The NFL's best pass-rusher, as picked by evaluators

Imagine building an NFL roster from scratch. It would go something like this:

Step 1: Find a starting quarterback.

Step 2: Find an elite pass-rusher. (Well, there's some debate regarding which position is prioritized second, but a straw poll conducted among football minds would likely put pass-rusher No. 2.)

A pass rush can be the best antidote to disrupting even the league's finest offenses; a quarterback and passing game without a rhythm is one without much effect.

The value of pass-rushers is highlighted in the draft and in free agency. The last defensive player taken No. 1 overall who was not a pass rusher was Dan Wilkinson in 1994 (there have been three other defensive players taken first…