Rams' Aaron Donald - Model for Cowboys' Micah Parsons - Ranks As NFL Top Interior Defender

Pro Football Focus ranks Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald as the top interior defender in the NFL.

In 2022, Aaron Donald experienced an atypical season, much like several other members of the Los Angeles Rams. Contrary to his usual performance, Donald faced challenges as he encountered injuries, causing him to miss games for the first time in his career. 

Additionally, to most, his overall production was down in multiple areas. Despite these setbacks, Donald's talent still earned him a Pro Bowl selection. However, he did not receive All-Pro recognition, a rarity during his illustrious career.

Nevertheless ... When assessing Donald's future performance, Pro Football Focus does not consider his performance from last season as the sole baseline. Instead, he retains the top spot in PFF's rankings at his position.

"Despite posting his lowest PFF grade since his rookie year, Donald remains a dominant force on the defensive interiorIn his nine-year career, he has produced 90.0-plus PFF grades in every season," PFF writes. "Last year, he recorded 40 pressures on 396 pass-rushing snaps, so the production was still there even in an injury-marred season."

Maybe there is something to be taken, too, from what Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons said about Donald - about how it's more than just statistical influence. Said Parsons: "I'm kind of off the 'sack wave.' I'm onto the 'impact wave. You see Aaron Donald. He can have 12 sacks, but the impact he makes is so dominant. You can tell. I really just want to be dominant.

"You see guys who have 16 to 17 sacks, but they're not considered 'a guy.' I want to be 'a guy,' not 'one of the guys."

And in short? Yes, Aaron Donald is still "a guy.''

Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones presents the most compelling case to challenge Donald for the top spot in PFF's rankings. Jones secured the No. 2 position this year, supported by his impressive performance. 

He achieved an overall grade of 92.3 last season, surpassing all other interior defenders. Notably, Jones equaled his career-best performance with 15.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits, further solidifying his candidacy for the coveted top spot in the rankings.

Undoubtedly, Jones and Donald are exceptionally disruptive defensive tackles, leaving little room for debate regarding their status as the top two players. However, if Donald were to experience any decline in performance during the 2023 season, Jones could rise to claim the title of the best defensive tackle in the NFL. 

While some may argue that Jones has already surpassed Donald, it may be premature to make such a proclamation at this point. The upcoming season will provide further insight into their performances and any potential shifts in rankings.

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