuike recorded only 6.5 sacks last season, but drew double teams at a far higher rate, while posting 11 tackles for loss.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Update on Erik Karlsson's Mindset Will Catch Penguins Attention
New Update on Erik Karlsson's Mindset Will Catch Penguins Attention originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Erik Karlsson's time with the Pittsburgh Penguins might be approaching a conclusion, but that will only happen under the right circumstances. Advertisement According to Chris Johnston, speaking on Thursday's episode of "The Chris Johnston Show," the 35-year-old defenseman is open to being traded. That said, Karlsson holds a full no-movement clause as part of his eight-year, $92 million contract, so he will have the final say on any move. Johnston, however, reported that Karlsson is 'willing to be moved,' adding that Pittsburgh still considers him an asset that could fetch a solid return in the trade market. "(Karlsson) is willing to be moved," Johnston said. "And so I think that helps, because obviously there's a no-movement clause, but it's only to a few places. "And the flip side of this, I think, Pittsburgh rightly views him as an asset—more of an asset the closer (he gets to) the end of his deal, right? He's down to two years on that contract, and so the contract itself becomes less of a problem." Advertisement With just two years left on his $92 million deal, the Penguins believe the contract is becoming more tradeable, especially in a rising cap environment, as Johnston explained. 'Pittsburgh does have an ability to eat even more money on it than San Jose already (did),' Johnston said. 'It becomes a pretty movable object. It just might not be this summer." Karlsson played all 164 regular-season games over the last two years, producing 109 total points but missing the playoffs on back-to-back seasons in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) skates during Frid-USA TODAY Sports Johnston emphasized that Pittsburgh won't give Karlsson away for nothing but acknowledged that the blueliner still has enough offensive upside to drive value in the right system. The insider also believes Karlsson will grow tired of the Pittsburgh losing situation, thus facilitating a move. Advertisement 'He was in San Jose when that team went from contender to not,' Johnston said. 'He's arrived in Pittsburgh as they're headed in the wrong direction. "I have to think he's going to get antsy at a certain point here and want to (move). As much as I think Pittsburgh has been a great fit for his family, and he likes that aspect of living there, he's only got so much time in terms of trying to compete for a Stanley Cup." Related: Erik Karlsson-Maple Leafs Link 'More Than Just Hearsay,' Claims NHL Insider Related: Sidney Crosby-to-Canadiens Speculation Grows Because of ESPN Insider This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.


USA Today
22 minutes ago
- USA Today
Former Notre Dame All-American Jeff Burris enshrined in Walter Camp's ‘Ring of Honor'
It was quite the career for former Notre Dame All-American cornerback Jeff Burris, and on Sunday he got even more recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. As a consensus All-American in 1993, Burris went on the be the No. 27th overall pick of the first-round of the 1994 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, and had a solid career as a professional. Following his playing career that ended in 2004, he took a break before returning to the gridiron as a coach. Burris would then work his way up the ladder very quickly, becoming the Miami Dolphins assistant defensive backs coach just two years after starting the profession. He was on the Irish coaching staff in 2016 as a defensive analyst, before leaving after a season to return to being a position coach once again. Entering this coming season, he is the cornerbacks coach for the New York Giants. Burris played in 144 total games with 19 interceptions and 536 total tackles. Adding in his 10 touchdowns scores as the primary back in Notre Dame's goal line package, Burris has had an impressive career as he has now been enshrined into the foundations 'Ring of Honor.' Burris was one of six people to earn the honor in 2025, as we congratulate him on this amazing accomplishment.