5 best DE in past 15 seasons

[iowajerms]

I tried not to include DEs + LBs like DeMarcus Ware and DT + DE like Ngata, unless they were primarily DEs.

 

[beardown07]

In order of appearance...

Jared Allen
Dwight Freeney
Julius Peppers
Michael Strahan
JJ Watt

 

[iowajerms]

For me, Jared Allen, Michael Strahan, and JJ Watt were givens.

The last two came down to Peppers, Kearse, and Freeney. I figured Peppers was still good at Chicago and Freeney seemed to play on forever.

Kearse is kind of borderline era. Wasn't the same after Titans' hayday. I did think Kearse was the better of the 3 during his peak though.

 

[beardown07]

For me, Jared Allen, Michael Strahan, and JJ Watt were givens.

The last two came down to Peppers, Kearse, and Freeney. I figured Peppers was still good at Chicago and Freeney seemed to play on forever.

Kearse is kind of borderline era. Wasn't the same after Titans' hayday. I did think Kearse was the better of the 3 during his peak though.

Freeney and Peppers are still getting it done.

 

[iowajerms]

Freeney and Peppers are still getting it done.

Wow, I thought both retired. Well, I thought Freeney retired. Wasn't totally sure on Peppers.

 

[beardown07]

Wow, I thought both retired. Well, I thought Freeney retired. Wasn't totally sure on Peppers.

Peppers is in Green Bay, playing in a 3-4 scheme and doing well.


Freeney caused dome havoc in these last playoffs for the Arizona Cardinals.

 

[beardown07]

Wow, I thought both retired. Well, I thought Freeney retired. Wasn't totally sure on Peppers.

from wiki..

Freeney was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 16, in which he had three sacks and a forced fumble,....

....Freeney appeared in nine games during the 2015 season, totaling 8.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.

 

[Manster7588]

I tried not to include DEs + LBs like DeMarcus Ware and DT + DE like Ngata, unless they were primarily DEs.

Doesn't Watt line up as a DT often? Doesn't that take him out of this poll?

 

[beardown07]

from wiki

Peppers started his fourteenth NFL season off with a bang against his former team, the Chicago Bears. Peppers recorded 6 tackles and 1.5 sacks on the day and in doing so passed former Kansas City Chiefs great Derrick Thomas for fifteenth most sacks in NFL history, as well as helping the Packers defeat the Bears by a score of 31-23.

In week 15, against the Oakland Raiders, Peppers recorded 4 tackles and 2.5 sacks which moved him past fellow North Carolina alumni and former New York Giants legendary linebacker Lawrence Taylor into tenth place on the all-time NFL sacks list, giving him 135 career sacks. The Packers beat the Raiders by a score of 30-20.

Peppers finished the season with 25 solo tackles, 12 assisted tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 2 stuffs. He was also selected to his ninth Pro Bowl.

Peppers helped the Packers reach the playoffs and win their wild card round playoff game against the Washington Redskins by a score of 35-10, he had several QB pressures and 2 tackles in the game. In the next round against the Arizona Cardinals, Peppers would record several more QB pressures and a sack, but the Packers would go on to lose the game in overtime 26-20.

 

[Clayton]

Peppers and Watt are both once in a decade type players. Id list some others with them but it wouldnt be fair to the talent level of those two

 

[beardown07]

Julius Peppers is one of the most dominant players I've seen play. He really should be at the top of allot of lists. He is a freak of nature, physically.

 

[iowajerms]

Doesn't Watt line up as a DT often? Doesn't that take him out of this poll?

He's primarily DE. Ngata was primarily a DT.

 

[UM Fire]

I went with:

Dwight Freeney
Jevon Kearse
Julius Peppers
Michael Strahan
JJ Watt

It was hard to leave Allen out.

 

[Manster7588]

He's primarily DE. Ngata was primarily a DT.

I agree but D. Ware is also a primary DE.

 

[Battlelyon]

Jason Taylor > Dwight Freeney

 

[iowajerms]

I agree but D. Ware is also a primary DE.

2005-06: Started in Pro Bowl as an OLB
06-07: Started in Pro Bowl as an OLB
07-08: Started in Pro Bowl as an OLB
08-09: Started in Pro Bowl as an OLB
09-10: Started in Pro Bowl as an OLB
10-11: Started in Pro Bowl as an OLB
11-12: Started in Pro Bowl as an OLB
14-15: Started in Pro Bowl as DE

Makes me think I should pick him on the LB one.

 

[Battlelyon]

Taylor scored 9 TDs compared to Freeney's 1
Taylor intercepted the ball 8 times compared to Freeney's 0