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	777
4	Calais Campbell	117 sacks · 3 INT	754
5	Myles Garrett	126 sacks	689
6	Danielle Hunter	118 sacks	653
7	Maxx Crosby	72 sacks · 1 INT	469
8	Josh Hines-Allen	63 sacks · 2 INT	429
9	Nick Bosa	65 sacks · 2 INT	421
10	Micah Parsons	65 sacks	396
11	Montez Sweat	53 sacks · 1 INT	360
12	Aidan Hutchinson	47 sacks · 5 INT	347
13	Grady Jarrett	38 sacks	304
14	Samson Ebukam	38 sacks · 1 INT	295
15	Carl Granderson	37 sacks · 1 INT	267
16	Zach Allen	36 sacks · 1 INT	260
17	Deatrich Wise Jr.	34 sacks	259
18	Will Anderson Jr.	38 sacks	255
19	Chase Young	34 sacks	254
20	Dorance Armstrong	34 sacks	230
21	Dre'Mont Jones	36 sacks · 1 INT	230
22	Travon Walker	30 sacks · 1 INT	227
23	George Karlaftis	31 sacks · 1 INT	223
24	John Franklin-Myers	36 sacks · 1 INT	223
25	Kwity Paye	33 sacks	221
26	AJ Epenesa	24 sacks · 4 INT	216
27	Arden Key	31 sacks	215
28	Jacob Martin	28 sacks	194
29	Kobie Turner	24 sacks · 1 INT	189
30	Mike Danna	22 sacks · 1 INT	180
31	Charles Omenihu	23 sacks	179
32	Will McDonald IV	24 sacks	176
33	Dayo Odeyingbo	21 sacks	171
34	Laiatu Latu	14 sacks · 3 INT	168
35	Michael Hoecht	16 sacks	158
36	Jermaine Johnson II	14 sacks · 1 INT	156
37	Malcolm Koonce	18 sacks	155
38	Jared Verse	12 sacks	142
39	Chauncey Golston	10 sacks · 1 INT	131
40	Joseph Ossai	15 sacks	131
41	Braden Fiske	12 sacks	119
42	Keion White	9 sacks	114
43	Alex Wright	12 sacks	113
44	Tyree Wilson	13 sacks	112
45	Julian Okwara	10 sacks · 1 INT	104
46	Logan Hall	11 sacks	100
47	Austin Booker	10 sacks	96
48	Micheal Clemons	9 sacks	93
49	Zach Harrison	9 sacks	93
50	Lukas Van Ness	11 sacks	90

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.