NFL pass rusher rankings before week 18

• Jeffery Simmons becomes the NFL’s best interior defender: His PFF pass-rush grade of 92.4 in Week 17 ranked first among all defensemen, and he is now a full point ahead of the Chiefs’ Chris Jones for the season.

• Nic Scourton flashed in week 17: The Panthers’ rookie led the draft class in PFF pass-rush grade (81.7) and pass-rush winning percentage (23.5%) for the week.

• Receive PFF+ with a 30% discount: Use promotional code HOLIDAY 30 to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more – everything you need to win your season.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

We know the quarterback is the most important position on the field, but a great pass rush is the ultimate equalizer. Pressure disrupts timing, rhythm and accuracy, something only the elite quarterbacks can consistently overcome.

Last season, 13 of the top 15 teams in the PFF pass-rush class had a winning record. In 2023, 15 of the top 16 teams in the PFF pass-rush class had a winning record. A dominant pass rush is undeniably crucial to a team’s success over the course of the season.

Each week, after each NFL game has been reviewed and graded, PFF checks in on the top pass rushers of the 2025 season. These rankings will change dramatically early in the campaign, as one sack, hit or pressure can significantly change a player’s grade if the sample size is small. But as the numbers go up, the numbers will stabilize and we’ll get a clearer picture of the best pass rushers in the league.

Here are the 32 best pass rushers for the 2025 season after Week 17. For more numbers and stats on the best pass rushers in the league, visit PFF Premium Stats.

Highlights from week 17

Best Pass Rusher: Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans

The Saints had no answers for Jeffery Simmons in Week 17, as his PFF pass-rush grade of 92.4 ranked first among all defensemen. His best play was a forced fumble on a quarterback Tyler Shough sack on the team’s opening possession. Simmons was one of five players to register a pass-rush winning percentage of 30% or higher for the week.

The former first-round pick The state of Mississippi is having a career year in which he leads all interior defensemen in PFF pass-rush grade (91.7) and winning percentage (20.1%), while ranking second in pressures (62).

Most pressure: Chase Young, New Orleans Saints

Young posted a league-leading eight pressures in Week 17 as the Saints won their fourth straight game. He missed the first five games of the season while recovering from a calf injury, but has been a difference-maker since his return, leading New Orleans with 40 pressures and 8.5 sacks in that span.

Highest winning percentage: Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings

Turner has his best game as a pro against the Lions in Week 17, leading the NFL with a pass rush winning percentage of 32.0%. He helped fill the void at EDGE when Jonathan Greenard was ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury earlier this month.

#Vikings EDGE Dallas Turner has his best game as a pro in Week 17 against Detroit

– 32.0% win rate (1st)
– 87.0 passed emergency class (5th)
– 5 pushes, sack, forced fumble

*Brian Flores’ defense is a joy to watch#School pic.twitter.com/3HanpGl8Pw

— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) December 30, 2025

Best Rookie Pass Rusher: Nic Scourton, Carolina Panthers

Scourton had his best pass-rush game of the season, posting a PFF pass-rush grade of 81.7 in Week 17 against the Seahawks — the best mark among rookies. His pass-rush winning percentage of 23.5% was also the highest percentage among rookies of the week.

Highlights of the season

Best Pass Rusher: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Garrett’s PFF pass-rush grade of 92.9 leads the NFL, although he has been held in check the past two weeks (six pressures and half a sack). The six-time All-Pro needs one sack in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals to set the record for sacks in a season. In their first meeting in Week 1, Garrett sacked quarterback Joe Burrow twice and generated five pressures.

Most pressure: Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions; Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans

Hutchinson was the leader in total pressure for most of the season, but is now tied with Texans star Will Anderson Jr. (92) before Week 18. Anderson was the more consistent pass rusher of the two, recording at least four pressures in all but one game this season.

Highest win rate: Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans

Anderson (26.7%) has paced Myles Garrett (24.1%) on his way to first in pass rush win rate this season. The top EDGE defenders are two of the six players with a pass rush winning percentage above 20.0% heading into the final week of the season.

Best Rookie Pass Rusher: Abdul Carter, New York Giants

Carter is in a tier of his own when it comes to rookie pass rushers this season, leading the way in PFF pass-rush grade (82.4), pressures (71) and winning percentage (14.4%). The third overall pick in this year’s draft has gotten stronger as the season has progressed, generating 23 pressures and 3.5 sacks over the past four games.