<
>
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Get ESPN+

Ranking the NFL's top 10 edge rushers for 2020: Execs, coaches, players make their picks

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

To preview the 2020 NFL season, we asked more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 different positions (sorry, special-teamers). The results might surprise you. They surprised me.

Here's how it worked: Voters gave their best 10 to 15 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, interviews and research. We had several ties, so we broke them by isolating the two-man matchup with additional voting and follow-up calls. Each section is packed with quotes and nuggets from the voters on every guy -- even the honorable mentions.

The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2020. This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who's the best today? Pretty simple.

We'll roll out a position per day over the next 11 days. Here's the schedule:

Week 1: tight ends (July 7); quarterbacks (July 8); running backs (July 9); wide receivers (July 10); offensive tackles (July 11)

Week 2: interior offensive linemen (July 12); edge defenders (July 13); interior defensive linemen (July 14); off-ball linebackers (July 15); cornerbacks (July 16); safeties (July 17)


Some of the NFL's most dynamic all-around players are on this list. Pass-rushers make elite money because of their rare skills to rip up game plans and change momentum.

The category of edge rusher -- outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense, defensive ends in a 4-3 -- is so stocked with talent that a 15-sack season in 2019 isn't enough to lock up a spot.

A mix of explosive young players, savvy veterans and close calls -- particularly for the last spot -- makes this one of the NFL's most compelling positions.