Pro Football Focus's Top Graded NFL Players: Week Three (Defense)

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Every week here at THE Ultimate Sports Blog, you will see Pro Football Focus's top graded players for the week, broken into different categories. That's how much we love you guys. Want to win an NFL argument with a friend? Bookmark these columns. Trust me, it will help.


*As always, snap count is a factor (must have over 40 snaps a game)

Top Graded 4-3 Defensive Ends:

1. Jerry Hughes (Buffalo Bills)

2. Michael Bennett (Seattle Seahawks)

3. Cliff Avril (Seattle Seahawks)

4. Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints)

4. Michael Johnson (Cincinnati Bengals)

Worst Graded 4-3 Defensive Ends:

1. Jared Odrick (Jacksonville Jaguars)

2. George Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

3. Jack Crawford (Dallas Cowboys)

4. George Selvie (New York Giants)

4. Chris Clemons (Jacksonville Jaguars)

4. Jacquies Smith (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Top Graded 4-3 Outside Linebackers:

1. Jamie Collins (New England Patriots)

2. Anthony Barr (Minnesota Vikings)

3. Bruce Irvin (Seattle Seahawks)

4. K.J. Wright (Seattle Seahawks)

5. Josh Bynes (Detroit Lions)

Worst Graded 4-3 Outside Linebackers:

1. Nigel Bradham (Buffalo Bills)

2. Telvin Smith (Jacksonville Jaguars)

3. Thomas Davis (Carolina Panthers)

4. Kyle Wilber (Dallas Cowboys)

5. Dont'a Hightower (New England Patriots)

Top Graded 3-4 Defensive Ends:

1. Jurrell Casey (Tennessee Titans)

2. Stephon Tuitt (Pittsburgh Steelers)

3. J.J. Watt (Houston Texans)

4. Henry Anderson (Indianapolis Colts)

5. Brandon Bair (Philadelphia Eagles)

Worst Graded 3-4 Defensive Ends:

1. Jared Crick (Houston Texans)

2. Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh Steelers)

3. Dontari Poe (Kansas City Chiefs)

4. Jason Hatcher (Washington Redskins)

5. John Hughes (Cleveland Browns)

Top Graded 3-4 Outside Linebackers:

1. Khalil Mack (Oakland Raiders)

2. Von Miller (Denver Broncos)

3. Elvis Dumervil (Baltimore Ravens)

4. Pernell McPhee (Chicago Bears)

5. Justin Houston (Kansas City Chiefs)

Worst Graded 3-4 Outside Linebackers:

1. Julius Peppers (Green Bay Packers)

2. Paul Kruger (Cleveland Browns)

2. Mike Neal (Green Bay Packers)

4. Erik Walden (Indianapolis Colts)

5. Ahmad Brooks (San Francisco 49ers)

Top Graded Defensive Tackles:

1. Brandon Williams (Baltimore Ravens)

2. N'Damukong Suh (Miami Dolphins)

3. Jaye Howard (Kansas City Chiefs)

4. Geno Atkins (Cincinnati Bengals)

5. Kawann Short (Carolina Panthers)

Worst Graded Defensive Tackles:

1. Dwan Edwards (Carolina Panthers)

2. Tyson Alualu (Jacksonville Jaguars)

3. Tyrone Crawford (Dallas Cowboys)

4. Ian Williams (San Francisco 49ers)

5. David Parry (Indianapolis Colts)

Top Graded Inside Linebackers:

1. Brian Cushing (Houston Texans)

2. David Harris (New York Jets)

3. Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks)

4. C.J. Mosley (Baltimore Ravens)

5. Clay Matthews (Green Bay Packers)

Worst Graded Inside Linebackers:

1. Paul Worrilow (Atlanta Falcons)

2. D'Qwell Jackson (Indianapolis Colts)

3. Anthony Hitchens (Dallas Cowboys)

4. NaVorro Bowman (San Francisco 49ers)

4. Josh Mauga (Kansas City Chiefs)

Top Graded Cornerbacks:

1. Johnathan Joseph (Houston Texans)

2. Tyrann Mathieu (Arizona Cardinals)

3. Delvin Breaux (New Orleans Saints)

4. Bradley Roby (Denver Broncos)

5. Rashean Mathis (Detroit Lions)

Worst Graded Cornerbacks:

1. Joe Haden (Cleveland Browns)

2. Brandon Browner (New Orleans Saints)

3. Brice McCain (Miami Dolphins)

4. Tramaine Brock (San Francisco 49ers)

4. Bashaud Breeland (Washington Redskins)

Top Graded Safeties:

1. Harrison Smith (Minnesota Vikings)

2. Walter Thurmond (Philadelphia Eagles)

3. Dwight Lowery (Indianapolis Colts)

4. Charles Woodson (Oakland Raiders)

5. Darian Stewart (Denver Broncos)

Worst Graded Safeties:

1. Tyvon Branch (Kansas City Chiefs)

2. Ron Parker (Kansas City Chiefs)

3. Michael Griffin (Tennessee Titans)

4. Donte Whitner (Cleveland Browns)

5. Mike Adams (Indianapolis Colts)