Who were ACTUALLY the best pass rushers in 2024?

Trey Hendrickson led the league in sacks, but sacks are over-hyped. Pressures are the truest measure of a pass rusher’s effectiveness. Elite pass rushers may go games without a sack, but they rarely get shut-out – have a game with zero pressures.

So first let’s talk about a QB pressure. A pressure is when a rusher gets close enough to a QB to effect the QB without actually hitting the QB. A QBhit is a pressure. A QB knockdown is a pressure and a QBhit. A sack puts a check in all four boxes. Unfortunately,

different sites credit pressures differently since they are the most subjective of the pass rush stats.

SISdatahub.com is much more free with pressures. Trey Hendrickson led the league in pressures according to SIS (85) and pro-football-reference.com (54). The player who got screwed over the most by PFR was Jared Verse. Sis credited him with 39 more QB pressures than PFR did. Seven other guys were shorted 30 or more pressures by PFR. See the table below (PRSS SIS – PFR)

Pass Rusher	POS	Team	Games	Rushes	Pass Rushes/Game	Rush%	Sacks	Pressures	PRSS SIS – PFR	Pressures/Game	Press%
Jared Verse	DE	Rams	17	449	26.4	93.7	4.5	72	39	4.24	16.04%
Maxx Crosby	DE	Raiders	12	419	34.9	95.7	7.5	68	33	5.67	16.23%
Will McDonald	DE	Jets	17	410	24.1	94.5	10.5	70	32	4.12	17.07%
Josh Sweat	LB	Eagles	16	378	23.6	91.5	8.0	48	32	3.00	12.70%
Trey Hendrickson	DE	Bengals	17	476	28.0	92.6	17.5	85	31	5.00	17.86%
Yaya Diaby	DE	Buccaneers	17	421	24.8	82.2	4.5	63	31	3.71	14.96%
T.J. Watt	DE	Steelers	17	527	31.0	94.3	11.5	61	30	3.59	11.57%
Nnamdi Madubuike	DT	Ravens	17	509	29.9	97.9	6.5	51	30	3.00	10.02%

If you read my work, you know I like rate stats. So I figured pressures per game for both sites (min 20 pressures on SIS). Looking at it this way we can see the most effective pass rushers and the least effective pass rushers (on a per game basis, not on a per rush basis). This really only works for comparing guys whose job it is to primarily rush the passer (>85% pass rush). If you rank guys by pressures per game, you have to get to the 39th ranked player (Nik Bonitto) to find a player who dropped into coverage more than 15% of the time. Bonitto only rushed 83.2% of the time on passing downs that he played.

Nik’s sack to pressure rate (SIS) was the 3rd best among heavy pass rushers (min 100 rushes and 20 pressures) at 28.1%. Only Dexter Lawrence (34.6%) and Patrick Jones II (29.2%) were higher. On the other end of the spectrum two pass rushers had a 0% conversion rate (sacks/pressures). Myles Murphy and Moro Ojomo both had zero sacks and more than 20 pressures (23 and 26).

Pass Rusher	POS	Team	Games	Rushes	Pass Rushes/Game	Rush%	Sacks	Pressures	Pressures/Game	Sack/Prss	Press%
Aidan Hutchinson	DE	Lions	5	177	35.4	96.7	7.5	38	7.60	19.7%	21.47%
Maxx Crosby	DE	Raiders	12	419	34.9	95.7	7.5	68	5.67	11.0%	16.23%
Micah Parsons	DE	Cowboys	13	387	29.8	93.0	12.0	70	5.38	17.1%	18.09%
Trey Hendrickson	DE	Bengals	17	476	28.0	92.6	17.5	85	5.00	20.6%	17.86%
Alex Highsmith	LB	Steelers	11	273	24.8	90.4	6.0	49	4.45	12.2%	17.95%
Zach Allen	DE	Broncos	16	586	36.6	98.2	8.5	69	4.31	12.3%	11.77%
Jared Verse	DE	Rams	17	449	26.4	93.7	4.5	72	4.24	6.3%	16.04%
Will McDonald	DE	Jets	17	410	24.1	94.5	10.5	70	4.12	15.0%	17.07%
Nick Bosa	DE	49ers	14	397	28.4	98.3	9.0	57	4.07	15.8%	14.36%
Chris Jones	DT	Chiefs	15	506	33.7	99.2	5.0	61	4.07	8.2%	12.06%
Myles Garrett	DE	Browns	17	445	26.2	95.9	14.0	69	4.06	20.3%	15.51%
Jonathan Greenard	DE	Vikings	17	502	29.5	86.0	12.0	68	4.00	17.6%	13.55%
Brian Burns	LB	Giants	17	432	25.4	90.8	8.5	63	3.71	13.5%	14.58%
Yaya Diaby	DE	Buccaneers	17	421	24.8	82.2	4.5	63	3.71	7.1%	14.96%
Gregory Rousseau	DE	Bills	16	436	27.3	95.8	8.0	58	3.63	13.8%	13.30%
T.J. Watt	DE	Steelers	17	527	31.0	94.3	11.5	61	3.59	18.9%	11.57%
Osa Odighizuwa	DT	Cowboys	17	483	28.4	99.6	4.5	61	3.59	7.4%	12.63%
George Karlaftis III	DE	Chiefs	16	511	31.9	95.3	8.0	54	3.38	14.8%	10.57%
Danielle Hunter	LB	Texans	17	469	27.6	98.5	12.0	57	3.35	21.1%	12.15%
Carl Granderson	DE	Saints	17	481	28.3	94.1	5.5	57	3.35	9.6%	11.85%
Boye Mafe	LB	Seahawks	15	314	20.9	83.3	6.0	49	3.27	12.2%	15.61%
Calijah Kancey	DT	Buccaneers	12	351	29.3	97.2	7.5	39	3.25	19.2%	11.11%
Josh Hines-Allen	DE	Jaguars	16	436	27.3	94.8	8.0	52	3.25	15.4%	11.93%
Kayvon Thibodeaux	DE	Giants	12	328	27.3	97.0	5.5	39	3.25	14.1%	11.89%
Travon Walker	DE	Jaguars	17	506	29.8	97.5	10.5	55	3.24	19.1%	10.87%
Kyle Van Noy	LB	Ravens	16	367	22.9	85.7	12.5	51	3.19	24.5%	13.90%
Jonathon Cooper	LB	Broncos	17	424	24.9	85.1	10.5	53	3.12	19.8%	12.50%
Chase Young	DE	Saints	17	445	26.2	95.5	5.5	53	3.12	10.4%	11.91%
Will Anderson	DE	Texans	14	341	24.4	97.2	11.0	43	3.07	25.6%	12.61%
Leonard Williams	DE	Seahawks	16	442	27.6	96.3	11.0	48	3.00	22.9%	10.86%
Josh Sweat	LB	Eagles	16	378	23.6	91.5	8.0	48	3.00	16.7%	12.70%
Nnamdi Madubuike	DT	Ravens	17	509	29.9	97.9	6.5	51	3.00	12.7%	10.02%
Keion White	DE	Patriots	17	391	23.0	86.5	5.0	50	2.94	10.0%	12.79%
Jalen Carter	DT	Eagles	16	504	31.5	99.2	4.5	47	2.94	9.6%	9.33%
Khalil Mack	LB	Chargers	16	354	22.1	95.7	6.0	46	2.88	13.0%	12.99%
Quinnen Williams	DT	Jets	16	403	25.2	98.1	6.0	46	2.88	13.0%	11.41%
Zach Sieler	DT	Dolphins	15	443	29.5	97.1	10.0	43	2.87	23.3%	9.71%
Nik Bonitto	LB	Broncos	17	367	21.6	83.2	13.5	48	2.82	28.1%	13.08%
Jadeveon Clowney	LB	Panthers	14	317	22.6	87.1	5.5	39	2.79	14.1%	12.30%
Cameron Heyward	DT	Steelers	17	445	26.2	100.0	8.0	47	2.76	17.0%	10.56%
Chop Robinson	DE	Dolphins	17	322	18.9	87.3	6.0	47	2.76	12.8%	14.60%
Dayo Odeyingbo	DE	Colts	17	413	24.3	98.8	3.0	47	2.76	6.4%	11.38%
John Franklin-Myers	DE	Broncos	17	347	20.4	98.6	7.0	46	2.71	15.2%	13.26%
DeForest Buckner	DT	Colts	12	316	26.3	100.0	6.5	32	2.67	20.3%	10.13%
Andrew Van Ginkel	LB	Vikings	17	376	22.1	64.8	11.5	45	2.65	25.6%	11.97%
Braden Fiske	DT	Rams	17	402	23.6	99.0	8.5	45	2.65	18.9%	11.19%
Rashan Gary	DE	Packers	17	391	23.0	99.2	7.5	45	2.65	16.7%	11.51%
Montez Sweat	DE	Bears	16	339	21.2	97.1	5.5	42	2.63	13.1%	12.39%
Odafe Oweh	LB	Ravens	17	403	23.7	92.6	10.0	44	2.59	22.7%	10.92%
Derick Hall	LB	Seahawks	17	345	20.3	89.6	8.0	44	2.59	18.2%	12.75%
Vita Vea	DT	Buccaneers	16	442	27.6	97.6	7.0	41	2.56	17.1%	9.28%
Dorance Armstrong Jr.	DE	Commanders	16	343	21.4	95.8	5.0	41	2.56	12.2%	11.95%
Kwity Paye	DE	Colts	15	360	24.0	97.0	8.0	38	2.53	21.1%	10.56%
DeMarcus Walker	DE	Bears	17	392	23.1	96.8	3.5	43	2.53	8.1%	10.97%
D.J. Wonnum	LB	Panthers	8	213	26.6	86.2	4.0	20	2.50	20.0%	9.39%
Arden Key	DE	Titans	16	373	23.3	93.7	6.5	40	2.50	16.3%	10.72%
Joey Bosa	DE	Chargers	14	294	21.0	98.3	5.0	35	2.50	14.3%	11.90%
Jeffery Simmons	DT	Titans	16	421	26.3	96.6	5.0	40	2.50	12.5%	9.50%
Michael Hall	DT	Browns	8	152	19.0	96.2	1.0	20	2.50	5.0%	13.16%
Leonard Floyd	DE	49ers	17	355	20.9	97.8	8.5	42	2.47	20.2%	11.83%
Dre’Mont Jones	DE	Seahawks	17	346	20.4	96.1	4.0	42	2.47	9.5%	12.14%
Al-Quadin Muhammad	DE	Lions	9	151	16.8	95.0	3.0	22	2.44	13.6%	14.57%
Emmanuel Ogbah	DE	Dolphins	16	385	24.1	88.1	5.0	39	2.44	12.8%	10.13%
Kobie Turner	DT	Rams	17	486	28.6	99.6	8.0	41	2.41	19.5%	8.44%
Nick Herbig	LB	Steelers	13	200	15.4	83.7	5.5	31	2.38	17.7%	15.50%
Dante Fowler	DE	Commanders	17	303	17.8	91.3	10.5	40	2.35	26.3%	13.20%
Maliek Collins	DT	49ers	17	413	24.3	99.5	5.0	40	2.35	12.5%	9.69%
B.J. Hill	DT	Bengals	15	399	26.6	98.0	3.0	35	2.33	8.6%	8.77%
Blake Cashman	LB	Vikings	14	155	11.1	26.8	4.5	31	2.21	14.5%	20.00%
K’Lavon Chaisson	DE	Raiders	15	281	18.7	86.2	5.0	33	2.20	15.2%	11.74%
Joseph Ossai	DE	Bengals	17	319	18.8	90.6	5.0	37	2.18	13.5%	11.60%
Dexter Lawrence	DT	Giants	12	311	25.9	99.4	9.0	26	2.17	34.6%	8.36%
Alim McNeill	DT	Lions	14	392	28.0	97.5	3.5	30	2.14	11.7%	7.65%
Ed Oliver	DT	Bills	14	365	26.1	98.1	3.0	30	2.14	10.0%	8.22%
Carl Lawson	DE	Cowboys	15	274	18.3	95.5	5.0	32	2.13	15.6%	11.68%
Gervon Dexter	DT	Bears	15	336	22.4	98.8	5.0	32	2.13	15.6%	9.52%
Levi Onwuzurike	DT	Lions	16	379	23.7	97.9	1.5	34	2.13	4.4%	8.97%
Tuli Tuipulotu	LB	Chargers	17	361	21.2	83.4	8.5	36	2.12	23.6%	9.97%
Byron Young	LB	Rams	17	336	19.8	70.3	7.5	36	2.12	20.8%	10.71%
Calais Campbell	DE	Dolphins	17	374	22.0	95.9	5.0	36	2.12	13.9%	9.63%
Jarran Reed	DT	Seahawks	17	369	21.7	94.6	4.5	36	2.12	12.5%	9.76%
Laiatu Latu	DE	Colts	17	353	20.8	97.2	4.0	36	2.12	11.1%	10.20%
Azeez Ojulari	LB	Giants	11	187	17.0	96.4	6.0	23	2.09	26.1%	12.30%
Nolan Smith	LB	Eagles	16	260	16.3	86.7	6.5	33	2.06	19.7%	12.69%
Bryan Bresee	DT	Saints	17	439	25.8	98.9	7.5	35	2.06	21.4%	7.97%
Arnold Ebiketie	LB	Falcons	17	315	18.5	85.4	6.0	35	2.06	17.1%	11.11%
Tershawn Wharton	DT	Chiefs	17	423	24.9	97.2	6.5	34	2.00	19.1%	8.04%
Kaden Elliss	LB	Falcons	17	149	8.8	23.4	5.0	34	2.00	14.7%	22.82%
Haason Reddick	LB	Jets	10	222	22.2	92.1	1.0	20	2.00	5.0%	9.01%
Harold Landry	DE	Titans	17	387	22.8	81.3	9.0	33	1.94	27.3%	8.53%
Chauncey Golston	DE	Cowboys	17	429	25.2	98.6	5.5	33	1.94	16.7%	7.69%
Milton Williams	DT	Eagles	17	280	16.5	99.3	5.0	33	1.94	15.2%	11.79%
Zaven Collins	LB	Cardinals	17	281	16.5	77.6	5.0	33	1.94	15.2%	11.74%
Tyree Wilson	DE	Raiders	16	313	19.6	95.1	4.5	31	1.94	14.5%	9.90%
Devonte Wyatt	DT	Packers	14	236	16.9	97.1	5.0	27	1.93	18.5%	11.44%
Von Miller	DE	Bills	13	196	15.1	95.1	6.0	25	1.92	24.0%	12.76%
Za’Darius Smith	LB	Lions	17	203	11.9	97.1	4.0	32	1.88	12.5%	15.76%
Arik Armstead	DT	Jaguars	17	353	20.8	99.2	2.0	32	1.88	6.3%	9.07%
Jihad Ward	LB	Vikings	17	372	21.9	97.9	1.0	32	1.88	3.1%	8.60%
Dalvin Tomlinson	DT	Browns	16	299	18.7	98.0	3.0	30	1.88	10.0%	10.03%
Bryce Huff	DE	Eagles	12	171	14.3	96.6	2.5	22	1.83	11.4%	12.87%
Anthony Nelson	DE	Buccaneers	17	267	15.7	74.2	4.0	31	1.82	12.9%	11.61%
Mario Edwards	DE	Texans	13	289	22.2	100.0	3.0	23	1.77	13.0%	7.96%
Myles Murphy	DE	Bengals	13	202	15.5	90.6	0.0	23	1.77	0.0%	11.39%
Frankie Luvu	LB	Commanders	17	204	12.0	36.8	8.0	30	1.76	26.7%	14.71%
Grady Jarrett	DT	Falcons	17	430	25.3	98.2	2.5	30	1.76	8.3%	6.98%
Dondrea Tillman	LB	Broncos	12	141	11.8	92.8	5.0	21	1.75	23.8%	14.89%
Josh Paschal	DE	Lions	14	333	23.8	96.0	2.0	24	1.71	8.3%	7.21%
Anfernee Jennings	LB	Patriots	16	317	19.8	79.6	2.5	27	1.69	9.3%	8.52%
Jacob Martin	DE	Bears	11	116	10.5	92.1	3.0	18	1.64	16.7%	15.52%
Patrick Jones II	LB	Vikings	15	298	19.9	91.1	7.0	24	1.60	29.2%	8.05%
Tim Settle	DT	Texans	17	377	22.2	99.7	5.0	27	1.59	18.5%	7.16%
Daron Payne	DT	Commanders	17	407	23.9	99.8	4.0	27	1.59	14.8%	6.63%
Morgan Fox	DE	Chargers	17	353	20.8	97.5	3.5	27	1.59	13.0%	7.65%
Baron Browning	LB	Cardinals	13	128	9.8	82.6	2.0	20	1.54	10.0%	15.63%
Javon Kinlaw	DT	Jets	17	359	21.1	99.4	4.5	26	1.53	17.3%	7.24%
Michael Hoecht	LB	Rams	17	208	12.2	60.5	3.0	26	1.53	11.5%	12.50%
Moro Ojomo	DT	Eagles	17	251	14.8	100.0	0.0	26	1.53	0.0%	10.36%
Darrell Taylor	DE	Bears	16	216	13.5	93.5	3.0	24	1.50	12.5%	11.11%
Bud Dupree	LB	Chargers	17	323	19.0	93.4	6.0	25	1.47	24.0%	7.74%
Adam Butler	DT	Raiders	17	476	28.0	93.0	5.0	25	1.47	20.0%	5.25%
Travis Jones	DT	Ravens	17	359	21.1	98.9	1.0	25	1.47	4.0%	6.96%
Deatrich Wise Jr.	DT	Patriots	15	245	16.3	99.2	5.0	22	1.47	22.7%	8.98%
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka	LB	Buccaneers	15	261	17.4	75.4	2.0	22	1.47	9.1%	8.43%
Solomon Thomas	DT	Jets	16	241	15.1	99.6	3.5	23	1.44	15.2%	9.54%
Kingsley Enagbare	DE	Packers	17	274	16.1	89.8	4.5	24	1.41	18.8%	8.76%
Micheal Clemons	DE	Jets	17	298	17.5	97.7	4.5	24	1.41	18.8%	8.05%
Cameron Jordan	DE	Saints	17	324	19.1	96.4	4.0	24	1.41	16.7%	7.41%
Kyzir White	LB	Cardinals	17	99	5.8	16.8	2.5	24	1.41	10.4%	24.24%
Ogbo Okoronkwo	DE	Browns	16	260	16.3	96.3	3.0	22	1.38	13.6%	8.46%
Za’Darius Smith	LB	Browns	17	194	11.4	96.5	5.0	23	1.35	21.7%	11.86%
Derek Barnett	DE	Texans	16	205	12.8	99.5	5.0	21	1.31	23.8%	10.24%
A.J. Epenesa	DE	Bills	17	334	19.6	96.3	6.0	22	1.29	27.3%	6.59%
A’Shawn Robinson	DT	Panthers	16	336	21.0	99.4	5.5	20	1.25	27.5%	5.95%
Sam Okuayinonu	DT	49ers	16	233	14.6	98.3	3.0	20	1.25	15.0%	8.58%
Karl Brooks	DT	Packers	17	277	16.3	97.5	3.5	21	1.24	16.7%	7.58%
T’Vondre Sweat	DT	Titans	17	328	19.3	96.2	1.0	21	1.24	4.8%	6.40%
Matt Judon	LB	Falcons	17	303	17.8	77.7	5.5	20	1.18	27.5%	6.60%
Lavonte David	LB	Buccaneers	17	135	7.9	19.8	5.5	20	1.18	27.5%	14.81%
Poona Ford	DT	Chargers	17	326	19.2	99.4	3.0	20	1.18	15.0%	6.13%
Malcolm Roach	DT	Broncos	17	253	14.9	97.7	2.5	20	1.18	12.5%	7.91%
Keeanu Benton	DT	Steelers	17	344	20.2	99.4	1.0	20	1.18	5.0%	5.81%
Kenny Clark	DT	Packers	17	394	23.2	98.7	1.0	20	1.18	5.0%	5.08%

Aidan Hutchinson was having a monster season before you got hurt last season. 7.60 pressures per game is insane! That’s almost two pressures better than Maxx Crosby who was second. When 4.o per game is elite, getting almost double that is amazing. Former DPOY TJ Watt only got 3.6 per game last season. So let’s talk about consistency.

How often do these rushers have huge games and how often do they get shut out. I’m going to use SIS since they show pressures in their game logs. Because this is time consuming and I have other things to do over Labor Day weekend, I only looked at pass rushers who were greater than 14.50% pressure rate (I polished the SIS data which can have some errors). I then plotted pressures per game for all 23 players who were better than 14.50% (plus Nik Bonitto and John Franklin-Myers).

There were only 28 games when one of these 23 rushers got shut-out and five of those belonged to Chop Robinson who was very boom and bust. He had 32 of his 47 pressures (SIS) over seven games. In the other nine games he had only 15 pressures. While Bonitto, JFM and Zach Allen did not get above 14.5% pressure rates last season (the only Bronco who did was Tillman), I added Nik and JFM to the chart below.

Of course with a player like Dondrea Tillman, you also have to look at how many pressures he didn’t get because another Bronco defender got there first. Unfortunately, no site shows team QB pressures per game (at least in front of a pay-wall) so we can’t see how often a particular player was the only defender to be able to get pressure in a game. That would be an interesting study for someone who has a subscription to PFF or another site that has that data. Notice the both Bonitto and JFM were fairly consistent in terms of pressures per game. Neither Bronco defender had more than six pressures in a game last season. Zach Allen had the most in any game for Denver last season with nine pressures (in the first loss to the Chargers).