Edge rushers are on the rise in the division, but have they done enough to unseat Crosby?
We’re flipping sides of the ball and moving onto the defense in Silver and Black Pride’s AFC West position rankings, focusing on the edge defenders in the division. This is an interesting position group, as several pass-rushers emerged last season to challenge Las Vegas Raiders’ star Maxx Crosby for the top spot.
For example, the Denver Broncos had two edge rushers finish with double-digit sacks and in the top 15 for the metric, with Nik Bonitto getting to the quarterback 13.5 times (third-most) and Jonathon Cooper notching 10.5 sacks (tied for 12th). But was that enough to unseat Crosby?
1. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
2024 Stats: 45 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, 17 TFLs
While Cooper and Bonitto made a strong push to dethrone Crosby, Madd Maxx still reigns supreme over the rest of the AFC West edge defenders. Despite playing in five fewer games than those two, he nearly matched them in pressures, logging 54 while Cooper had 61 and Bonitto racked up 57, according to Pro Football Focus. Also, Crosby didn’t have nearly the same supporting cast as the Broncos’ duo did last year to take some of the attention away from him. That’s in addition to the four-time Pro Bowler being the superior run defender and having the better overall resume.
2. Jonathon Cooper, Denver Broncos
2024: 58 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, 11 TFLs
The 2021 seventh-round pick has certainly exceeded expectations in the Mile High City. He’s produced 19 sacks and 116 pressures (via PFF) over the last two years to become one of the NFL’s up-and-coming pass rushers in the league. On top of that, Cooper showed growth as a run defender in 2024, earning a 71.3 PFF run defense grade and tying for the seventh-most defensive stops (24) among edges during the regular season. That’s how he earned a four-year, $54 million contract extension in November, resulting in quite the pay bump from about $900k per year to $13.5 million.
3. Nik Bonitto, Broncos
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
2024 Stats: 48 total tackles, 13.5 sacks, 16 TFL
Similar to his running mate, Bonitto has quietly been climbing up the ranks among pass-rushers in the league over the last two years. He’s logged 21.5 sacks and 104 pressures during that timeframe, culminating in 2024 Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro bids. He also managed to score two touchdowns last year: a 71-yard pick-six and a 50-yard fumble recovery. The only reason the 2022 second-rounder is behind his teammate is that he’s recorded a PFF run defense grade of 60 or below in each of his three seasons. That said, a lucrative contract extension is still likely coming for Bonitto.
4. Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
2024 Stats: 39 total tackles, 6 sacks, 6 TFLs
If this list were based on career accomplishments, the nine-time Pro Bowler and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year would easily be at the top. But the 34-year-old is starting to slow down a bit, recording the fewest sacks since his rookie season and the least amount of pressures (49) since the 2022 campaign, when he participated in just seven games. Don’t get it twisted, though, Mack can still play and is still a high-level run defender. He ranked second among edges league-wide with an 88.0 PFF run defense grade last year. Whether he hangs ‘em up this offseason or in the next few years, the Raiders’ 2014 first-round pick will likely be enshrined in Canton one day.
5. George Karlaftis, Kansas City Chiefs
2024 Stats: 35 total tackles, 8 sacks, 9 TFLs
While defensive tackle Chris Jones gets most of the recognition and attention on Kansas City’s defensive line, Karlaftis has put up some noteworthy numbers over the last three years. His 24.5 sacks since entering the NFL in 2022 are enough to earn a spot in the top 25 across the league during that timeframe, via StatMuse, and he’s cracked 60 pressures in back-to-back regular seasons, per PFF. Also, the Purdue product’s 61 pressures during the 2024 regular season led AFC West edge rushers and were tied for 13th at the position league-wide. The Chiefs picked up Karlaftis’ fifth-year option, so he’s still a year away from receiving a contract extension, but a big payday should be coming.
Honorable Mentions: Tuli Tuipulotu (LAC), Malcolm Koonce (LV), Bud Dupree (LAC), Jonah Elliss (DEN)