Fantasy Index

header banner img
OUR FANTASY BASEBALL MAGAZINE IS BACK! PRE-ORDER NOW
Win here.

Around the NFL

Steelers Defense

Ingram gives Pittsburgh another pass rusher

The Steelers signed former Charger pass rusher Melvin Ingram yesterday, and I like the move. Pittsburgh has long had one of the league's best pass rushes, leading the league in sacks four years in a row, and needed reinforcements after losing Bud Dupree in free agency. Ingram isn't comparable of late, but he should still have something left.

He's 32 years old -- old, but plenty of pass rushers have put up good numbers at more advanced ages. No sacks in seven games in 2020, but was likely affected by a knee injury (that ultimately landed him on IR). Over his previous five seasons, he had 43 sacks; at least 7 in all of those years.

Since 2015, there are 55 players with at least 30 total sacks. Pittsburgh has four of them. Data from pro-football-reference.com search tools used to compile this table.

TOP PASS RUSHERS, 2015-2020
PlayerSkGTcklAstTFLQBHits
Aaron Donald76.594209100113188
Chandler Jones73.5842065979123
Khalil Mack66.5942789481117
Cameron Jordan65.5962269293134
Ryan Kerrigan57.592148586793
Von Miller57.0792055963125
Danielle Hunter54.578193836780
Carlos Dunlap52.09319210064141
Everson Griffen51.0861677758128
Mario Addison50.090125685081
T.J. Watt49.5621686259111
Frank Clark49.0911406255101
Justin Houston49.075171456081
Calais Campbell48.59223510277128
Joey Bosa47.5631776368109
Jason Pierre-Paul47.078210775486
DeMarcus Lawrence45.5891841076793
Yannick Ngakoue45.578128174996
Za'Darius Smith44.5901477953112
J.J. Watt44.0641676969123
Geno Atkins43.588124895797
Cameron Heyward43.08519611263100
Melvin Ingram43.084213696097
Myles Garrett42.551107454283
Fletcher Cox42.0931798851104
Brandon Graham42.095214787790
Olivier Vernon42.0791777762119
Shaquil Barrett41.592199675588
Chris Jones40.5761205240100
Preston Smith40.596172944793
Bud Dupree39.581169625465
Michael Bennett39.0741316175118
DeForest Buckner38.07820311848100
Vic Beasley37.588122383746
Robert Quinn37.577107483868
Cameron Wake37.56279352886
Whitney Mercilus36.081144794776
Dee Ford35.563110364170
Bruce Irvin35.578149644783
Ezekiel Ansah35.063118374381
Matt Judon34.5761676954103
Julius Peppers34.06475403256
Markus Golden33.578151734589
Stephon Tuitt33.575165644790
Gerald McCoy32.575117633989
Terrell Suggs32.563114444460
Jadeveon Clowney32.079181677286
Jerry Hughes31.095159745172
Denico Autry30.586132574752
Dante Fowler30.577116483851
Akiem Hicks30.584165805186
Clay Matthews30.571152614772
Jurrell Casey30.0791751034873
Trey Flowers30.068145923683
Jabaal Sheard30.083152644664

There are some concerns with the Steelers, but ones that seem to jump out are with the offensive line. I don't think anyone should doubt this team will have a top-shelf pass rush again.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index