NFL pass-rusher rankings ahead of Week 9

  • It was a historic week for Myles Garrett: The Browns' star pass rusher set the franchise record for most sacks in a game (five) and earned a league-best 91.8 PFF pass-rush grade.
  • The Chiefs' George Karlaftis gave the Commanders fits: He generated a league-high nine pressures and also paced the NFL in pass-rush win rate (43.5%) this past week.

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

We know that quarterback is the most important position on the field, but a great pass rush is the ultimate equalizer. Pressure disrupts timing, rhythm and accuracy, something only the elite quarterbacks can consistently overcome.

Last season, 13 of the top 15 teams in PFF pass-rush grade had a winning record. In 2023, 15 of the top 16 teams in PFF pass-rush grade had a winning record. A dominant pass-rush is undeniably crucial to a team’s success over the course of the season.

Each week, after every NFL game is graded and reviewed, PFF will check in on the top pass rushers of the 2025 season. These rankings will change drastically early in the campaign, as one sack, hit or pressure can significantly alter a player's grade when the sample size is small. But as snap counts rise, the grades will stabilize and we'll get a clearer picture of the league's best pass rushers.

Here are the top 32 pass rushers for the 2025 season after Week 8. For more grades and statistics on the league's best pass-rushers, check out PFF Premium Stats.

RankPlayerTeamPFF Pass-Rush GradePass-Rush Win %PressuresBatted Passes
1Micah ParsonsPackers93.024.8420
2Myles GarrettBrowns92.727.4340
3Aidan HutchinsonLions92.625.2480
4Joey BosaBills91.819.4260
5Will Anderson Jr.Texans91.529.0420
6Jeffery SimmonsTitans91.119.3270
7Maliek CollinsBrowns90.416.8200
8Nick HerbigSteelers90.118.1260
9Trey HendricksonBengals90.021.5230
10Danielle HunterTexans89.924.5290
11Jared VerseRams87.720.6380
12Bryce Huff49ers85.919.5241
13Byron YoungRams84.718.9300
14Chris JonesChiefs84.014.0271
15Joshua UcheEagles83.117.1200
15Dexter LawrenceGiants83.113.5162
17Cameron HeywardSteelers82.815.8212
18Jaelan PhillipsDolphins80.419.2270
19Kobie TurnerRams79.414.1252
20George KarlaftisChiefs79.319.3421
21Derrick BrownPanthers79.110.0145
22Vita VeaBuccaneers78.813.1222
23DeForest BucknerColts78.713.9320
24Byron Murphy IISeahawks78.313.2230
25Adetomiwa AdebaworeColts78.012.5120
26Nik BonittoBroncos77.416.6330
27Gervon Dexter Sr.Bears77.111.7160
27T.J. WattSteelers76.714.4263
29Abdul CarterGiants76.413.5320
29Josh Hines-AllenJaguars76.418.0330
29Al-Quadin MuhammadLions76.417.9270
32Jonathon CooperBroncos76.217.1333

Week 8 Highlights

Best Pass Rusher: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Garrett put together a historic game against the Patriots in Week 8, setting the Browns’ franchise record for most sacks in a game (five) — and breaking his own record of 4.5 from 2021 in the process. The future Hall of Famer earned a league-best 91.8 PFF pass-rush grade, the third time this season he’s topped the 90.0 mark in a game.

Most Pressures: Jalen Redmond, Minnesota Vikings; George Karlaftis, Kansas City Chiefs

Redmond had by far the most productive game of his young career, generating nine pressures against the Chargers in Week 8. The 2023 undrafted free agent has carved out a consistent role in the Vikings’ defense this season, playing no fewer than 32 snaps in any game. Karlaftis' nine pressures against the Commanders marked a season high. It was the fourth time in eight games that he generated at least seven pressures in an outing this season.

Highest Win Rate: George Karlaftis, Kansas City Chiefs

Karlaftis gave the Commanders’ offensive line trouble all night, not only generating nine pressures but also leading the league in pass-rush win rate (43.5%). He was the only player this week with at least 15 pass-rushing snaps and a 30.0%-plus win rate in Week 8.

Best Rookie Pass Rusher: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas Cowboys

For the second straight week, Ezeiruaku was the highest-graded rookie pass rusher in the NFL. The second-round pick out of Boston College earned an 86.6 PFF pass-rush grade with a 26.7% win rate, both top-five marks among all players in Week 8.


Season Highlights 

Best Pass Rusher: Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers

Parsons' 93.7 PFF pass-rush grade leads the NFL heading into Week 9 for the first-place Green Bay Packers. The three-time All-Pro has been simply unblockable since entering the league in 2021, earning an elite 91.6 PFF pass-rush grade or better in each season.

Most Pressures: Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions

The Lions were on a bye in Week 8, but Hutchinson’s 48 pressures are still six more than the next closest player, showing how productive he’s been over the first seven games of Detroit’s season.

Highest Win Rate: Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans

Anderson has developed from a very good pass rusher to an elite force in his third season with the Houston Texans. He leads the NFL in pass-rush win rate (29.0%) and is one of three players (Myles Garrett and Aidan Hutchinson) with a clip higher than 25.0%.

Best Rookie Pass Rusher: Abdul Carter, New York Giants

Carter is in a tier of his own when it comes to rookie pass-rushing production through the first eight weeks of the season. The No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft leads all rookies in PFF pass-rush grade (76.4), total pressures (32) and win rate (13.5%).

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