NFL: Andrew Luck, 10 best players to start a franchise
By Brad Rowland
Robert Quinn, Defensive End – St. Louis Rams
Despite being only 24 years old, Rams star Robert Quinn has established himself as the best 4-3 defensive end in the NFL, and that speaks for itself. In his third season in 2013, the former North Carolina Tar Heel led the NFL with an amazing 19 sacks, 21 hits of the quarterback and 51 hurries, and that only begins to tell the story of his effectiveness. Obviously, pass rush is at a premium given his position of weak-side defensive end, and his ability to bend the edge, even against above-average tackles, separates him from the pack and allows Quinn to take up residence in the opposing backfield.
In the run game, though, Quinn is quite effective. Obviously, he doesn’t have the same pressure to stand up against the run given his profile, but he is excellent against outside runs with enough strength to excel at times when filling gaps. Robert Quinn did not explode until last season, but his pedigree (14th overall pick in 2011) and previous success (10.5 sacks as a part-timer in 2012) lead the NFL world to believe that he is here to stay.