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Who are the top 5 greatest 4-3 DE's of all-time?


Who is the # 1 greatest 4-3 Defensive End of all-time?  

7 members have voted

  1. 1. Who is the # 1 greatest 4-3 Defensive End of all-time?

    • Reggie White, PHI/GB/CAR (1985-2000)
    • Carl Eller, MIN/SEA (1964-1979)
      0
    • Julius Peppers, CAR/CHI/GB (2002-2018)
      0
    • Michael Strahan, NYG (1993-2007)
      0
    • Jason Taylor, MIA/WAS/NYJ (1997-2011)
      0
    • Chris Doleman, MIN/ATL/SF (1985-1999)
      0
    • Jack Youngblood, LAR (1971-1984)
      0
    • Deacon Jones, LAR/SD/WAS (1961-1974)
      0
    • Mark Gastineau, NYJ (1979-1988)
      0
    • Jared Allen, KC/MIN/CHI/CAR (2004-2015)
      0
    • Richard Dent, CHI/SF/IND/PHI (1983-1997)
      0
    • Jim Marshall, CLE/MIN (1960-1979)
      0
    • Neil Smith, KC/DEN/SD (1988-2000)
      0
    • Simeon Rice, AZ/TB/IND/DEN (1996-2007)
      0
    • John Abraham, NYJ/ATL/AZ (2000-2014)
      0
    • Clyde Simmons, PHI/AZ/JAX/CIN/CHI (1986-2000)
      0
    • Too Tall Jones, DAL (1974-1989)
      0
    • Myles Garrett, CLE (2017-present)
      0
    • L.C. Greenwood, PIT (1969-1981)
      0
    • Other (Specify in thread)
      0
  2. 2. Who is the # 2 greatest 4-3 Defensive End of all-time?

    • Reggie White, PHI/GB/CAR (1985-2000)
      0
    • Carl Eller, MIN/SEA (1964-1979)
    • Julius Peppers, CAR/CHI/GB (2002-2018)
    • Michael Strahan, NYG (1993-2007)
      0
    • Jason Taylor, MIA/WAS/NYJ (1997-2011)
      0
    • Chris Doleman, MIN/ATL/SF (1985-1999)
    • Jack Youngblood, LAR (1971-1984)
    • Deacon Jones, LAR/SD/WAS (1961-1974)
    • Mark Gastineau, NYJ (1979-1988)
      0
    • Jared Allen, KC/MIN/CHI/CAR (2004-2015)
      0
    • Richard Dent, CHI/SF/IND/PHI (1983-1997)
      0
    • Jim Marshall, CLE/MIN (1960-1979)
      0
    • Neil Smith, KC/DEN/SD (1988-2000)
      0
    • Simeon Rice, AZ/TB/IND/DEN (1996-2007)
      0
    • John Abraham, NYJ/ATL/AZ (2000-2014)
      0
    • Clyde Simmons, PHI/AZ/JAX/CIN/CHI (1986-2000)
      0
    • Too Tall Jones, DAL (1974-1989)
      0
    • Myles Garrett, CLE (2017-present)
      0
    • L.C. Greenwood, PIT (1969-1981)
      0
    • Other (Specify in thread)
      0
  3. 3. Who is the # 3 greatest 4-3 Defensive End of all-time?

    • Reggie White, PHI/GB/CAR (1985-2000)
      0
    • Carl Eller, MIN/SEA (1964-1979)
    • Julius Peppers, CAR/CHI/GB (2002-2018)
      0
    • Michael Strahan, NYG (1993-2007)
    • Jason Taylor, MIA/WAS/NYJ (1997-2011)
      0
    • Chris Doleman, MIN/ATL/SF (1985-1999)
      0
    • Jack Youngblood, LAR (1971-1984)
      0
    • Deacon Jones, LAR/SD/WAS (1961-1974)
    • Mark Gastineau, NYJ (1979-1988)
      0
    • Jared Allen, KC/MIN/CHI/CAR (2004-2015)
    • Richard Dent, CHI/SF/IND/PHI (1983-1997)
      0
    • Jim Marshall, CLE/MIN (1960-1979)
      0
    • Neil Smith, KC/DEN/SD (1988-2000)
      0
    • Simeon Rice, AZ/TB/IND/DEN (1996-2007)
      0
    • John Abraham, NYJ/ATL/AZ (2000-2014)
      0
    • Clyde Simmons, PHI/AZ/JAX/CIN/CHI (1986-2000)
      0
    • Too Tall Jones, DAL (1974-1989)
      0
    • Myles Garrett, CLE (2017-present)
      0
    • L.C. Greenwood, PIT (1969-1981)
      0
    • Other (Specify in thread)
      0
  4. 4. Who is the # 4 greatest 4-3 Defensive End of all-time?

    • Reggie White, PHI/GB/CAR (1985-2000)
      0
    • Carl Eller, MIN/SEA (1964-1979)
    • Julius Peppers, CAR/CHI/GB (2002-2018)
    • Michael Strahan, NYG (1993-2007)
      0
    • Jason Taylor, MIA/WAS/NYJ (1997-2011)
      0
    • Chris Doleman, MIN/ATL/SF (1985-1999)
      0
    • Jack Youngblood, LAR (1971-1984)
      0
    • Deacon Jones, LAR/SD/WAS (1961-1974)
    • Mark Gastineau, NYJ (1979-1988)
      0
    • Jared Allen, KC/MIN/CHI/CAR (2004-2015)
      0
    • Richard Dent, CHI/SF/IND/PHI (1983-1997)
      0
    • Jim Marshall, CLE/MIN (1960-1979)
      0
    • Neil Smith, KC/DEN/SD (1988-2000)
      0
    • Simeon Rice, AZ/TB/IND/DEN (1996-2007)
      0
    • John Abraham, NYJ/ATL/AZ (2000-2014)
      0
    • Clyde Simmons, PHI/AZ/JAX/CIN/CHI (1986-2000)
      0
    • Too Tall Jones, DAL (1974-1989)
      0
    • Myles Garrett, CLE (2017-present)
    • L.C. Greenwood, PIT (1969-1981)
      0
    • Other (Specify in thread)
      0
  5. 5. Who is the # 5 greatest 4-3 Defensive End of all-time?

    • Reggie White, PHI/GB/CAR (1985-2000)
      0
    • Carl Eller, MIN/SEA (1964-1979)
    • Julius Peppers, CAR/CHI/GB (2002-2018)
    • Michael Strahan, NYG (1993-2007)
    • Jason Taylor, MIA/WAS/NYJ (1997-2011)
    • Chris Doleman, MIN/ATL/SF (1985-1999)
      0
    • Jack Youngblood, LAR (1971-1984)
    • Deacon Jones, LAR/SD/WAS (1961-1974)
      0
    • Mark Gastineau, NYJ (1979-1988)
    • Jared Allen, KC/MIN/CHI/CAR (2004-2015)
      0
    • Richard Dent, CHI/SF/IND/PHI (1983-1997)
      0
    • Jim Marshall, CLE/MIN (1960-1979)
      0
    • Neil Smith, KC/DEN/SD (1988-2000)
      0
    • Simeon Rice, AZ/TB/IND/DEN (1996-2007)
      0
    • John Abraham, NYJ/ATL/AZ (2000-2014)
      0
    • Clyde Simmons, PHI/AZ/JAX/CIN/CHI (1986-2000)
      0
    • Too Tall Jones, DAL (1974-1989)
      0
    • Myles Garrett, CLE (2017-present)
      0
    • L.C. Greenwood, PIT (1969-1981)
      0
    • Other (Specify in thread)
      0


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Leading up to the start of the season, I'll be posting a thread once every day or so devoted to determine the top 5 all-time at each position, as voted on by JN.

I am using football-reference.com's AV (Approximate Value) metric to help compare across eras.  The "Peak AV Average" means the average "score" for each player's among their top 5 performing years in the league, to help establish which players had the high peaks and which players were more of the "compilers" over a long career.  Utilizing a "peak AV" also allows for players with careers shortened by injury to be included.

Also note that AV only goes back so far, so some players from the earliest days in NFL history (primarily the 30s, 40s and early 50s) are, unfortunately, excluded.

 

Earlier in the week, JN voted on WR's:

 

 

 

Today, we vote on 4-3 Defensive Ends!

Below are the candidates and their resumes, ranked in the order weighted by AV/Peak AV:

 

1.  Reggie White, PHI/GB/CAR (1985-2000)

  • Career AV:  231
  • Peak AV Average:  19
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  8
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  13
  • Career Sacks:  198

2.  Carl Eller, MIN/SEA (1964-1979)

  • Career AV:  180
  • Peak AV Average:  19
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  5
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  6
  • Career Sacks:  133.5

3.  Julius Peppers, CAR/CHI/GB (2002-2018)

  • Career AV:  185
  • Peak AV Average:  17 
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  3
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  9
  • Career Sacks:  159.5

4.  Michael Strahan, NYG (1993-2007)

  • Career AV:  161
  • Peak AV Average:  17
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  4
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  7 
  • Career Sacks:  141.5

5.  Jason Taylor, MIA/WAS/NYJ (1997-2011)

  • Career AV:  157
  • Peak AV Average:  17
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  3
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  6
  • Career Sacks:  139.5

6.  Chris Doleman, MIN/ATL/SF (1985-1999)

  • Career AV:  156
  • Peak AV Average:  15
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  2
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  8
  • Career Sacks:  150.5

7.  Jack Youngblood, LAR (1971-1984)

  • Career AV:  147
  • Peak AV Average:  15
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  5
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  7
  • Career Sacks:  151.5

8.  Deacon Jones, LAR/SD/WAS (1961-1974)

  • Career AV:  134
  • Peak AV Average:  15
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  5
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  8
  • Career Sacks:  173.5

9.  Mark Gastineau, NYJ (1979-1988)

  • Career AV:  97
  • Peak AV Average:  16
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  3
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  5
  • Career Sacks:  107.5

10.  Jared Allen, KC/MIN/CHI/CAR (2004-2015)

  • Career AV:  127
  • Peak AV Average:  15
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  4
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  5
  • Career Sacks:  136

11.  Richard Dent, CHI/SF/IND/PHI (1983-1997)

  • Career AV:  122
  • Peak AV Average:  15
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  4
  • Career Sacks:  137.5

12.  Jim Marshall, CLE/MIN (1960-1979)

  • Career AV:  168
  • Peak AV Average:  13
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  0
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  2
  • Career Sacks:  130.5

13.  Neil Smith, KC/DEN/SD (1988-2000)

  • Career AV:  121
  • Peak AV Average:  14
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  6
  • Career Sacks:  104.5

14.  Simeon Rice, AZ/TB/IND/DEN (1996-2007)

  • Career AV:  104
  • Peak AV Average:  14
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  3
  • Career Sacks:  122

15.  John Abraham, NYJ/ATL/AZ (2000-2014)

  • Career AV:  117
  • Peak AV Average:  13
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  2
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  5
  • Career Sacks:  133.5

16.  Clyde Simmons, PHI/AZ/JAX/CIN/CHI (1986-2000)

  • Career AV:  116
  • Peak AV Average:  13
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  2
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  2
  • Career Sacks:  121.5

17.  Too Tall Jones, DAL (1974-1989)

  • Career AV:  129
  • Peak AV Average:  12
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  1
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  3
  • Career Sacks:  106

18.  Myles Garrett, CLE (2017-present)

  • Career AV:  55
  • Peak AV Average:  15
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  2
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  3
  • Career Sacks:  58.5

19.  L.C. Greenwood, PIT (1969-1981)

  • Career AV:  110
  • Peak AV Average:  13
  • 1st Team All-Pro Selections:  2
  • Pro Bowl Selections:  6
  • Career Sacks:  78

 

Just missed the cut:  Khalil Mack, Rob Burnett, Leslie O'Neal, Jerry Mays, Claude Humphrey, Dwight Freeney, Kevin Carter

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20 minutes ago, Untouchable said:

No Bruce Smith?

He was primarily a 3-4 DE and was in that poll.  He did spend a lot of time as a 4-3 DE but he wasn't playing in primarily a 4-3 DE until later in his career with Washington (2000-2003).  It just so happens that his career was so long and he was such an effective DE at getting to the QB in the 3-4 that people tend to think of him as a 4-3 DE.  But during his prime the defense Buffalo utilized was typically a 3-4.  All of his 8 1st-team All-Pro appearances came with Smith at 3-4 DE as well.

He ended up being voted # 1 at 3-4 DE by JN, followed by JJ Watt, Richard Seymour, Howie Long and Willie Davis.

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