NFL defensive coordinators who plan to rattle the best quarterbacks can do so with a top-tier playmaker. To counter, offensive coordinators can neutralize a dominant defender with extra protection at the line of scrimmage, but a pass-rushing duo can present nightmarish issues in the trenches.

Oftentimes, we focus on edge-rushers (defensive ends and outside linebackers) as primary sources of sacks and quarterback pressures, but an increasing number of interior defenders have made a strong impression on passing downs.

While ranking the league's top-five pass-rushing tandems, we included defensive tackles. Across the board, the premier duets have a high number of combined sacks and pressures in recent seasons, Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades and one pair has unique synergy accumulated through the years as teammates. We've also factored in projections for the 2023 season.

Which pass-rushing duo topped our list? We'll start with the couples that barely missed the cut but accomplished enough to earn an honorable mention.

Honorable Mentions

Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins acquired Chubb from the Denver Broncos before the 2022 trade deadline. He saw a slight downtick in defensive snaps (74 to 59 percent) in the move from Denver to Miami, but under incoming defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the two-time Pro Bowler should pick up steam alongside Phillips, who's recorded 15.5 sacks and 62 pressures in two seasons.

Harold Landry III and Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans

Last offseason, the Tennessee Titans signed Landry to a five-year, $87.5 million extension, which looks like a smart investment after the budding edge-rusher registered 12.5 sacks in a 2022 Pro Bowl year. Landry has benefitted from Simmons' push up the middle. The latter recorded 7.5 sacks in the previous campaign and signed an extension worth $94 million in April.

Matt Judon and Josh Uche, New England Patriots

Among the honorable mentions, Matt Judon and Josh Uche are the only pair that logged 11.5-plus sacks apiece in one term. Judon has earned four Pro Bowl nods, and he's coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 12.5 sacks. Uche had a breakout 2022 campaign in a reserve role—on the field for just 38 percent of the defensive snaps.

5. Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles

In 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles fielded a dominant defensive front and went down in history as the first team with a double-digit sack quartet.

Javon Hargrave signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. In his age-34 term, Brandon Graham recorded his highest single-season sack total (11). He's unlikely to top that number in 2023.

As a result, Hasson Reddick and Josh Sweat list as the Eagles' top two pass-rushers ahead of the upcoming term.

Reddick has logged 11 or more sacks in three consecutive campaigns with three different teams. After racking up a career-high 16 sacks last year, he's a dark-horse candidate to win 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.

Sweat capitalized on pass-rushing opportunities with a strong supporting cast around him, though he's increased his sack numbers every year of his career and made the NFC Pro Bowl roster in 2021.

Rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter may not put up big sack numbers right away, and Graham could see a drop-off in his snap count with first-year edge-rusher Nolan Smith in the fold. Reddick and Sweat will likely lead the team in sacks this year.

Because they're both full-time starters, Reddick and Sweat beat out Matt Judon and his pass-rushing partner Josh Uche, who played in a reserve role last season.

4. Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave, San Francisco 49ers

Last season, Javon Hargrave entered the discussion among the top pass-rushing interior defensive linemen with a career-high 11 sacks.

Since 2020, Hargrave has increased his sack totals and made the leap from a solid defender in Pittsburgh to one of the best at his position as part of the Philadelphia Eagles' aggressive front seven, which helped him earn a four-year, $81 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

In San Francisco, Hargrave will join forces with 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, who led the league with 18.5 sacks last season. The pair will wreck offensive lines as they feed off each other on the same side of the 49ers defense.

This offseason, the 49ers hired Steve Wilks to replace DeMeco Ryans, who took over the Houston Texans' head-coaching job, but the change in defensive coordinator shouldn't adversely impact Bosa or Hargrave.

Wilks has an extensive background as a defensive coach. Ironically, he became the Carolina Panthers' interim head coach after the team fired Matt Rhule on the heels of a loss to the 49ers. On Wilks' watch, Brian Burns logged 8.5 sacks, and linebacker Frankie Luvu broke out in a pass-rushing role with seven sacks.

As the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and sack leader, Bosa's accomplishments elevated the 49ers' tandem over Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat.

3. Myles Garrett and Za'Darius Smith, Cleveland Browns

In May, the Cleveland Browns made a shrewd move for Za'Darius Smith. They acquired him along with sixth- and seventh-round picks in 2025 and sent 2024 and 2025 fifth-round picks to the Minnesota Vikings. By the numbers, that's a steal for a player with 10-plus sacks in three of the last four years.

Based on age, Smith may be slightly past his prime, but he should continue to produce at a high level alongside two-time All-Pro Myles Garrett, who's coming off consecutive 16-sack seasons.

Somehow, Garrett has yet to win Defensive Player of the Year, but he could change that in the upcoming campaign with a high-volume sack collector on the opposite side of the Browns' defensive line.

By the way, Cleveland fired Joe Woods, and hired Jim Schwartz to fill its defensive coordinator position. In his last NFL coaching stint, Schwartz fielded an Eagles defense that ranked third in sacks and second in pressure rate for the 2020 term. Under his tutelage, Garrett and Smith should feast on offensive lines.

Both Garrett and Smith have a lengthy track record of high-volume pass-rushing production, which pushed them past Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave. Though Bosa has racked up 34 sacks over the last two terms, Hargrave has just one season with more than 7.5 sacks.

2. Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers

When the Los Angeles Chargers acquired Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears last offseason, they had arguably the best edge-rushing duo in terms of accolades and sack numbers.

Since the Chargers drafted Bosa in 2016, he won Defensive Rookie of the Year and put together four double-digit sack seasons.

With the then-Oakland Raiders, Mack became the first player to earn an All-Pro nod at two different positions (defensive end and outside linebacker), and he strung together four consecutive terms with 10.5-plus sacks, one of those years with the Bears.

Clearly, Mack and Bosa have shown the ability to dominate in the trenches as the lead edge-rusher for a defense, which is why they're ranked second among the league's pass-rushing duos.

On the flip side, Mack and Bosa didn't have a chance to build much chemistry together because the latter battled a groin injury for most of the 2022 season. For that reason, they're not the No. 1 tandem.

Though Mack hasn't recorded a double-digit sack campaign since 2018, he's still a high-level pass-rusher with at least eight in three of the previous four terms. If Bosa avoids the injury bug, which has plagued him in recent years, the Chargers will see how this duo looks at full speed, and that's a scary thought for the rest of the league.

1. T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward stand together at a distance from the four other passing-rushing pairs.

Unlike anyone else on this list, Watt has led the NFL in sacks twice, and he's won Defensive Player of the Year. If he puts an injury-riddled 2022 campaign behind him, expect the three-time All-Pro to log double-digit sacks for a fifth season.

Though Alex Highsmith logged a team-leading 14.5 sacks in the previous campaign, his resume isn't comparable to Cameron Heyward, who's still generating a high rate of pocket pressure in his mid-30s.

Heyward has aged well with six consecutive Pro Bowl years going back to 2017 and three All-Pro years in the same span. He's coming off back-to-back 10-plus sack seasons with at least 30 pressures in four straight years.

With Watt and Heyward in the front seven, the Pittsburgh Steelers have an elite combination of edge and interior pressure. Next year, Highsmith could be in this spot if he has another strong showing in 2023. But for now, Watt and Heyward have the accolades, impressive pass-rushing numbers and the continuity to claim the No. 1 spot.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.