Hali was good as a rookie, but the best is yet to come.

Will Smith, NO
Smith is an example of a player who keeps getting better.  He’s only scratched the surface of his potential even though he’s surpassed fellow Pro Bowler Charles Grant on the field.  Smith is cat-quick, and his low center of gravity allows him to hold up against opposing ground games.  An added incentive for Smith is the looming contract awaiting him when he reaches unrestricted free agency.

Terrell Suggs, BAL
Most fans think of Suggs as a pass rushing specialist, but that’s not the only part of his game at which he excels.  He’s been improving his technique against the run over the years, so he’s hardly a one-dimensional player.  You won’t see him drop back into coverage nearly as often now as he did in his early days as a 4-3 ‘backer.

Tamba Hali, KC
This third year player teamed with Allen to form a formidable defensive end duo.  Allen’s presence on the other side prevents teams from double-teaming Halo, and he took advantage of it by notching ten sacks in his sophomore season.  Hali has the potential to get 12-15 sacks as he improves his technique and learns the moves of opposing offensive tackles.

Trent Cole, PHI
Cole’s play last year easily surpassed that of highly acclaimed (and overrated) Jevon Kearse.  Although his play slowed down considerably after the first month of the season, he can be counted on for double digit sack totals this year.

Mark Anderson, CHI
This lithe pass rusher jumped out of nowhere last season to lead the team in sacks and getter better as the season wore on.  Anderson will only get better, because he was a part-time player last year.  This season he will be the starter, because he’s passed Alex Brown on the team’s depth chart.

Biggest Sleeper

Luis Castillo, SD
Some folks might dismiss Castillo because of his low sack numbers to date.  He also plays in a 3-4 defensive scheme rather than the 4-3 alignment enjoyed by most of his peers.  That’s the bad news.  Now, let me tell you the good news.  Castillo has survived the notoriety of a failed drug test at the rookie combine in Indy to become one of the better two-way defensive ends.  His per game numbers last season would have ranked in the top ten had he been able to play a full season.  Castillo is one of the hardest workers on the team, so further improvement is almost guaranteed.

Biggest Bust

Mario Williams, HOU
His claim to fame is being the number one pick in the 2006 draft.  In fact, Williams was selected over Reggie Bush when the latter was almost a foregone conclusion to be the first pick.  His numbers were extremely ordinary last year, and it’s unlikely that he’ll ever be able to live up to his lofty draft status.  Williams has been among the top five defensive linemen selected in some keeper leagues, and that is simply astounding given his lack of production last season.  His numbers will probably improve this season, but they won’t go up enough to justify where he’ll likely he drafted.  Williams will probably be drafted much higher than someone like Castillo, and that’s simply a mistake.