NFL Power Rankings: A look at the top defenses in 2024

...Defenses. Well, not really in the modern NFL, but they are still critical with the reality being a truly bad one, will lead to more losses than even the best offense can make up for. Let's take a look at the best defenses in the NFL this season!

There’s a lot of projection here, as the Eagles finished last season as one of the worst defenses in football over the last couple of months. However, hiring Vic Fangio and drafting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first two rounds of the 2024 draft has bolstered a group that needed an injection of youth. If Jalen Carter makes a step-up, this will be a fearsome unit.

If everyone on their defense was healthy, this would be a top-five group, however, with Duron Bland on IR, per ESPN, and Trevon Diggs still recovering from an ACL tear, this secondary looks thin. They do have Micah Parsons, which will paper over plenty of cracks as their DBs return to health.

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The Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald in the offseason to be their head coach based on his incredible defensive scheme that made the Ravens the best defense in football last year, per FTN Fantasy. Now with the Seahawks, Macdonald has a wealth of talent at his disposal, so don’t be surprised to see this unit amongst the best in the league.

The Bears have suddenly become a competent organization and built a roster loaded with talent. Despite trade rumors last season, they were able to hold onto Jaylon Johnson, and the trade for Montez Sweat looks better and better all the time. If another pass rusher can emerge alongside Sweat, this will be a difficult unit to stop.

The Ravens finished first in defensive DVOA last season per FTN Fantasy and have mostly retained the same personnel, so, why the low ranking? Losing Mike Macdonald is significant, and despite promoting from within, Zach Orr, is a first-time play-caller so despite the high expectations, he probably won’t be elite in his first season.

Last year the Chiefs were carried by their defense at times and while we don’t expect the same this season, it is still a very good unit. Trent McDuffie and Chris Jones are the stars, but Justin Reid, Nick Bolton, and George Karlaftis are all legit NFL players who can impact games.

Pro Football Network described the Niner’s defense as, “so good for so long that it’s hard for the front office to keep it all intact,” and that feels about right. Any unit headlined by Nick Bosa and Fred Warner is going to be competitive, but now they’ve added Leonard Floyd to the mix as well, it’s difficult to see how opposing offenses cope.

The Steelers boast one of the best pass-rushers in football in T.J. Watt, alongside him in the linebacker room Pittsburgh boast Patrick Queen and Alex Highsmith. Queen was one of the best inside linebackers in football last year, and Highsmith had a 14.5 sack season just two years ago. Joey Porter Jr. is also an up-and-coming star.

The Browns may not be as deep as some other defenses on this list, but they finished last season second in FTN Fantasy’s DVOA rankings and look set to play to a similar standard this year. Myles Garrett is unstoppable, and Jim Schwartz is one of the best defensive coaches of the modern NFL era.

If the Hasson Reddick situation is resolved, the Jets will have the best pass rush in the NFL, and it may not be close. Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson are already formidable, so add in Reddick, who’s had four double-digit sack seasons in a row, and there aren’t many teams who will be able to cope. The Jets also boast Quincy Williams at LB and Sauce Gardner on the outside just for good measure.

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