Annual Espn Position Poll: Best Dt & Edge Rushers. Which Cardinals Made The List?

Every year, right before training camps begin, national media giant ESPN comes out with its “best of,” which is broken down into positional rankings. The voters are not fans, or players, but head coaches, national scouts, and team front office executives.

This week, their seventh edition of these annual rankings was revealed for the defensive tackles and EDGE rushers.

RELATED: JOSH SWEAT NAMED TO THE 2026 TOP 100

The lists are always comprehensive. It’s also a good reference because it involves the very folks who make the rosters, work on these players’ contracts, and scout them in the first place. More than 70 voters submitted a ballot and gave their own top 10 players at each position. Then, ESPN pared down the players with a composite average.

It is not a projection type list, but who is the best at their position right now. The list is presented in a Top-10, Honorable Mention, and finally a “also receiving votes” caboose.

Which Cardinals made this list? Who from the NFC West is included?

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Defensive Tackles: Best interior game-wreckers

#1. Leonard Williams – Seattle Seahawks

Honorable Mention: Byron Murphy II – Seattle Seahawks

Also receiving votes: Kobie Turner – Los Angeles Rams, Osa Odighizuwa – San Francisco 49ers

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EDGE Rushers: Collapsing the pocket

#1. Myles Garrett – Los Angeles Rams

#8. Nick Bosa – San Francisco 49ers

Honorable Mention: (none)

Also receiving votes: (none)

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As you can see, none of the players employed by the Cardinals made either list. This is not only a sad tale but also exemplifies why the franchise can’t stop the run or often disrupt the opposing team’s offensive backfield.

Where is DE Josh Sweat? He is considered an edge rusher and lines up pre-snap off the corner. However, he is listed as an outside linebacker. So was Lawrence Taylor back in the day. Neither dropped back into coverage, and all they do is rush the passer, so “EDGE” is probably a more accurate label. The LB rankings come out later this week, so we’ll see.

DT Walter Nolen didn’t get any votes. But honestly, even though he has shown flashes, he has to be on the field. In high school and college, he never missed games. He comes to the NFL and suddenly cannot remain healthy, which is not his fault. We will see how this progresses over time, but he can be a force once he is lined up on defense. Voters seem to stay clear of guys who are continually hurt and play part-time, so there’s that.

And nobody else along the Cardinals’ defensive front was considered. The Pittsburgh Steelers had three guys listed, and their defense is always top-notch.

Want to know why every team in the NFC West made the playoffs last year? Each club had two guys listed as pocket disrupters. You have to build from the offensive and defensive lines out.

Now that the Cardinals have a former Rams guy as their head coach, perhaps this trend will change in future years, and it begins with the scouting list in the April NFL draft.

Complete lists:

LINK: DEFENSIVE TACKLES

LINK: EDGE RUSHERS