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In their prime, the best NFL defenders can constantly defeat their opponents. They can shut down wide receivers or overpower offensive linemen before reaching the quarterback.
Unfortunately, there's one foe they cannot defeat: Father Time. At some point, they become a shell of their dominant self. It's sad to see a defensive lineman, linebacker, or defensive back struggle after lording over the NFL for years.
The five players on this list are in the twilight of their football careers. Moving on will be a tough pill to swallow for them. However, based on their performances (and injuries) in recent seasons, it's time to hang up their cleats.
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5. Brandon Graham
As the 2024 NFL season draws near, only three players from the Super Bowl LII-winning roster have remained with the Philadelphia Eagles: long snapper Rick Lovato, placekicker Jake Elliott, and defensive end Brandon Graham.
At his best, Graham became a 2016 second-team All-Pro member after tallying 59 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Four years later, the former Michigan standout earned his only Pro Bowl selection when he finished with 46 tackles, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles.
The 2024 season will be his 15th with the Eagles, the team that selected him 13th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. However, his recent numbers show that it's better to follow Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox into retirement.
Brandon Graham’s trash talk is top notch pic.twitter.com/smfF2WYBiy
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) November 30, 2023
After tallying a career-high 11 sacks in 2022, he managed only three sacks in the same number of games (17) last year. His tackles dropped from 35 to 16. Worst yet, Graham started only one game over the previous two seasons. Despite the reduced production, the Eagles re-signed him to a one-year, $1.2 million deal for 2024.
However, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has assembled a solid linebacker rotation featuring Bryce Huff, Nakobe Dean, Devin White, Nolan Smith, Josh Sweat, Oren Burks, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. With Graham potentially playing spot minutes, there's no shame walking away from the only NFL team he played for.
4. William Gholston
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Gholston in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The two-time Second Team All-Big Ten defensive end was on the Buccaneers squad that won Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs. He had 44 tackles, three sacks, and two pass deflections in 16 regular-season games that season.
Gholston started 19 of 34 regular-season games in 2021 and 2022. However, his production dropped from 2022 to 2023 despite playing relatively the same number of games. From 49 tackles in 2022, he had 19 in 16 games a year later.
92 Days 'til Bucs Kickoff!
William Gholston is currently 6th all time on the Bucs games played list with 169 games under his belt. He has a chance to move into the top 5 this upcoming season. Here's just a few highlights from Gholston's Bucs career! @WILL_GHOLSTON2 pic.twitter.com/dqkDbh75WN— Liam Mitchell (Bucs Vault) (@BucsArchive1976) June 8, 2024
The Buccaneers re-signed Gholston to a one-year, $1.37 million contract this season. However, the former Michigan State standout might lose more playing time to fellow defensive ends Mike Greene, Ernest Brown IV, and C.J. Brewer. Therefore, he must contemplate retiring before the 2024 season.
3. Cameron Jordan
Like Graham and Golston, Jordan has played for only one team throughout his NFL career. The New Orleans Saints selected him 24th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft after he became a First Team All-Pac-12 member for the California Golden Bears.
Jordan was named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team after earning eight Pro Bowl selections, including six consecutive inclusions from 2017 to 2022. He also has three straight All-Pro selections (2017-2019) and established a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2019.
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan and retired New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees rode TIANA’S BAYOU ADVENTURE at Walt Disney World. 🏈🐸 pic.twitter.com/YM5noQ9Cki
— Boardwalk Times (@BoardwalkTimes) June 11, 2024
In addition to his on-field excellence, he's also a durable player after missing only one regular-season game since he started playing pro football. But despite playing 17 games in 2023, he generated only 43 tackles and two sacks. Those numbers are the second lowest in his career after his rookie season stats (31 tackles, one sack).
While Jordan will likely remain a starter for New Orleans, the presence of Chase Young, Isaiah Foskey, and Nate Latu might reduce his minutes. With nothing left to prove and having Hall of Fame-worthy credentials, perhaps it's time for Jordan to chase other opportunities outside of football, even if he's under contract until 2025.
2. Cameron Heyward
Heyward has been a stalwart of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense since 2011 when they selected him 31st overall in the annual rookie draft. As his career progressed, it became evident that he carried the attributes that made him a First Team All-Big Ten member in 2010.
Heyward was a first-team All-Pro member in 2017, 2019, and 2021. He earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020 and had six straight Pro Bowl selections from 2017 to 2022. He had his best year in 2017 when he tallied 45 tackles and 12 sacks in 15 games.
This highlight reel will make you miss Cam Heyward in #Steelers jersey this season 😤#NFL #HereWeGo #PittsburghSteelers #SteelersFootball pic.twitter.com/354YqnUDQJ
— Steelers Report (@_steelersreport) October 17, 2023
Three years ago, this defensive end had a career-high 89 tackles with 10 sacks. But after having another double-digit sack season in 2022, a groin injury limited him to 11 games in 2023. While he won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, Heyward put up only two sacks and 33 tackles last season.
Heyward will play the final season under the four-year, $65.6 million contract extension he signed in 2020. While he's still negotiating for another contract extension, his 2023 output might indicate that it's time for him to move on.
1. Von Miller
It would be a travesty if Von Miller isn't a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. In addition to his Super Bowl 50 Most Valuable Player Award, he's won two Vince Lombardi Trophies and has seven All-Pro selections.
It didn't take long for the former Texas A&M standout to prove that he belongs in the NFL. He won the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award after tallying 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four passes defensed for the Denver Broncos. That year, Miller also earned a Pro Bowl and a second-team All-Pro selection.
He received the first of three first-team All-Pro nods a year later in his illustrious career. It was a memorable year for Miller, who finished with career highs in sacks (18.5) and forced fumbles (six).
In the second act of his career, Miller helped the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI. He joined the team after a midseason trade and had five sacks and 31 tackles in eight regular-season games. He saved the best for last, finishing with two sacks in the Super Bowl. That finish made Miller the second NFL player with multiple sacks in different Super Bowls.
5 vintage Von Miller reps… 7x all-pro, 8x Pro Bowl, 2x Super Bowl Champ, Super Bowl 50 MVP, 2011 DROY, 19th all-time in QB sacks. One of the most lethal speed rushers or all time. pic.twitter.com/qZ9IaoUt21
— Coach Jared St. John (@coachstjohn500) May 29, 2024
Being a difference-maker in that game helped Miller earn a six-year, $120 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. However, he hasn't performed to expectations while with Buffalo. A torn ACL limited Miller to 11 games in 2022. However, he still finished with 21 tackles and eight sacks.
Unfortunately, the 2023 season was the worst of his career. It's impressive that he played 12 regular-season games after getting surgery. Sadly, it's like a different Miller took the field, finishing with three tackles and zero sacks.
Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Casey Toohill, and Dawuane Smoot had better numbers than Miller. Even if he's under contract with Buffalo until 2027, his deal has a potential opt out after the 2024 season. If he can't become the disruptive force he once was, it's time for Miller to start life after football.
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