Oops, Mike Clay forgets three Tennessee Titans on “25 under 25” list
By Will Lomas
Who should be out: Kenny Clark
This is just a numbers game and the fact that I think a great young EDGE is more useful than a great young DT.
Clark is a really nice pass rusher but his play has dipped a little bit with the additions of the Smiths in Green Bay, but like I said this is less about his play and more about the fact that you have to find a spot of Harold Landry on your list.
Who should be in: Harold Landry
Over the last two years, Harold Landry has only started 13 games because he was behind Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan in 2018. However, he has still managed to hit double digits in sacks, which is 2nd most from the 2018 class.
The top-5 of that group looks like this:
1. Bradley Chubb: 13 sacks, 20 games started
2. Harold Landry: 11.5 sacks, 13 games started
3. Darius Leonard: 10 sacks, 22 games started
4. Sam Hubbard: 9 sacks, 10 games started
5. Marcus Davenport: 7.5 sacks, 10 games started
The fact is that Landry’s usage is closer to Leonard’s than it is to Chubb’s thanks to Dean Pees constantly asking Landry to press tight ends at the L.O.S. or to drop into coverage. In fact, his best weapon is his outside rush where he can use his speed and his hands, but the Titans force him to stunt (frequently for no reason other than to make the opposing QB feel comfortable) instead of letting him win his way.
Landry is also a complete players vs the run and he is the only player in that draft class who averages more than 1 TFL per game and has 20+ QB hits in their career.
If you don’t pay attention that is on you, but Harold Landry is having a Pro Bowl season despite being asked to be a complete player instead of a pure pass rusher. He is one of the best young pass rushers in the NFL right now and he is only 23 which means he should be on this list in 2020 as well.