The Lions applied the franchise tag to pass rusher Ezekiel (Ziggy) Ansah yesterday, so he'll likely be staying put with Detroit. It's an important keep for what was surprisingly a top-5 fantasy defense a year ago (1 point for sacks, 2 for turnovers, 6 for touchdowns). The Lions had just the league's 20th-ranked pass rush a year ago, but would have been well below that but for Ansah's team-leading 12 sacks.
Ansah ranked 8th in the league in sacks, the second time in three years he's finished in the top 10 in that category. He also ranked in the top 35 in each of his first two years in the league (2013 and 2014). Just one disappointing year in there (2016).
Top pass rushers over the last five years, with rankings in sacks in each season, are shown below. Ansah's one of 10 players to show up in that top 35 for each season four times, and the others are also elite; guys like Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Cameron Jordan. Pretty select company.
TOP PASS RUSHERS, 2013-2017 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Pos | Player | Sacks | Rk |
2014 | OLB | Justin Houston, K.C. | 22.0 | 1 |
2014 | DE | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 20.5 | 2 |
2013 | OLB | Robert Mathis, Ind. | 19.5 | 1 |
2013 | DE | Robert Quinn, St.L. | 19.0 | 2 |
2015 | DE | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 17.5 | 1 |
2017 | OLB | Chandler Jones, Ariz. | 17.0 | 1 |
2014 | OLB | Elvis Dumervil, Balt. | 17.0 | 3 |
2016 | OLB | Vic Beasley, Atl. | 15.5 | 1 |
2013 | DE | Greg Hardy, Car. | 15.0 | 3 |
2015 | DE | Khalil Mack, Oak. | 15.0 | 2 |
2017 | DE | Calais Campbell, Jac. | 14.5 | 2 |
2014 | OLB | Connor Barwin, Phil. | 14.5 | 4 |
2017 | DE | Demarcus Lawrence, Dall. | 14.5 | 2 |
2015 | DE | Ezekiel Ansah, Det. | 14.5 | 3 |
2014 | DE | Mario Williams, Buff. | 14.5 | 4 |
2014 | OLB | Von Miller, Den. | 14.0 | 6 |
2015 | DE | Carlos Dunlap, Cin. | 13.5 | 4 |
2014 | OLB | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 13.5 | 7 |
2016 | OLB | Von Miller, Den. | 13.5 | 2 |
2017 | DE | Cameron Jordan, N.O. | 13.0 | 4 |
2017 | DE | Everson Griffen, Minn. | 13.0 | 4 |
2013 | DE | Mario Williams, Buff. | 13.0 | 4 |
2017 | OLB | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 13.0 | 4 |
2013 | DE | Cameron Jordan, N.O. | 12.5 | 5 |
2015 | DE | Chandler Jones, N.E. | 12.5 | 5 |
2016 | DE | Danielle Hunter, Minn. | 12.5 | 3 |
2014 | DE | Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG | 12.5 | 8 |
2017 | DE | Joey Bosa, LAC | 12.5 | 7 |
2016 | OLB | Lorenzo Alexander, Buff. | 12.5 | 3 |
2016 | OLB | Markus Golden, Ariz. | 12.5 | 3 |
2017 | DE | Cameron Heyward, Pitt. | 12.0 | 8 |
2014 | DE | Everson Griffen, Minn. | 12.0 | 9 |
2017 | DE | Ezekiel Ansah, Det. | 12.0 | 8 |
2013 | OLB | Junior Galette, N.O. | 12.0 | 6 |
2015 | DE | Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ | 12.0 | 6 |
2014 | OLB | Terrell Suggs, Balt. | 12.0 | 9 |
2015 | OLB | Whitney Mercilus, Hou. | 12.0 | 6 |
2017 | DE | Yannick Ngakoue, Jac. | 12.0 | 8 |
2016 | DE | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 11.5 | 6 |
2014 | DE | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 11.5 | 11 |
2013 | DE | Chandler Jones, N.E. | 11.5 | 7 |
2016 | DE | Cliff Avril, Sea. | 11.5 | 6 |
2013 | DE | Jared Allen, Minn. | 11.5 | 7 |
2013 | OLB | John Abraham, Ariz. | 11.5 | 7 |
2013 | DE | Olivier Vernon, Mia. | 11.5 | 7 |
2017 | DE | Aaron Donald, LAR | 11.0 | 11 |
2015 | DT | Aaron Donald, St.L. | 11.0 | 8 |
2016 | OLB | Chandler Jones, Ariz. | 11.0 | 8 |
2013 | DE | Charles Johnson, Car. | 11.0 | 11 |
2014 | OLB | Clay Matthews, G.B. | 11.0 | 12 |
2016 | OLB | Erik Walden, Ind. | 11.0 | 8 |
2015 | DT | Geno Atkins, Cin. | 11.0 | 8 |
2013 | DT | Jason Hatcher, Dall. | 11.0 | 11 |
2017 | DE | Julius Peppers, Car. | 11.0 | 11 |
2013 | OLB | Justin Houston, K.C. | 11.0 | 11 |
2013 | DE | Justin Tuck, NYG | 11.0 | 11 |
2015 | DT | Kawann Short, Car. | 11.0 | 8 |
2016 | DE | Khalil Mack, Oak. | 11.0 | 8 |
2017 | DE | Mario Addison, Car. | 11.0 | 11 |
2016 | OLB | Nick Perry, G.B. | 11.0 | 8 |
2014 | OLB | Paul Kruger, Clev. | 11.0 | 12 |
2016 | OLB | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 11.0 | 8 |
2013 | OLB | Tamba Hali, K.C. | 11.0 | 11 |
2017 | OLB | Terrell Suggs, Balt. | 11.0 | 11 |
2015 | OLB | Von Miller, Den. | 11.0 | 8 |
2016 | OLB | Brian Orakpo, Tenn. | 10.5 | 13 |
2017 | DE | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 10.5 | 15 |
2015 | DE | Everson Griffen, Minn. | 10.5 | 12 |
2013 | DE | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 10.5 | 16 |
2016 | DE | Joey Bosa, S.D. | 10.5 | 13 |
2015 | OLB | Julius Peppers, G.B. | 10.5 | 12 |
2013 | DT | Jurrell Casey, Tenn. | 10.5 | 16 |
2017 | DE | Khalil Mack, Oak. | 10.5 | 15 |
2013 | DT | Kyle Williams, Buff. | 10.5 | 16 |
2017 | OLB | Melvin Ingram, LAC | 10.5 | 15 |
2015 | OLB | Melvin Ingram, S.D. | 10.5 | 12 |
2013 | DE | Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ | 10.5 | 16 |
2014 | DE | Robert Quinn, St.L. | 10.5 | 14 |
2013 | OLB | Brian Orakpo, Wash. | 10.0 | 20 |
2013 | OLB | Calvin Pace, NYJ | 10.0 | 20 |
2015 | DE | Cameron Jordan, N.O. | 10.0 | 15 |
2016 | OLB | Dee Ford, K.C. | 10.0 | 15 |
2014 | DE | DeMarcus Ware, Den. | 10.0 | 15 |
2016 | DE | Frank Clark, Sea. | 10.0 | 15 |
2014 | DE | Jerry Hughes, Buff. | 10.0 | 15 |
2013 | OLB | Jerry Hughes, Buff. | 10.0 | 20 |
2014 | OLB | Junior Galette, N.O. | 10.0 | 15 |
2014 | DT | Marcell Dareus, Buff. | 10.0 | 15 |
2015 | DE | Michael Bennett, Sea. | 10.0 | 15 |
2013 | DE | Shaun Phillips, Den. | 10.0 | 20 |
2013 | OLB | Terrell Suggs, Balt. | 10.0 | 20 |
2017 | OLB | Von Miller, Den. | 10.0 | 18 |
2014 | DE | Willie Young, Chi. | 10.0 | 15 |
2017 | DE | Adrian Clayborn, Atl. | 9.5 | 19 |
2017 | DE | Brandon Graham, Phil. | 9.5 | 19 |
2013 | OLB | Elvis Dumervil, Balt. | 9.5 | 25 |
2015 | DE | Fletcher Cox, Phil. | 9.5 | 17 |
2013 | DT | Gerald McCoy, T.B. | 9.5 | 25 |
2017 | OLB | Jadeveon Clowney, Hou. | 9.5 | 19 |
2017 | OLB | Justin Houston, K.C. | 9.5 | 19 |
2016 | DE | Mario Addison, Car. | 9.5 | 17 |
2015 | DE | Robert Ayers, NYG | 9.5 | 17 |
2015 | OLB | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 9.5 | 17 |
2014 | DT | Aaron Donald, St.L. | 9.0 | 20 |
2013 | DE | Brian Robison, Minn. | 9.0 | 27 |
2013 | DE | Calais Campbell, Ariz. | 9.0 | 27 |
2015 | DE | Cliff Avril, Sea. | 9.0 | 20 |
2016 | OLB | Derrick Morgan, Tenn. | 9.0 | 18 |
2017 | DE | Frank Clark, Sea. | 9.0 | 23 |
2017 | DT | Geno Atkins, Cin. | 9.0 | 23 |
2016 | DT | Geno Atkins, Cin. | 9.0 | 18 |
2016 | DE | Trent Murphy, Wash. | 9.0 | 18 |
2014 | DE | Vinny Curry, Phil. | 9.0 | 20 |
2013 | OLB | Ahmad Brooks, S.F. | 8.5 | 29 |
2017 | DE | Akiem Hicks, Chi. | 8.5 | 25 |
2013 | OLB | Aldon Smith, S.F. | 8.5 | 29 |
2013 | DE | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 8.5 | 29 |
2017 | DE | Carl Lawson, Cin. | 8.5 | 25 |
2014 | DE | Charles Johnson, Car. | 8.5 | 22 |
2013 | DE | Chris Long, St.L. | 8.5 | 29 |
2015 | DT | Gerald McCoy, T.B. | 8.5 | 21 |
2014 | DT | Gerald McCoy, T.B. | 8.5 | 22 |
2017 | DE | Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG | 8.5 | 25 |
2017 | DE | Michael Bennett, Sea. | 8.5 | 25 |
2013 | DE | Michael Bennett, Sea. | 8.5 | 29 |
2014 | DT | Ndamukong Suh, Det. | 8.5 | 22 |
2016 | DE | Olivier Vernon, NYG | 8.5 | 21 |
2017 | OLB | Robert Quinn, LAR | 8.5 | 25 |
2013 | OLB | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 8.5 | 29 |
2014 | DT | Sen'Derrick Marks, Jac. | 8.5 | 22 |
2016 | DT | Aaron Donald, L.A. | 8.0 | 22 |
2014 | OLB | Alex Okafor, Ariz. | 8.0 | 26 |
2017 | OLB | Bruce Irvin, Oak. | 8.0 | 30 |
2016 | DE | Calais Campbell, Ariz. | 8.0 | 22 |
2016 | DE | Carlos Dunlap, Cin. | 8.0 | 22 |
2014 | DE | Carlos Dunlap, Cin. | 8.0 | 26 |
2014 | DE | Chris Clemons, Jac. | 8.0 | 26 |
2013 | DE | Cliff Avril, Sea. | 8.0 | 35 |
2017 | DE | Dante Fowler, Jac. | 8.0 | 30 |
2015 | DE | Demarcus Lawrence, Dall. | 8.0 | 22 |
2015 | LB | Dwight Freeney, Ariz. | 8.0 | 22 |
2016 | DE | Everson Griffen, Minn. | 8.0 | 22 |
2013 | DE | Ezekiel Ansah, Det. | 8.0 | 35 |
2015 | DE | Jabaal Sheard, N.E. | 8.0 | 22 |
2013 | OLB | Jason Worilds, Pitt. | 8.0 | 35 |
2016 | DE | Kerry Hyder, Det. | 8.0 | 22 |
2015 | OLB | Lamarr Houston, Chi. | 8.0 | 22 |
2017 | DT | Malik Jackson, Jac. | 8.0 | 30 |
2017 | OLB | Matt Judon, Balt. | 8.0 | 30 |
2016 | OLB | Melvin Ingram, S.D. | 8.0 | 22 |
2017 | OLB | Preston Smith, Wash. | 8.0 | 30 |
2015 | DE | Preston Smith, Wash. | 8.0 | 22 |
2014 | DE | Rob Ninkovich, N.E. | 8.0 | 26 |
2013 | DE | Rob Ninkovich, N.E. | 8.0 | 35 |
2016 | OLB | Shane Ray, Den. | 8.0 | 22 |
2014 | DE | Sheldon Richardson, NYJ | 8.0 | 26 |
2016 | OLB | Terrell Suggs, Balt. | 8.0 | 22 |
2013 | OLB | Trent Cole, Phil. | 8.0 | 35 |
2017 | ILB | Vince Williams, Pitt. | 8.0 | 30 |
2016 | DE | Yannick Ngakoue, Jac. | 8.0 | 22 |
2014 | DE | Cameron Heyward, Pitt. | 7.5 | 31 |
2014 | DE | Cameron Jordan, N.O. | 7.5 | 31 |
2015 | OLB | DeMarcus Ware, Den. | 7.5 | 27 |
2014 | DE | Ezekiel Ansah, Det. | 7.5 | 31 |
2014 | OLB | Jason Worilds, Pitt. | 7.5 | 31 |
2015 | OLB | Justin Houston, K.C. | 7.5 | 27 |
2015 | DE | Olivier Vernon, Mia. | 7.5 | 27 |
2014 | LB | Pernell McPhee, Balt. | 7.5 | 31 |
--Andy Richardson