Don't Look Now, but Trey Flowers is as Good an Edge Player as There is in the NFL
Well, well, well. What have we got here? Correct me if I’m wrong because it was a long, hot summer and I spent a lot of time alternating between floating in the pool and floating in cans of IPAs so maybe I don’t remember it all that well. But wasn’t edge defender supposed to be one of the areas that was going to be the Patriots undoing this year? Wasn’t that the area they stupidly didn’t address in the draft, going instead for an offensive lineman, a running back and a corner with their first three picks instead of moving up to get Bradley Chubb or Marcus Davenport or even sitting back and taking Sam Hubbard? Worse still, wasn’t this weak spot proof that Bill Belichick’s [wait for it] … arrogance in trading Chandler Jones was finally biting him in his gray, sweatpants ass because Jones led the league in sacks and was earning every penny of his $82.5 million? Yeah. About that …
I get not everyone buys into Pro Football Focus’s methodology. But it’s not like they watch all those snaps and grade out all those plays and decide that, like the best Edge player in football is Cassius Marsh or somebody. You look at the top of their rankings and it’s a roll call of All Pros. Ford, Graham, Watt and Alexander that you see above. But rounded out by Cameron Jordon, Khalil Mack, Myles Garrett, Calais Campbell and Jerry Hughes. With Von Miller not far behind.
To dive a little deeper into PFF’s grades, Flowers ranks:
–1st in Rush Defense, ahead of Jadeveon Clowney and Campbell
–10th in Pass Rush
–6th in Coverage
Chandler Jones, despite moving to 4-3 defensive end in Steve Wilks new scheme and having an NFC Defensive Player of the Week award in Week 5, is ranked 30th. One spot ahead of the bookend on the other side of the shelf from Flowers, Adrian Clayborn.
Furthermore, Flowers is doing this while still playing on his rookie deal. They’re getting this kind of performance from a guy whose cap hit is 61st among all NFL edge players, 23rd on the Patriots and 634th overall in the league. Which, if you’ve been paying attention to how the accountants have helped build and sustain this dynasty, matters. A lot. This thing has been built on a foundation of getting peak performance out of players toward the end of their rookie deals and then going from there.
Believe me, I love this guy and I hope he merits the coveted second contract that so few have gotten over the years. I hope that instead of being a Jones or a Jamie Collins, he’s a Vince Wilfork, Devin McCourty or Dont’a Hightower. After missing 1 1/2 of his first two seasons, we’re seeing what he’s capable of when he’s healthy. He’s a versatile, athletic, impactful, intelligent player who clearly was a steal with the 101st overall pick in 2015 who’ll command a ton of attention after the season. But that’s for after the season. For now, just don’t forget to appreciate how high a level this guy is playing at, because not too many Patriots since maybe Willie McGinest have done it this well. I’m just glad the national sites are recognizing it too.