Here’s an age-old debate dating back to the times of the Incas, the Mayas and the Aztecs, or thereabouts: What is the most important position on the football field?

The untrained eye would naturally assume it’s the quarterback position, but football “experts” have for years tossed three or four other positions into the mix -- namely, running back, left tackle, cornerback and defensive end.

So while there’s no definitive answer to the question posed above, one thing is pretty much a consensus: the defensive end (or “edge rusher”) position has likely become the most desired on the defensive side of the ball.

Proof of that comes from franchise tag values. On average, defensive ends are traditionally the highest-paid defensive players in football. Here’s a look at the 10 best.

1. Jared Allen

It’s hard to argue with 30 sacks in his last 30 games. And the guy can stop the run, too.

2. Julius Peppers

He’s probably a better athlete than Allen, but his attitude and a very disappointing 2007 season hold him down.

3. Mario Williams

I’ve said before that I think this’ll be Williams’ breakout season, one in which I can see him leading the league in sacks at the age of 24. With Antonio Smith taking away some attention on the defensive line, Williams will have room to work.

4. Dwight Freeney

What’s funny about this is that Freeney hasn’t led his own team in sacks since 2004. But what teammate Robert Mathis has done over the last four seasons is a testament to the distraction Freeney is.

5. Richard Seymour

Caught up on such a good team, I think Seymour gets overlooked more often than he should. He slyly had a great season in 2008. And he can also stuff the run.

6. Osi Umenyiora

Nobody can dispute the fact that Umenyiora was one of the strongest defensive forces in the league in 2007. But will the knee injury that kept him out last year be a factor?

7. Justin Tuck

Tuck proved in 2008 that Umenyiora wasn’t just making him look good during a breakout 2007 season, registering 12 sacks to go with 67 tackles (an unusually high amount for an end).

8. John Abraham

Abraham doesn’t dazzle you with his athleticism or his skills against the run (because neither exists), but he does get the job done as a purely situational quarterback assassin. No defensive end had more sacks than his 16.5 last year.

9. Kyle Vanden Bosch

Vanden Bosch was restricted by injuries last year, but when he’s healthy, his motor runs faster and for longer stretches than any other end in football.

10. Robert Mathis

I don’t care how much of a factor Freeney is on the other side, you don’t just trip into 39.5 sacks over four seasons.