No. 4 – Shaquil Barrett
At the start of the 2015 season, most every media outlet (including this one) expected first-round draft pick Shane Ray to be the third in a new version of the “Three Amigos” – this one on the defensive side of the ball. And while Ray performed well enough prior to his MCL sprain, the real third wheel to Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware has been Shaquil Barrett.
The CSU product had a breakout preseason and hasn’t missed a beat into the regular season. He’s already logged 3.5 sacks and 12 tackles in mostly rotational work. His three forced fumbles are tops on the team.
He earned the first start of his NFL career in Week 6 against Cleveland when Ware was out with a back injury. Barrett answered the bell by having his best game as a professional, making six tackles and getting 1.5 sacks on the day.
He’s proved himself so valuable already that his name was routinely mentioned as the No. 1 target in possible moves for tight end and offensive line help as the trade deadline approached.
Just how big a playmaker has he been? He’s not even a starter and we had to include him on this list at No. 4.
