In a fairly surprising trade, the Giants shipped Jason Pierre-Paul to the Bucs yesterday, essentially for a third-round pick. That's a valuable commodity, but so too is Pierre-Paul. He hasn't been quite the explosive (sorry) force he was earlier in his career, but he still has difference-making pass rush potential.
In his last two seasons, Pierre-Paul has 7.0 and 8.5 sacks. Not elite numbers, but top 25 a year ago, and top 35 in 2016. He just turned 29 in January, so he should have plenty of good seasons left.
Prior to the infamous fireworks mishap, Pierre-Paul had top sack numbers in two of his three healthy seasons as a starter: 16.5 in 2011, 12.5 in 2014. Those are two of the 44 seasons with more than 12 sacks since he entered the league.
| TOP SACK SEASONS, 2011-2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Sacks |
| 2014 | Justin Houston, K.C. | 22.0 |
| 2011 | Jared Allen, Minn. | 22.0 |
| 2014 | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 20.5 |
| 2012 | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 20.5 |
| 2012 | Aldon Smith, S.F. | 19.5 |
| 2013 | Robert Mathis, Ind. | 19.5 |
| 2011 | DeMarcus Ware, Dall. | 19.5 |
| 2013 | Robert Quinn, St.L. | 19.0 |
| 2012 | Von Miller, Den. | 18.5 |
| 2011 | Jason Babin, Phil. | 18.0 |
| 2015 | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 17.5 |
| 2014 | Elvis Dumervil, Balt. | 17.0 |
| 2017 | Chandler Jones, Ariz. | 17.0 |
| 2011 | Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG | 16.5 |
| 2016 | Vic Beasley, Atl. | 15.5 |
| 2012 | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 15.0 |
| 2013 | Greg Hardy, Car. | 15.0 |
| 2015 | Khalil Mack, Oak. | 15.0 |
| 2014 | Connor Barwin, Phil. | 14.5 |
| 2014 | Mario Williams, Buff. | 14.5 |
| 2017 | Calais Campbell, Jac. | 14.5 |
| 2017 | Demarcus Lawrence, Dall. | 14.5 |
| 2015 | Ezekiel Ansah, Det. | 14.5 |
| 2014 | Von Miller, Den. | 14.0 |
| 2011 | Aldon Smith, S.F. | 14.0 |
| 2011 | Terrell Suggs, Balt. | 14.0 |
| 2014 | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 13.5 |
| 2016 | Von Miller, Den. | 13.5 |
| 2015 | Carlos Dunlap, Cin. | 13.5 |
| 2012 | Clay Matthews, G.B. | 13.0 |
| 2013 | Mario Williams, Buff. | 13.0 |
| 2017 | Everson Griffen, Minn. | 13.0 |
| 2017 | Cameron Jordan, N.O. | 13.0 |
| 2017 | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 13.0 |
| 2011 | Chris Long, St.L. | 13.0 |
| 2013 | Cameron Jordan, N.O. | 12.5 |
| 2012 | Charles Johnson, Car. | 12.5 |
| 2012 | Geno Atkins, Cin. | 12.5 |
| 2014 | Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG | 12.5 |
| 2017 | Joey Bosa, LAC | 12.5 |
| 2016 | Lorenzo Alexander, Buff. | 12.5 |
| 2016 | Markus Golden, Ariz. | 12.5 |
| 2016 | Danielle Hunter, Minn. | 12.5 |
| 2015 | Chandler Jones, N.E. | 12.5 |
You have to be impressed by what the Bucs have done with their pass rush this offseason. They also added Vinny Curry from the Eagles, available largely because the Eagles traded for Michael Bennett from Seattle. Curry, also 29, had just 3 sacks last season, but has a 9-sacks season on his resume. A year ago, Tampa Bay was last in the league with just 22 sacks. They should be much better this season.
The Giants were just 29th in sacks with Pierre-Paul a year ago, so it's hard to criticize them too much for shaking up their defense. Apparently they don't think Pierre-Paul will fit well in the new defensive system, expected to be a 3-4. Still, good pass rushers are hard to come by. Looks like a risky move by New York.
--Andy Richardson