NFL analyst overlooks Atlanta’s most influential defender in rankings

The best defensive trios in the NFL were ranked by SI writer Gilberto Manzano, with the Atlanta Falcons showing surprising respect. The Atlanta trio was ranked 19th with Kaden Elliss, David Onyemata and Jessie Bates being the three members listed. At first glance, two names stand out as exclusions. Jessie Bates is locked into the trio with no valid argument that can be made to expel her.

However, AJ Terrell, at his best, has a clear argument over Onyemata or Elliss. Both players were impressive, and neither had the ceiling to be a top-three player at their position. At his best, that’s what AJ Terrell has been during his career.

With that in mind, it’s still not AJ who most deserves a spot in the trio. Grady Jarrett continues to be underrated, with his impact often not apparent from just a glance at the stat sheet. The most telling impact for Jarrett is simply watching what the defense became when he left with an injury last season.

It’s hard to see Jarrett’s impact if you’re unfamiliar with Atlanta’s defense. Looking at the numbers, there’s nothing terribly impressive about the veteran defensive lineman. This is where turning the tape on makes all the difference. Watching Jarrett work and seeing how many times he performs THE play that shows someone else his talent and impact cannot be ignored.

Additionally, Jarrett has been a great teammate and leader during difficult seasons. The veteran exemplifies everything you want Falcons football to stand for. No ranking of the Atlanta Falcons defensive line is complete without including Grady Jarrett.

Yes, David Onyemata has taken the lead, but between the two healthy players, it’s not a question of who has more impact. While the respect given to Atlanta is appreciated, the rankings are flawed by excluding the heart of Atlanta’s defense, Grady Jarrett.