Kansas City is shopping Justin Houston; he'll either be traded or released in the next few days. The Dolphins, meanwhile, are expected to move on from both Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn. Wake is 37 and the other two are 29-30, but all are still productive pass rushers.
Since 2012, there have 50 players who have had more than 12 sacks in a season. Three of the very best seasons in that time frame have been turned in by Houston (22.0), Quinn (19.0) and Wake (15.0). Houston, in fact, has the very best of those seven seasons.
TOP SACK SEASONS, 2012-2018 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Pos | Player | Sacks |
2014 | OLB | Justin Houston, K.C. | 22.0 |
2018 | DE | Aaron Donald, LAR | 20.5 |
2014 | DE | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 20.5 |
2012 | DE | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 20.5 |
2012 | OLB | Aldon Smith, S.F. | 19.5 |
2013 | OLB | Robert Mathis, Ind. | 19.5 |
2013 | DE | Robert Quinn, St.L. | 19.0 |
2012 | OLB | Von Miller, Den. | 18.5 |
2015 | DE | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 17.5 |
2017 | OLB | Chandler Jones, Ariz. | 17.0 |
2014 | OLB | Elvis Dumervil, Balt. | 17.0 |
2018 | DE | J.J. Watt, Hou. | 16.0 |
2018 | DE | Chris Jones, K.C. | 15.5 |
2016 | OLB | Vic Beasley, Atl. | 15.5 |
2012 | DE | Cameron Wake, Mia. | 15.0 |
2013 | DE | Greg Hardy, Car. | 15.0 |
2015 | DE | Khalil Mack, Oak. | 15.0 |
2017 | DE | Calais Campbell, Jac. | 14.5 |
2014 | OLB | Connor Barwin, Phil. | 14.5 |
2018 | DE | Danielle Hunter, Minn. | 14.5 |
2017 | DE | Demarcus Lawrence, Dall. | 14.5 |
2015 | DE | Ezekiel Ansah, Det. | 14.5 |
2014 | DE | Mario Williams, Buff. | 14.5 |
2018 | OLB | Von Miller, Den. | 14.5 |
2018 | DE | Frank Clark, Sea. | 14.0 |
2014 | OLB | Von Miller, Den. | 14.0 |
2015 | DE | Carlos Dunlap, Cin. | 13.5 |
2018 | DE | Myles Garrett, Clev. | 13.5 |
2014 | OLB | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 13.5 |
2016 | OLB | Von Miller, Den. | 13.5 |
2017 | DE | Cameron Jordan, N.O. | 13.0 |
2018 | DE | Chandler Jones, Ariz. | 13.0 |
2012 | OLB | Clay Matthews, G.B. | 13.0 |
2018 | OLB | Dee Ford, K.C. | 13.0 |
2017 | DE | Everson Griffen, Minn. | 13.0 |
2013 | DE | Mario Williams, Buff. | 13.0 |
2018 | OLB | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 13.0 |
2017 | OLB | Ryan Kerrigan, Wash. | 13.0 |
2018 | OLB | T.J. Watt, Pitt. | 13.0 |
2013 | DE | Cameron Jordan, N.O. | 12.5 |
2015 | DE | Chandler Jones, N.E. | 12.5 |
2012 | DE | Charles Johnson, Car. | 12.5 |
2016 | DE | Danielle Hunter, Minn. | 12.5 |
2012 | DT | Geno Atkins, Cin. | 12.5 |
2014 | DE | Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG | 12.5 |
2018 | DE | Jason Pierre-Paul, T.B. | 12.5 |
2017 | DE | Joey Bosa, LAC | 12.5 |
2018 | OLB | Khalil Mack, Chi. | 12.5 |
2016 | OLB | Lorenzo Alexander, Buff. | 12.5 |
2016 | OLB | Markus Golden, Ariz. | 12.5 |
Even last year, all had 6-9 apiece; they can still play. Miami is rebuilding (some might say tanking); no point in them shelling out big money to veteran pass rushers whose best years are behind them. Kansas City has some younger pass rushers they need to pay, including Dee Ford. Moving on from these veterans makes sense. But all three could help some team's pass rush in 2019.
--Andy Richardson