Which NFL team has the best defensive line?

Power Ranking NFL Defensive-Line Depth ChartsBy Matt Miller , NFL Lead Writer Jul 2, 2014   Which NFL team has the best defensive line? That's a good way to start a serious argument—on the Internet or in your favorite sports bar. But in this slideshow you can get a definitive answer and know once and for all which team truly has the best talent and upside along the defensive line.Looking at past success, injuries, scheme fit, predraft rankings for rookies and then projecting the upside for the starters and top backups on each roster, here is a ranking of the top 32 defensive lines in football.The Top 1010. San Francisco 49ersStarters: Ray McDonald, Glenn Dorsey, Justin SmithKey Reserves: Tank Carradine, Ian Williams, Demarcus Dobbs, Lawrence Okoye, Tony Jerod-EddieThe San Francisco 49ers have been built by general manager Trent Baalke to make another Super Bowl run in 2014. If they do, the strength of the defense upfront will once again play a key role.Right defensive end Justin Smith is one of the most disruptive players at that position, even as he ages. We may see more Tank Carradine there this year in a rotation to keep Smith fresh, but he's the leader of the line and will be the guy called on to make plays there.Glenn Dorsey played very well for his first season as a nose tackle after coming from a defensive end position in Kansas City and should be better with more experience there this fall. Ray McDonald is as solid as they come at left end and a bit underrated nationally.The depth here is unproven but exciting. Carradine is a future starter, and Okoye is an athletic marvel with nice skills.9  Tampa Bay BuccaneersStarters: Adrian Clayborn, Gerald McCoy, Akeem Spence, Michael JohnsonKey Reserves: William Gholston, Clinton McDonald, Da'Quan Bowers, Steven MeansThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gone through a nearly complete rebuild in one offseason now that general manager Jason Licht and head coach Lovie Smith are running the show. The changes on the defensive line were subtle, but they were big enough to create visible adjustments in 2014.Gerald McCoy is back, and he's quickly become one of the game's premier 3-technique pass-rushers. Adding in Michael Johnson at right defensive end will open up rushing lanes for McCoy, Akeem Spence and even Adrian Clayborn as offensive lines slide their protection. The expectation here is that McCoy and Johnson will create opportunities for their linemates.The secondary talent is good, too, and Clinton McDonald might even start ahead of Spence. Da'Quan Bowers hasn't lived up to expectations, but he could be a solid rotational end.8  Detroit LionsStarters: Jason Jones, Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Ziggy AnsahKey Reserves: Larry Webster (rookie), Andre Fluellen, C.J. Mosley, Devin Taylor, Caraun Reid (rookie)The Detroit Lions have one of the NFL's most popular defensive lines. Whether or not that will equal production remains to be seen, but on paper, this is one of the league's best lines.It all starts in the middle for Detroit, with Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, both high-level starters—and Suh is in the running for one of the game's best. The talent there gets even better when you add in C.J. Mosley as a rotational tackle and rookie Caraun Reid bringing up the rear.At end the talent is good, but there is no dominant player here...yet. Ziggy Ansah showed flashes in 2013, but he was still learning the position. This could be a breakout year for him in a new defense. Jason Jones is very solid, but no offensive coordinators are scheming around him.7  Miami DolphinsStarters: Cameron Wake, Randy Starks, Jared Odrick, Olivier VernonKey Reserves: Dion Jordan, Anthony Johnson (rookie), Derrick Shelby, Earl MitchellThe Miami Dolphins have a defensive line built to attack an offense in multiple ways and from multiple angles. That's why it comes in at No. 7 overall.Cameron Wake is one of the NFL's best edge-rushers, and his ability to dip and drive past tackles from the left side of the line is the catalyst for all the Dolphins do upfront. What makes them even more dangerous is the development of Olivier Vernon at right end. Now offenses must worry about both edges simultaneously.That doesn't even include the sub-package role of Dion Jordan—the No. 3 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Jordan has rare abilities, but he hasn't yet been released to make plays by this coaching staff. That could come this year.The inside is stout, and Randy Starks is an underrated pass-rusher at tackle. The depth is good, too, as rookie Anthony Johnson and veteran Earl Mitchell are a nice second wave.6  Arizona CardinalsStarters: Calais Campbell, Dan Williams, Darnell DockettKey Reserves: Kareem Martin (rookie), Alameda Ta'amu, Frostee Rucker, Ed Stinson (rookie)The Arizona Cardinals have a tried-and-true philosophy along the defensive line—and it works. Through the years, the play of Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell has been a constant, and while the pieces around them have changed, the results stay the same.The Cardinals' hybrid defense works because of Campbell's athleticism and Dockett's stubborn persistence along the line. Add in big Dan Williams at nose and you can start attacking an offensive line. The team will ease in rookies Kareem Martin and Ed Stinson, but the first- and second-wave talent here is both talented and ideal for the scheme.5  Seattle SeahawksStarters: Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel, Brandon Mebane, Cliff AvrilKey Reserves: Kevin Williams, Cassius Marsh (rookie), Greg Scruggs, Jordan Hill, Jesse WilliamsThe Seattle Seahawks built one heck of a defense en route to a Super Bowl title. The meat and potatoes of the unit is back, and this front four looks fierce.Michael Bennett may not get huge name recognition (yet), but he's one of the NFL's best and most versatile players at defensive end. Throw him into a lineup that can feature big uglies (McDaniel, Mebane, Hill) or speed (Avril, Marsh) and you have serious problems as an offensive coordinator.For the scheme they've built, the Seahawks have an idea mixture of talent to work with. And that's why they're ranked No. 5 overall.4  New York JetsStarters: Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, Sheldon RichardsonKey Reserves: Kenrick Ellis, Leger Douzable, Kerry Hyder (rookie), Zach Thompson (rookie)The New York Jets have a scary front three anchoring Rex Ryan's 3-4 defense. If you're playing in the AFC East, this is the type of line you never want to see.What works so well for the Jets? The basis of their front three is the athleticism. Sheldon Richardson moves like an outside linebacker and is built like a defensive tackle. His explosion and flexibility are unreal, and they allow him to be a pass-rusher and run-stopper playing a 5-technique role.If you slide your protection to stop Richardson, you have to worry about Muhammad Wilkerson on the other side of the line. Wilkerson, like Richardson, is a dynamic and versatile mover with the skills to beat you in a number of ways. And if you manage to stop the two ends, good luck handling Damon "Snacks" Harrison in the middle.Harrison emerged as one of the best gap-plugging big men in the game last year, and he'll get after the quarterback too if he's asked to crash the pocket.The Jets have good depth, too, but the focal point of the entire defense (and honestly, the entire team) is this front three.3  Buffalo BillsStarters: Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams, Jerry HughesKey Reserves: Manny Lawson, Jarius Wynn, Alan Branch, Corbin BryantThe Buffalo Bills may not be in the minds of many casual fans when thinking of the best defensive lines in the NFL, but anyone turning on the game and closely paying attention has noticed the talent here. The Bills have a group with versatile, but complementing, talents. Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes are both agile and strong off the edge, with Hughes having the open-field quickness to match Williams' raw strength and length. In the middle, Marcell Dareus' all-around game is a perfect match next to Kyle Williams' leverage, vision and quickness.The second level is good, too, with Manny Lawson providing a very good edge rush on passing downs. Even guys like Alan Branch have found success in this scheme. Across the board, it's tough to find four better starters in the NFL today.2  Carolina PanthersStarters: Charles Johnson, Dwan Edwards, Star Lotulelei, Greg HardyKey Reserves: Kawann Short, Kony Ealy (rookie), Frank Alexander, Colin ColePick your poison if you're trying to stop the Carolina Panthers' front four. The line has legitimate stars (Charles Johnson, Greg Hardy) and big-time up-and-comers in Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short and Kony Ealy. The front office has built for the present and the future in Carolina, at least on defense, and this line is a testament to that.Johnson and Hardy are one of the top pass-rushing duos in the league—and you could make an argument that they are the very best. From a pure numbers standpoint, they're tough to beat. The only thing stopping them might be Hardy's legal troubles, but that's where second-rounder Kony Ealy—a player I ranked in the top 10 overall—comes in.Stars, strong veterans and big-time potential. That's why the Panthers are easily one of the NFL's best defensive lines.1  St. Louis RamsStarters: Chris Long, Aaron Donald (rookie), Michael Brockers, Robert QuinnKey Reserves: William Hayes, Kendall Langford, Eugene Sims, Michael Sam (rookie) I worked as an offensive coach at the high school and semi-pro levels. It was nothing glamorous and, obviously, different levels of play, but coaching makes you think about what you cannot scheme for—what can't be stopped. On offense, the answer is speed and technique. The St. Louis Rams' defensive line excels in both areas.If you're an offensive coordinator, you look at this roster and start working on stopping Robert Quinn. That means sliding your left guard in as protection—but when you do that, Michael Brockers is in a one-on-one situation with the center.So you decide to play it straight, but you can't let Chris Long and Quinn go free against your tackles in pass protection. Max protect? Maybe, but then the Rams bring in William Hayes, and it's like a Blitzkrieg attack. Stopping the Rams' pass rush is something few will be able to do—especially with Aaron Donald crashing lines as the 3-technique. Good luck, NFC West. You're going to need it.For every team....link