PFF ranks Dexter Lawrence among NFL's top defensive tackles
Over the last three seasons, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence has taken his game to an elite level.
It should not come as a surprise to anyone that Lawrence is being ranked among the best at his position, despite missing some time in 2024.
Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema recently ranked the top 32 interior defensive linemen across the NFL, which featured Lawrence all the way up at No. 2, trailing only Kansas City's Chris Jones.
"Lawrence logged only 550 snaps in 2024 due to some missed time, but he recorded an 89.0-plus PFF overall grade (89.9) for the third season in a row," wrote Sikkema. "His 1.07 PFF WAR over the past three years sits behind only Chris Jones at the position."
Lawrence was in the midst of a career-year before an elbow injury forced him to miss the final month of the season.
The 6-foot-4, 340-pound lineman registered a career-high nine sacks across his first 12 games before the injury. He added 16 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pass defensed, as well.
Lawrence was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third straight season, and while the injury likely caused him to miss out on a third consecutive AP All-Pro nod, he was voted by his peers to the NFL Players Association All-Pro team. Lawrence has been voted first-team All-Pro at nose tackle by the NFLPA in all three years of this particular award's existence.
Here are PFF's top five interior defenders heading into the 2025 season.
Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles