NFC North power rankings: Who is the best pass-rusher?
By Mike Luciano
player. 49. . . . Za'Darius Smith, Green Bay Packers. 3
Think of all the elite pass-rushers in the NFL. Guess who led the league in quarterback pressures. Against all odds, Smith, who signed with Green Bay as a free agent after spending the first part of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, got to the quarterback an absurd 105 times, recording 13.5 sacks.
For added context, in his four years as a Raven, Smith managed just 18.5 sacks total. His 37 quarterback hits confirm the fact that Smith morphed into a truly elite pass-rusher last season.
What really stands out about Smith is his versatility along the line. Not only does he have the speed to explode off the snap and embarrass left tackles, but he has enough muscle and functional strength to vacillate over to a 3-tech spot and beat guards.
Smith is a weapon, and Matt LaFleur can’t help but use him all the time. Given the lack of receiving talent on offense, this pass rush unit will be even more important in 2020. Luckily, both Smith brothers will be up to the challenge.