WE NEED TO BAN DEFENSIVE ENDS FROM FOOTBALL

Mon, Mar 10, 2025
by SetTheNarrative.cappertek.com


If the NFL lacked elite pass rushers—or if defenses struggled to generate a pass rush—we would see a drastically different style of play, one that favors offenses in multiple ways. Here’s what to expect:

1. A More Dominant Passing Game

  • Quarterbacks would have more time in the pocket, leading to higher passing efficiency across the league.
  • Deep passing would increase, as QBs wouldn’t be forced to make quick throws under pressure.
  • Pocket passers like Kirk Cousins or Jared Goff would thrive, as their effectiveness often depends on a clean pocket.
  • Completion percentages and passing yards per attempt would rise significantly.

2. More Explosive Offensive Plays

  • Wide receivers would have more time to separate, leading to more big plays.
  • Teams would stretch the field vertically more often, knowing that deep routes can fully develop.
  • Offensive coordinators would design slower-developing plays (double moves, deep crossers, etc.) without fear of quick pressure.

3. Decline in Turnovers

  • Fewer strip sacks and hurried throws mean fewer fumbles and interceptions.
  • Quarterbacks wouldn’t need to force ill-advised passes under duress.
  • Defenses would struggle to generate pressure-based mistakes, forcing them to rely more on coverage.

4. Running Game Becomes Less Necessary

  • Historically, elite pass rushers force teams to run the ball more to slow them down.
  • Without that threat, offenses would lean more into the passing game.
  • RPOs and play-action passes would still be used, but the traditional power run game might decline.

5. Defenses Would Shift Toward Coverage

  • Without an elite pass rush, defenses would have to compensate with stronger coverage.
  • More teams would play zone-heavy schemes, forcing QBs to be patient.
  • Blitzing might increase, but blitz-heavy defenses are often vulnerable to big plays.

6. Quarterback Play Would Become the Deciding Factor

  • If pass rushers aren’t impacting games, QB performance becomes even more critical.
  • The gap between elite QBs and mediocre QBs widens—great QBs would shred weak pass rush defenses.
  • System QBs who rely on structure (Jimmy Garoppolo, Mac Jones) would struggle less than usual.

7. Higher Scoring Games

  • More time in the pocket = more efficient offense.
  • Fewer sacks and forced turnovers = longer drives.
  • NFL games would resemble college shootouts, where teams score 30+ points regularly.

8. Offensive Line Play Wouldn’t Be as Crucial

  • Without elite pass rushers, even average offensive lines could protect their QBs well.
  • Teams wouldn’t have to invest heavily in left tackles or interior pass protection.
  • More resources could go into skill positions instead.

9. The Death of the Edge Rusher Market

  • Elite edge rushers (T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons) would lose value.
  • Defensive tackles and interior pressure (like Aaron Donald-style DTs) might become more valuable if edge pressure disappears.
  • Teams would deprioritize defensive ends in the draft and focus on coverage players instead.


The current imbalance between elite pass rushers and elite quarterbacks is a major issue in the NFL. Right now, dominant edge rushers are making life miserable for the majority of quarterbacks, particularly the average ones.

The Problem: More Elite Pass Rushers Than Elite QBs

  • Elite QBs can handle pressure better, but there are only a handful of them (Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, Herbert, maybe Lamar and Hurts).
  • Elite pass rushers are far more common—Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby are just the few that get mentioned but the list is extensive. 
  • This creates a huge gap where average and below-average QBs don’t stand a chance.


What This Means for the NFL

1. Average and Below-Average QBs Are Unplayable

  • Without time to throw, QBs like Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett, and Desmond Ridder crumble.
  • Pocket passers with limited mobility (like Kirk Cousins or Jared Goff) can still survive behind elite O-lines, but if the protection isn’t perfect, they get exposed.
  • Teams that don’t have a top-10 QB or elite pass-blocking O-line struggle to win consistently.

2. The Sack Numbers Are Insane

  • Defensive linemen are racking up higher sack totals than ever before.
  • In 2023, six players had 15+ sacks, and 20+ players had double-digit sacks—that’s a major problem for QBs who can’t escape.
  • Old-school, statuesque QBs like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning would struggle in today’s game because they wouldn’t have time to process the defense.

3. Rookie and Young QBs Struggle More Than Ever

  • Developing a young QB is nearly impossible unless they have elite escapability (like C.J. Stroud or Josh Allen).
  • Bryce Young, for example, looked lost behind the Panthers’ weak offensive line because the speed of the NFL pass rush was too overwhelming.
  • Sam Howell led the league in sacks taken in 2023 (65 sacks!), proving that without protection, QBs don’t stand a chance.

4. Teams Are Forced to Prioritize Mobility at QB

  • The era of pure pocket passers is dying—teams are drafting QBs who can escape pressure.
  • The new generation of QBs (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye) all have mobility, which is a direct response to elite pass rushers.
  • If you can’t move, you’re a liability—offenses must be able to escape pressure.

5. Offensive Line Play Has Never Been More Important

  • NFL teams are spending huge money on left tackles and right tackles just to slow down the elite edge rushers.
  • Look at the Lions—Penei Sewell is one of the most valuable players on their offense because he neutralizes top pass rushers.
  • Without a solid O-line, even a good QB can look terrible.


WHAT ABOUT TOM BRADY AND PAYTON MANNING?

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning absolutely faced elite pass rushers in their time, but the difference is how the game was played and how offensive systems protected them compared to today. Let’s break it down:

1. The Pass Rushers They Faced Were Elite—But Fewer in Number

Brady and Manning went up against some all-time great pass rushers, including:

  • Michael Strahan
  • Jason Taylor
  • Julius Peppers
  • Dwight Freeney
  • Jared Allen
  • Von Miller
  • DeMarcus Ware
  • James Harrison
  • Terrell Suggs
  • Aaron Donald (Brady late in his career)

However, the league wasn’t overloaded with elite pass rushers like it is today. In their era:

  • There were usually 2-3 dominant edge rushers per conference—not 10+ game-wreckers like today.
  • Only a few teams could get consistent pressure without blitzing.
  • QBs like Brady and Manning could mostly trust their offensive lines to hold up.


2. The NFL’s Rule Changes Have Helped Pass Rushers

  • Holding calls on offensive linemen increased in the mid-2010s, making it harder for O-lines to slow down rushers.
  • Defensive linemen got more freedom to move—less illegal hands to the face calls, fewer chop blocks allowed.
  • The rise of analytics shifted defenses toward pass rush over coverage, so teams now stockpile pass rushers.

In short, Brady and Manning faced pressure, but today’s game is designed to allow pass rushers to dominate even more.


3. Brady and Manning Mastered Quick Passing to Neutralize the Pass Rush

One of the biggest differences between their era and now is how fast Brady and Manning got the ball out:

  • Manning’s 2013 Broncos offense had the fastest average time to throw in NFL history (~2.3 seconds).
  • Brady’s Patriots ran a ton of quick throws, screens, and play-action to keep him clean.
  • Neither QB held the ball for long, meaning they rarely took sacks despite not being mobile.

Compare that to today:

  • Modern QBs are asked to hold the ball longer for deep shots, making them vulnerable to pressure.
  • Even a guy like Patrick Mahomes gets pressured more because defenses send extra rushers constantly.


4. Offensive Line Play Has Gotten Worse

This is a major factor: Brady and Manning played behind some of the best O-lines ever, while today’s O-line play is weaker across the board:

  • Patriots O-Line (Brady era): Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Shaq Mason – elite protection
  • Colts O-Line (Manning era): Jeff Saturday, Tarik Glenn, Ryan Diem – built for quick passing
  • Broncos (Manning in 2013): Designed for pass protection, helped him throw 55 TDs

Today’s NFL has a shortage of great offensive linemen, making elite pass rushers even more dangerous.

  • There are too many dominant pass rushers for 32 teams to counter.
  • Even elite QBs get hit constantly—Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Justin Herbert have all taken massive punishment.


5. Pass Rushers Today Are More Athletic Than Ever

Let’s be real—pass rushers today are freaks of nature compared to 15-20 years ago:

  • Micah Parsons (Cowboys): Runs a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at 250 lbs.
  • Myles Garrett (Browns): Moves like a linebacker at 272 lbs.
  • T.J. Watt (Steelers): More explosive than most RBs.
  • Nick Bosa (49ers): Combines power and technique at an elite level.
  • Aidan Hutchinson (Lions): Agile, powerful, and relentless.

In the early 2000s, pass rushers relied more on strength and technique. Today, they’re just as fast as some WRs and RBs, making them nearly impossible to block for 3+ seconds.


So What’s the Difference?

Brady and Manning did face elite pass rushers, but they had three major advantages:

  1. Fewer elite pass rushers per team – they weren’t relentlessly pressured every game.
  2. Better offensive lines – teams had stronger protection units back then.
  3. Faster decision-making – they didn’t hold the ball and take sacks like today’s young QBs.

If Brady or Manning played in today’s NFL, they would still succeed, but only if:

  • They had a top-tier offensive line (like Mahomes in KC).
  • They stuck with fast passing offenses (think Miami’s system with Tua).


Brady and Manning did face pass rush threats, but not at the level we see today. There are simply too many elite edge rushers now, and offensive lines aren’t built to handle them anymore.

That’s why average QBs are getting destroyed—there’s no safe space in the NFL anymore unless you’re an elite playmaker or have a perfect O-line.

How Can Teams Adapt?

  1. Invest in Elite Offensive Linemen

    • Teams must prioritize the trenches, just like the Eagles and Lions do.
    • The best teams draft and develop offensive linemen early—cheap O-lines get QBs killed.

  2. Build Around Mobile QBs

    • If a team doesn’t have a top-5 O-line, their QB better be fast and athletic.
    • The 49ers’ Brock Purdy survives because of their O-line and play design, but most QBs aren’t that lucky.

  3. Use Quick Passing and Heavy Play-Action

    • To beat elite pass rushers, teams must get the ball out fast (like how Miami uses Tua).
    • Play-action slows down the pass rush, giving QBs extra time to throw.

  4. Stockpile Edge Rushers on Defense

    • If elite pass rushers are breaking the game, teams need their own.
    • The teams with dominant pass rushers (Steelers, 49ers, Browns, Cowboys) have huge advantages every week.


Final Thought

    The NFL is in a dangerous place where elite pass rushers outnumber elite QBs, making most teams uncompetitive unless they have a top-tier passer or dominant O-line. The next evolution of the game might be even more mobility at QB and bigger, stronger O-lines, but if the pass rush talent keeps growing, we might see the NFL turn into a defensive league again—at least for teams that can’t find an elite QB. That is why we must eliminate the defensive-end position from football.


    JP