| Player | Team | 2012 Statistics |
| 1. J.J. Watt | Houston Texans | 81 tackles, 16 passes defended, 20.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries. |
| 2. Jared Allen | Minnesota Vikings | 46 tackles, three passes defended, 12 sacks, one forced fumble |
| 3. Calais Campbell | Arizona Cardinals | 63 tackles, six passes defended and 6.5 sacks (13 games) |
| 4. Demarcus Ware | Dallas Cowboys | 56 tackles, five forced fumbles, 11.5 sacks and one fumble recovery |
| 5. Jason Pierre-Paul | New York Giants | 66 tackles, five passes defended, 6.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble |
| 6. Charles Johnson | Carolina Panthers | 42 tackles, four passes defended, 12.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles |
| 7. Greg Hardy | Carolina Panthers | 61 tackles, two passes defended, 11 sacks and two forced fumbles |
| 8. Julius Peppers | Chicago Bears | 39 tackles, two passes defended, 11 sacks and four fumble recoveries |
| 9. Cameron Wake | Miami Dolphins | 53 tackles, 15 sacks and three forced fumbles |
| 10. Lamarr Houston | Oakland Raiders | 67 tackles, two passes defended, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles |
| 11. Michael Johnson | Cincinnati Bengals | 52 tackles, two passes defended, one interceptions, 11.5 sacks and one fumble recovery |
| 12. Cliff Avril | Seattle Seahawks | 35 tackles, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles |
| 13. Justin Smith | San Francisco 49ers | 65 tackles, two passes defended and three sacks |
| 14. Mario Williams | Buffalo Bills | 46 tackles, four passes defended, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries |
| 15. Muhammad Wilkerson | New York Jets | 70 tackles, four passes defended, five sacks and three forced fumbles |
| 16. Robert Quinn | St. Louis Rams | 29 tackles, two passes defended, 10.5 sacks and one forced fumble |
| 17. Dion Jordan | Miami Dolphins | Rookie |
| 18. Chris Long | St. Louis Rams | 33 tackles and 11.5 sacks |
| 19. Carlos Dunlap | Cincinnati Bengals | 41 tackles, three passes defended, six sacks, one interception, four fourced fumbles and one touchdown |
| 20. Chandler Jones | New England Patriots | 45 tackles, five passes defended, six sacks and three forced fumbles |