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Best defensive players on New York Jets’ 2020 schedule

Michael Nania

06/07/2020

Stephon Gilmore and Robby Anderson — Jet X Graphic, Getty Images

Michael Nania stacks up the top-30 defensive players that the New York Jets will face in 2020.

All stats are regular season only unless otherwise noted.

30. Budda Baker, S, Arizona Cardinals

Key 2019 stats:

Most run stops among S (31)
Most total stops among S (47)
4th among S in pressures (12)
12th-lowest missed tackle rate among S (7.4%)

29. Dont’a Hightower, LB, New England Patriots

Key 2019 stats:

Most pressures among LB (32)
PFF’s 14th-ranked LB (69.4 grade)

28. Micah Hyde, S, Buffalo Bills

Key 2019 stats:

Zero penalties
PFF’s 10th-ranked S (79.5 grade)
4th in PFF coverage grade in 2018 (88.6), 6th in 2017 (90.2)
4th among S in passes defended since joining Buffalo in 2017 (13, tied with teammate Jordan Poyer)

27. Jordan Poyer, S, Buffalo Bills

Key 2019 stats:

4th among S in run stops (20)
PFF’s 19th-ranked S (74.2 grade)
4th among S in passes defended since joining Buffalo in 2017 (13, tied with teammate Micah Hyde)

26. Xavien Howard, CB, Miami Dolphins

Key 2019 stats:

Only 5 GP but struggled in 2019 (9.1 yards per target, 117.9 passer rating)
Elite in 2018 (12 GP): tied for NFL lead with 7 interceptions (tops with 0.58 per game), allowed 2nd-lowest passer rating (62.6), 8th in passes defended per game (1.0), earned 16th-best overall PFF grade among CB (77.3)
13th-lowest passer rating allowed in 2017 (66.8)

25. Shaquill Griffin, CB, Seattle Seahawks

Key 2019 stats:

4th among CB in run stops (9)
PFF’s 9th-ranked CB (77.0 grade)
14th among CB in passes defended (13)
16th-fewest yards allowed per cover snap among CB (0.94)

24. Justin Houston, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts

Key 2019 stats:

13th-most sacks in NFL (11.0)
18th among EDGE in pressures (60)

23. Byron Jones, CB, Miami Dolphins

Key 2019 stats:

4th-lowest missed tackle rate among CB (4.3%)
4th-fewest yards per cover snap allowed among CB (0.62)
5th-most cover snaps per allowed reception among CB (17.9)
PFF’s 12th-ranked CB (76.1 grade)

22. Denzel Ward, CB, Cleveland Browns

Key 2019 stats:

Lowest completion rate allowed among CB (44.9%)
6th-lowest passer rating allowed among CB (58.0)
PFF’s 19th-ranked CB in coverage (72.7 grade), ranked 6th in 2018 (83.6)

21. Tyrann Mathieu, S, Kansas City Chiefs

Key 2019 stats:

70.0 passer rating and 5.0 yards per target allowed over position-leading 269 snaps in slot coverage
PFF’s 17th-ranked safety overall (75.3 grade) and 10th in coverage (81.6)

20. Devin McCourty, S, New England Patriots

Key 2019 stats:

3rd-fewest yards per target allowed among S (4.3)
4th-most interceptions in NFL (5)
6th-lowest passer rating allowed among S (44.4)
9th-fewest yards per cover snap allowed among S (0.23)

19. Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals

Key 2019 stats:

Suspended first 6 games – the only games he has missed in his entire career
Down year. PFF’s 32nd-ranked CB (68.6), 44th in coverage (64.3), 104.6 passer rating allowed (66th), but 10th-ranked vs. run (79.6)
Still elite as recent as 2018. That season: 2nd-fewest yards allowed per cover snap (0.63) and 5th-best coverage grade (83.7) among CB
Top-12 in fewest yards allowed per cover snap each season from 2015-18 (top-4 in 3 of those)

18. DeForest Buckner, IDL, Indianapolis Colts

Key 2019 stats:

8th among IDL in pressures (55)
PFF’s 11th-ranked IDL (77.8 grade)
13th among IDL in pressure rate (11.4%)

17. Arik Armstead, DE, San Francisco 49ers

Key 2019 stats:

PFF’s 3rd-ranked EDGE (89.8 grade)
15th among EDGE in pressures (62)

16. Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos

Key 2019 stats:

PFF’s top-ranked S (90.8 grade)
Most passes defended among S (15)
2nd-lowest passer rating allowed among S (32.1)
4th-lowest missed tackle rate among S (4.1%)
5th-fewest yards per target allowed among S (5.1)
14th among S in run stops (14)

15. Darius Leonard, LB, Indianapolis Colts

Key 2019 stats:

1st among LB and 4th among all players in interceptions (5)
2nd-lowest passer rating allowed among LB (79.0)
PFF’s 6th-ranked LB (79.2 grade)
7th among LB in pressures (19)

14. Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers

Key 2019 stats (only 5 GP):

2nd-highest run stop rate among S (8.3%)
2nd-fewest yards per target allowed among S (4.0)
PFF’s 8th-ranked S (82.4 grade)

Key 2018 stats (16 GP):

Tied for most pressures among S (18, tied with Jamal Adams, setting new record for safeties at the time which was broken against by Adams in 2019 with 23)
5th-fewest yards per target allowed among S (5.0)
PFF’s 4th-ranked S (88.3 grade)
9th among S in run stops (17)

13. Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

Key 2019 stats:

Led EDGE in pressures per game (6.1)
3rd-most sacks per game in NFL (1.0)
5th among EDGE in pressure rate (16.3%)

12. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Los Angeles Rams

Key 2019 stats:

PFF’s 20th-ranked CB (71.5 grade)
42nd-fewest yards per cover snap allowed among CB (1.15)
48th-lowest passer rating allowed among CB (96.4)
10th-lowest passer rating allowed among CB in 2018 (73.8) and 11th in 2017 (63.9)

11. Casey Hayward, CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Key 2019 stats:

Led CB in most cover snaps per allowed reception (19.7)
2nd-fewest yards after catch allowed per reception among CB (2.2)
5th-fewest yards allowed per cover snap among CB (0.64)

10. Chandler Jones, EDGE, Arizona Cardinals

Key 2019 stats:

Tied for most forced fumbles in NFL (8)
2nd-most sacks in NFL (19.0)
8th among EDGE in pressures (75)

9. Chris Jones, IDL, Kansas City Chiefs

Key 2019 stats:

2nd among IDL in pressures per game (4.5)
2nd among IDL in pressure rate (14.7%)
2nd among IDL in PFF pass rush grade (89.4)

8. Tre’Davious White, CB, Buffalo Bills

Key 2019 stats:

Tied for most interceptions in NFL (6)
Best TD/INT ratio allowed among CB (0 TD, 6 INT)
2nd-lowest passer rating allowed among CB (46.3)
4th-most passes defended in NFL (17)

7. Nick Bosa, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers

Key 2019 stats:

5th-most tackles for loss in NFL (16)
5th among EDGE in pressure rate (17.3%)
6th among EDGE in pressures (80)
8th-most quarterback hits in NFL (25)
22 pressures in 3 playoff games (7.3 per game versus 5.0 per game in regular season)

6. Joey Bosa, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers

Key 2019 stats:

Led EDGE in run stops (34)
2nd among EDGE in run stop rate (10.3%)
3rd-most tackles for loss in NFL (18)
5th-most quarterback hits in NFL (31)
9th among EDGE in pressures (72)
10th among EDGE in pressure rate (15.7%)

5. Richard Sherman, CB, San Francisco 49ers

Key 2019 stats:

Fewest yards per cover snap allowed among CB (0.44)
Fewest yards per target allowed among CB (4.5)
2nd-most cover snaps per allowed reception (19.1)
3rd-lowest passer rating allowed among CB (46.8)
10th-lowest missed tackle rate among CB (6.0%)

4. Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks

Key 2019 stats:

3rd among LB in run stops (45)
7th-lowest missed tackle rate among LB (5.2%)
PFF’s 9th-ranked LB (76.1 grade) – ranked 1st in 2017 and 2018

3. Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots

Key 2019 stats:

Led NFL in passes defended (20)
Tied for most interceptions in NFL (6)
4th-lowest passer rating allowed among CB (47.4)
In 2 games against Gilmore, Robby Anderson caught 2-of-6 targets for 11 yards and zero first downs against Gilmore’s coverage