Is the 2011 NFL draft the best defensive class ever?
A new NFL update is on the board from ESPN. The source report points to The 2011 defensive class included the likes of J.J. Watt and Patrick Peterson. But the argument for topping 1981 as the best ever could come down to two still-active players. Total Highlights is tracking the story for readers who want the quick version and a direct path back to the original report.
Total Highlights Sports Deskยท Verified Source: ESPN
A new NFL update is on the board from ESPN. The source report points to The 2011 defensive class included the likes of J.J. Watt and Patrick Peterson. But the argument for topping 1981 as the best ever could come down to two still-active players. Total Highlights is tracking the story for readers who want the quick version and a direct path back to the original report.
This short update is written by Total Highlights from source metadata and public reporting context. It is designed as a quick pointer, not a republication of the source article.
![Cameron Heyward [608x342]](https://a.espncdn.com/photo/2026/0726/r1693936_608x342_16-9.jpg)
