3. Joey Bosa and Derwin James, LA Chargers
Some fans of the LA Chargers that are reading this probably disagree with this ranking and think that Bosa and James belong higher on this list but the bronze medal here is not so bad. It is important to note as well: I do not think we have even seen close to the best Bosa nor James, and if they both click at the right time, they could be the best defensive duo, period.
We will break down why the two duos ahead of them are ahead of them on the subsequent slides. This slide is to appreciate just how talented the LA Chargers’ young duo is.
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Joey Bosa is one of the best young defensive ends in the league and when he has been on the field his impact sends shockwaves throughout the Chargers’ defense. He has already put together Defensive Player of the Year-worthy numbers and he is just hitting the stage of his career where his prime truly will start.
Charger fans did not get to see a second-year improvement out of James because of his injuries and if he did play all 16 and was elite perhaps the Chargers would be higher on this list.
Regardless, there is nobody in the league (well, maybe Isaiah Simmons now) that is as versatile as James is. He can line up at safety, linebacker and can even bring pressure to the quarterback off the edge.
He is fantastic in pass-coverage, is an elite open-field tackler and is extremely important in helping the team stop runs on the outside.
The LA Chargers are in great hands defensively with Bosa and James leading the way.