Giants Now: Dexter Lawrence ranked among the NFL’s best by PFF

Dexter Lawrence ranked among the NFL’s best by PFF

In case you needed a reminder, Dexter Lawrence is really good at football.

Pro Football Focus recently wrapped up their countdown of the 50 best players in the NFL heading into the 2024 season, which saw Lawrence land all the way up at No. 11.

“Dexter Lawrence is rewriting what was thought to be possible at the nose tackle position,” wrote PFF’s Sam Monson. “Over the past two seasons, his resume includes 81 quarterback pressures when lining up either head-up over the center or shaded to either side of the center. The next-closest player has 16. Lawrence disrupts the game from a true nose-tackle alignment better than any player PFF has seen over the past 18 seasons. He is a truly unique athlete who is only getting better.”

Lawrence was once again one of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in the NFL last season.

He registered 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits and two passes defensed to go with his 53 total tackles (32 solo). He did this despite missing the game against the Patriots and playing limited snaps in the final five games of the season.

Lawrence also recorded 65 total pressures on the season, which topped his previous career-high of 63 set last year.

Since the conclusion of the season, Lawrence has found himself on the list of 2023’s top players from numerous outlets. He was named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in addition to making the NFLPA’s Players’ All-Pro Team, both for the second consecutive season. This came after he was also named to his second straight Pro Bowl.

With Brian Burns now lining up on one side of him and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the other, Lawrence could see less double teams from opposing offensive lines this year. The trio, all of whom will enter the season below the age of 27, combined for 148 quarterback pressures last season, according to PFF.

Here are the league’s top 15 players according to PFF’s list:

1. QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Edge Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
3. OT Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
4. WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
5. Edge Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
6. DL Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
7. Edge Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
8. WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
9. LB Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
10. RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
11. DL Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
12. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
13. QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
14. Edge T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
15. TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs