In our latest series, the Last Word on Sports NFL department will be selecting the best players in each division by position. The defenses of the AFC East will be the focus here. Without further ado, let’s delve into who made the cut.
2016 AFC East All-Division Team: The Defense
Defensive End: Jabaal Sheard, Patriots
New England’s defense was among the NFL’s best at pressuring the quarterback. Their 49 sacks was second best in the league, trailing only the Denver Broncos. Sheard accounted for eight of them which is the highest among all their returning starters since Chandler Jones has now departed for the Cardinals. The 27-year-old is in a contract year so another season of solid play on the perimeter could see him cash in.
Defensive Tackle: Ndamukong Suh, Dolphins
Much has been made about the massive contract Suh signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2015. It initially hamstrung them a year later in being able to improve the roster. And so the team restructured his deal in March by converting his 2016 base salary into a signing bonus. That freed up $16 million in cap room for this season and added a $4 million cap charge each year for the remainder of his contract.
His first year in South Florida was a team disappointment in that the Dolphins finished 6-10 and missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year. And although Suh got off to a slow start, his play improved as the season went on. It started in a 44-26 Week 7 win over the Houston Texans when Suh recorded his first two sacks as a Dolphin. He would finish the season with six and was particularly effective dropping into coverage. Pro Football Focus gave him the highest coverage grade among interior defenders who played a minimum of 500 snaps.
Defensive Tackle: Marcell Dareus, Bills
2015 was a year to forget for the Buffalo Bills defense. Despite high expectations after averaging 55.5 sacks the previous two seasons, the unit clearly regressed in Rex Ryan‘s first year as head coach. They would shockingly finish second from bottom in that category last season.
For Dareus and company, 2016 should be looked at as a bounce back year. The two-time Pro Bowler finished with just two sacks last season after having a combined 17.5 in 2013 and 2014 combined. As an interior defender, there’s also room for improvement in his run-stuffing ability from 2015. The Bills finished middle of the pack in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (108.1, 16th). But they gave up 4.4 yards per attempt which was 24th overall.
With Mario Williams now departed and rookies Shaq Lawson and Adolphus Washington now in the mix, Dareus is arguably the leader of the defensive front. If he can play like it next season, the Bills will be well on their way towards contention in the AFC East.
Defensive End: Muhammad Wilkerson, Jets
Wilkerson had a breakout year for the Jets in 2015. The 26-year-old finished with 12 sacks which was a career high and tied for fifth best in the NFL. It paid off in a contract year as the team placed the franchise tag on him during the off-season. Assuming a new contract isn’t finalized before the season starts, Wilkerson will play on a one-year, fully guaranteed $15.701 million deal in 2016.
Assuming Wilkerson comes back 100 percent from the broken leg suffered in last year’s season finale, he should remain a major factor in Gang Green’s vaunted pass rush.
Outside Linebacker: Jamie Collins, Patriots
Collins formed a terrific tandem of versatile, pass-rushing outside linebackers that includes Dont’a Hightower who we’ll get to later. In his third season with the Pats, Collins did just about everything on defense. He finished with 5.5 sacks, a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown, a 51-yard interception and five pass break-ups. The second-round pick out of Southern Miss is also a free agent after this season. He figures to see a massive pay day in 2017 if he can replicate what he did last season.
Inside Linebacker: David Harris, Jets
Harris is about to enter his tenth season in the league. All of them have been spent with the Jets. Ask his teammates about Harris and they immediately compliment him on his toughness and work ethic. It’s something that the now 32-year-old veteran will have to continue relying on as he enters the twilight of his career.
In 2015, he demonstrated that he’s far from over the hill. Harris led the team with 67 tackles. He also added 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and four broken up passes. His ability to stay healthy is remarkable considering the position he plays. Through nine years, Harris has played in all but five regular season games.
Outside Linebacker: Dont’a Hightower, Patriots
Much like Collins above, Hightower is a ferocious, speedy outside linebacker that gives opposing quarterbacks fits even when he can’t make contact. The Pats selected him in the first round of the 2012 draft. Since then, the Alabama product has been a reliable part of their linebacking corps. Both him and Collins were given top five grades by Pro Football Focus among linebackers for their pass rushing ability. And like Collins, Hightower is a free agent after this season.
Cornerback: Darrelle Revis, Jets
What would an all-Anything team be without Revis in it, let alone an all-Division one. There’s simply no denying his ability as one of the greatest shutdown corners of his generation. Revis is undoubtedly a surefire Hall of Famer when all is set and done on his career.
But he still has much to accomplish. The Aliquippa, PA native is in the second year of a lucrative five-year, $70 million deal. His salary over the first two and a half years of the contract is fully guaranteed. That includes this season where he’s slated to make $17 million.
He certainly earned his salary in year one of his second stint with the Jets. The 30-year-old played a prominent role on a Gang Green defense that was fifth in the league with 18 interceptions. Revis played a part in five of them which gives him 28 for his career. Considering what the Jets are paying him, expectations will remain high in 2016.
Free Safety: Marcus Gilchrist, Jets
Gilchrist signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Jets in 2015 after playing the first four seasons of his career in San Diego. He quickly made himself home in a secondary full of playmakers on the defensive side of the football. The second-round pick out of Clemson set career highs in a season with three interceptions and four passes defensed. He’s also one of the more reliable run-stopping safeties in the league.
Strong Safety: Reshad Jones, Dolphins
Jones has spent his entire six-year career in Miami. In that time, he’s emerged as one of the league’s top strong safeties. 2015 added further proof. He finished the season with five interceptions. Two of them were returned for touchdowns, a feat that only four other players in the league were able to accomplish. Jones made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and was named team MVP.
The 28-year-old has two years remaining on his existing deal with the Fins, but is reportedly in search of a new deal. Whether or not he decides to hold out remains to be seen. But his presence is hugely important to a secondary that improved this off-season with the addition of Byron Maxwell in free agency.
Cornerback: Ronald Darby, Bills
Darby was one of the more pleasant surprises for Bills fans last season. The rookie out of Florida State made an immediate impact in the secondary. He started all 15 games he played in and finished with two interceptions as well as a whopping 21 pass breakups. Darby also led all members of the secondary with 61 tackles. Assuming Buffalo can get a deal done with looming free agent Stephon Gilmore in 2017, this could become one of the league’s more potent tandem of cover corners.
Be sure to check out the AFC East All-Division team for the offense.
