Miami Dolphins all-time Mount Rushmore

2. Jason Taylor, DE (1997-2007, 2009, 2011)

Maybe Zach Thomas couldn’t beef up his sack numbers during his career because he was playing alongside defense end Jason Taylor, and he was taking all of them. In all seriousness, Taylor was an absolute game wrecker for the Dolphins.

A year after drafting Thomas, the Dolphins nabbed Taylor with the 73rd pick in the 1997 draft out of Akron.

Statistically, Taylor was the best pass rusher of his time. From the beginning of his career in 1997 to the end of it in 2011, not a single player had more sacks. His 139.5 were the most over that duration. Michael Strahan was second, John Abraham third, Simeon Rice was fourth, and Jared Allen rounded out the top-five.

Taylor had 16.5 sacks over his first three years in the NFL. In his second season, he had nine, which was not bad. However, he broke out in 2000 with 14.5 sacks, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams. In 2002, he had a career-high 18.5, which led the NFL.

In six of his 15 seasons in the NFL, he had double-digit sack totals. His career average was just under 9.5 sacks a season. In 2006, he won the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, and in 2007 he was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Taylor’s 139.5 career sacks are currently the seventh-most in NFL history. Terrell Suggs is behind him with 139.0, and Michael Strahan is ahead of him with 141.5. His 131.0 sack total with the Dolphins is the most in team history, with Cameron Wake second with 98.0.

In 2017, Taylor was enshrined in the Hall of Fame.