How is this defensive end ranking built?

Each defensive end is scored on modern-era (2005–present) production and longevity by a transparent Balladex model. Because the data starts in 2005, this is not an all-time ranking.

Balladex / NFL / Modern-Era Production Leaders / Defensive Ends

Modern era · 2005–present

Top defensive ends.

The most productive NFL defensive ends since 2005, by a transparent production model. Modern-era, not all-time.

The short answer. Since 2005, the most productive NFL defensive end is Bruce Smith — 200 sacks · 2 INT. Next: Reggie White, Cameron Jordan, Calais Campbell, Myles Garrett. Modern-era production, not an all-time claim.

Modern-era defensive ends

Ranked by the Balladex most productive score.

Full NFL board →

Balladex NFL defensive ends modern-era rankings — 2005–present.
#	Player	Career credentials	Score
1	BSBruce Smith	200 sacks · 2 INT	1491
2	RWReggie White	198 sacks · 3 INT	1335
3	Cameron Jordan	132 sacks · 3 INT	774
4	Calais Campbell	117 sacks · 3 INT	753
5	Myles Garrett	126 sacks	689
6	Danielle Hunter	115 sacks	634
7	Maxx Crosby	70 sacks · 1 INT	456
8	Nick Bosa	65 sacks · 2 INT	418
9	Josh Hines-Allen	61 sacks · 2 INT	416
10	Micah Parsons	65 sacks	396
11	Montez Sweat	51 sacks · 1 INT	350
12	Aidan Hutchinson	43 sacks · 5 INT	328
13	Grady Jarrett	38 sacks	300
14	Samson Ebukam	35 sacks · 1 INT	284
15	Deatrich Wise Jr.	34 sacks	256
16	Carl Granderson	35 sacks · 1 INT	255
17	Zach Allen	32 sacks · 1 INT	240
18	Chase Young	30 sacks	233
19	Dorance Armstrong	34 sacks	227
20	Dre'Mont Jones	35 sacks · 1 INT	223
21	Will Anderson Jr.	30 sacks	222
22	Travon Walker	28 sacks · 1 INT	216
23	George Karlaftis	31 sacks	214
24	John Franklin-Myers	34 sacks · 1 INT	214
25	AJ Epenesa	24 sacks · 4 INT	213
26	Kwity Paye	31 sacks	211
27	Arden Key	31 sacks	208
28	Jacob Martin	26 sacks	183
29	Kobie Turner	24 sacks · 1 INT	183
30	Mike Danna	22 sacks · 1 INT	180
31	Charles Omenihu	23 sacks	176
32	Will McDonald IV	22 sacks	163
33	Laiatu Latu	13 sacks · 3 INT	160
34	Dayo Odeyingbo	18 sacks	157
35	Michael Hoecht	16 sacks	153
36	Jermaine Johnson II	13 sacks · 1 INT	149
37	Jared Verse	12 sacks	139
38	Malcolm Koonce	15 sacks	137
39	Chauncey Golston	10 sacks · 1 INT	128
40	Joseph Ossai	15 sacks	128
41	Braden Fiske	12 sacks	116
42	Alex Wright	12 sacks	113
43	Tyree Wilson	12 sacks	105
44	Julian Okwara	10 sacks · 1 INT	104
45	Keion White	6 sacks	101
46	Logan Hall	10 sacks	94
47	Micheal Clemons	9 sacks	93
48	Zach Harrison	9 sacks	89
49	Isaiah McGuire	6 sacks	77
50	L.J. Collier	7 sacks	77

Method. A transparent Balladex model estimate. Modern-era (2005–present) production and longevity — not an all-time ranking, since the data begins in 2005. See the full NFL modern-era production leaders and the stat leaders.