2017 NFL Draft: Exploring Historically Deep Pass-Rushing Class

January 11, 2017   ·   Justis Mosqueda   ·   Jump to comments

Outside of quarterback, the next most important positions in the NFL are line-of-scrimmage defenders. If you look at the highest average salaries in the league, the top 32 contracts in the NFL are all either passers or some form of line-of-scrimmage defenders, either an interior lineman or edge-rusher, per Spotrac.
In a class where the quarterback pool is a bit volatile, and has only altered even more with the Clemson Tigers' Deshaun Watson's performance in a national title win against the Alabama Crimson Tide, it's quite possible teams turn to defenders early on in the coming 2017 NFL draft.
Luckily for them, this pass-rushing class very well might be the best we've seen since 2011.
In 2011, Pro Bowlers Von Miller, Aldon Smith, J.J. Watt, Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan, Cameron Jordan and Muhammad Wilkerson, who all spend time as rush ends or linebackers, were all selected in the first round, along with Adrian Clayborn, who showed promise before injuries stunted his p...

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