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In today's NFL, quarterback is unequivocally the most important position. Without a good-to-great one, your chances of winning anything are essentially zero.
Over the years, the second-most important position in the game has varied. At one point, running backs were crucial. As were inside linebackers. Now, those two are afterthoughts for most teams.
If you ask coaches and executives in the NFL, they'll likely say that -rusher is right behind quarterback in of importance. Given that the league has shifted to more of a -centric game, being able to pressure quarterbacks and end drives with sacks is paramount to winning.
Is Maxx Crosby the best -rusher in the NFL?
Most people right now would say that T.J. Watt is the best -rusher in the NFL. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and has made splash play after splash play this season. But if we look at this season's numbers, it's Las Vegas Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby who really stands out among his peers.
Crosby has an absurd 53 pressures, while no other player in the NFL has sured 50 yet. He has double the QB hurries of Watt. He's also been unblockable as a run defender, as evidenced by his stop and tackles for loss numbers. And he's done all this while getting double teamed at an extremely high rate.
Watt, Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons can all make a legitimate claim to the -rushing throne. In fact, so can Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter, who leads the NFL in sacks with 10. But what Crosby is doing this year with relatively minimal talent around him on the Raiders defense is impressive.