Who is the best pass rusher in the AFC West?
By: Jake Rajala
There are many highly gifted pass rushers in the rigid AFC West. The question is: where do they rank? Well, I’m going to unfold the order of the top AFC West pass rushers. Let’s begin.
1. Maxx Crosby
The best player on the Las Vegas Raiders, Mad Maxx, is a pillar of regular dominance. Crosby unleashed 14.5 sacks in 2023. He only played in 12 games last season, which count for him only getting 7.5 sacks and 20 QB hits. He had 54 pressures, as well. He faces double-teams constantly on third down.
2. Nik Bonitto
Nik Bonitto is a big reason why the Broncos ranked first in sacks last season. All he did was record 13.5 sacks last season, which was third in the NFL! He also had 57 pressures, per PFF. It was surprising that he wasn’t first-team All-Pro. Sean Payton is hoping he doesn’t follow in Micah Parsons’s footsteps by leaving.
3. Chris Jones
The fact that Chris Jones is the third best pass rusher in the AFC West shows the talent in pass rushers in the AFC West. Chris Jones always gets doubled team, but that hasn’t slowed him down. He recorded 15.5 sacks in 2022. He only recorded five sacks, 20 QB hits, and nine TFLs last season, but the opponent’s effort of slowing him down was recognized. He was first-team All-Pro.
4. Khalil Mack
Khalil Mack wasn’t a DPOY-type player last season, but I believe he still has some of the 2023 magic in him. He unleashed 17 sacks, 22 QB hits, and 10 pass deflections in 2023. He only got six sacks last season, but let’s remember that he only had eight sacks in 2022 and 8.5 sacks in 2019. I trust him to bounce back.
As you can tell, there is a combination of old and young pass rushers. There is even a defensive tackle on the list. Each pass rusher plays for a team that could make the playoffs. With that said, I’m thrilled to see how each defender gets after the QB.
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