Yea, I’m taking AD over Chandler, Mack, Von, or any other edge-rusher in a heartbeat.
Such a good statement here.
I mean, they are all good in their own ways.
Von Miller is kind of a one trick pony, but seriously, if the trick is as good as his is, who cares. His first step, balance, and quickness are so beyond ridiculous, that it really doesn't matter what his size is. He is ALMOST playing football without anyone in front of him.
Chandler Jones - We see him every game, and I think it is best to describe him as your prototypical DE for 2018. Lean and long, but strong, big but quick. Smart, yet good instincts. When Jones is on his game, he is a nightmare.
Mack - See my previous post.
Then there is Aaron Donald, a guy that when he came out in the draft, I said "we could put him at OLBer", and people said he was "too big". It doesn't matter with Donald, he can play anywhere in the front seven, IMHO. His first step is only behind Von Miller, and not by much, he is stronger than Mack, and I believe his football knowledge is better than anyone else listed here. He is that player, when you watch him, that makes the game look to easy.
For comparison's sake, I will bring in a hockey reference. Calgary Flames has this young phenom, named Johnny Gaudreau (aka Johnny Hockey), and while he is not the best player in the league, his skating abilities are RIDICULOUS. Point being, there are multiple clips of him FLYING do the ice, and he just stops on a dime, and that is not even hyperbole here, right at the edge of the net, flips the puck in, and GOAL! Looks SO EASY. You ask yourself, well why can't my guy on my team do that? Because it AIN'T THAT EASY. He just makes it look that way.
Aaron Donald makes football look easy. He sheds blocks like he is playing against toddlers, and again, his 1st step, for his size, is unbelievable.
Look at his 2018, Top 100 highlights, and there is a play against the Giants, where he literally at the snap of that ball, just goes right by the guard. Guy isn't even out of his stance, and Donald is past his hip, and on his way to the backfield.
You just watch it, and wonder, "Why can't my guy do that?" Because it defies football logic, that is why. LOL.
Dare I say it, when all is said and done, Aaron Donald could be looked as held in as high regard as Reggie White, a player that I put in my top 3, even maybe my top 2, even maybe best player of all time to step on a football field.
Guy is a modern day phenom.