Post by Steelers GM on Aug 1, 2024 19:44:08 GMT
This list was very hard to narrow down to only 10, since there are a lot of good defenses across the league. The main factors I looked for to rank each team were these:
~ Star-power
~ Consistency
~ Injury history
~ Depth
The top 10 defenses all have big names, consistent point scorers across the board, and/or depth. I'll be starting this list with no. 10 and working up to the top spot!!
10. Green Bay Packers
Top Players: Nick Bosa, Brian Branch, Camryn Bynum
Strengths: D-Line & Safeties
Weaknesses: Linebackers
Potential X-Factors: Daiyan Henley getting starting role in LA / Bosa brothers being healthy / B.J. Ojulari breakout.
Green Bay comes in at no. 10 in my rankings. Having a solid starting defense across the board with good-great depth allows Green Bay to have a top 10 defense going into the year. Big factors like the Bosa's being able to return to their best versions, Young players in B.J. Ojulari, Trevon Moehrig and Jermaine Johnson taking the next step, or even Michael Hoecht taking some of the role left by Aaron Donald, could help this defense exceed expectations. Green Bay doesn't have many off-ball LBs but has plenty of edge rushers with LB eligibility that can fill out the starting spots.
9. Los Vegas Raiders
Top Players: Derrick Brown, Ernest Jones
Strengths: D-Line, LBs & CBs
Weaknesses: Safeties, IDP spot & Proven Depth
Potential X-Factors: Kobie Turner having a similar role to Aaron Donald (Donald is one of the best defensive players all-time so will be hard) / Brandon Jones, Tyrel Dodson and Dorance Armstrong having bigger roles with their new teams.
Los Vegas takes the no. 9 spot. With plenty of star-power to go along with consistent play, expect a good season from this group. Jones, Dodson, and Armstrong were stuffed down their depth charts and showed flashes last season, but now with new teams and expanded roles, they can breakout in a big way for Vegas. Most of their depth is young and unproven, but that doesn't mean they won't have solid seasons. This defense, led by Derrick Brown and Ernest Jones (both top 6 players at their positions last season), should be able to compete with the best of them in 2024-25.
8. New Orleans Saints
Top Players: Alex Singleton, Tyrique Stevenson
Strengths: LBs & Safeties
Weaknesses: D-Ends, Depth (other than DBs)
Potential X-Factors: Payton Turner & Jayson Oweh having consistent roles.
The no. 8 spot is taken by the Saints. Having top tier LB play, DB play and DB depth will be the strengths of this team. The only weakness I see is their young DE duo (Turner & Oweh). With minimal depth behind them, New Orleans is hoping for a breakout or two from those two players. Even with their shallowness at D-Line (other than Vita Vea), this defense projects to be a top 10 unit in the 2024-25 season.
7. Denver Broncos
Top Players: Quinnen Williams, Mike Hilton, Trent McDuffie
Strengths: D-Line, LBs, CBs
Weaknesses: Age of some top guys?
Potential X-Factors: Isaiah McDuffie & K.J. Britt win starting roles / YaYa Diaby & Ivan Pace continue on upward projections.
Denver projects to be a top 10 unit once again this season. Quinnen is a top 10 DT and Hilton/McDuffie are top 12 or so CBs (based on last year). The rest of the team is great, consistent players that will elevate their floor. LBs Britt & McDuffie can raise the ceiling of this unit, if they win their respective starting jobs. The only concern I have is the age of certain players (Eric Kendricks, Mike Hilton, Tyrann Mathieu) that could affect their play, not saying it will tho. All in all, this should be a top unit that has ample depth, consistency and star-power.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Top Players: Danielle Hunter, Ed Oliver, Kenny Moore, Jessie Bates III
Strengths: D-Line, CBs, Safeties
Weaknesses: LBs, Depth (other than D-Line)
Potential X-Factors: Improved play from Josey Jewell & Dane Jackson / Breakouts from Arnold Ebiketie, Leo Chenal, Calen Bullock.
Cincy comes in at no. 5. Having top 3 players at their respective positions in Hunter, Oliver, Moore and Bates makes this unit's floor great. Continued success from Wonnum, Jewell and Blackmon will help a lot. Depth could be a factor, with no real consistent LB options to choose from. Ebiketie needs a good year 3 to help this LB group, and Chenal has shown great flashes but is stuck behind 2 great LBs in Kansas City. If those 2 players, along with Dane Jackson and/or Calen Bullock have good years, expect this group to be one of the best. DE depths options like A.J. Epenesa and Za'Darius Smith could also be consistent options, allowing Cincy to move Hunter/Wonnum to LB spots and start them, which would also raise the floor of this unit altogether.
5. Cleveland Browns
Top Players: Foyesade Oluokun, T.J. Edwards, Roger McCreary
Strengths: LBs
Weaknesses: Safeties, Age of few starters
Potential X-Factors: Chase Young & Josh Uche returning to their best versions
Cleveland takes the 5th spot in my rankings. Having on of the best (if not the best) LB duo and a top 6 CB in McCreary, brings plenty of star-power to this unit. Veteran safeties, Jordan Poyer & Jordan Fuller will be on new teams, but should continue to produce as long as they can stay healthy. Calais Campbell is 37 but still has some juice. If young players like Chase Young and Josh Uche return to how they played in their best seasons, this defenses floor rises. Thibodeaux should also have a great year, rushing the passer across from Brian Burns. Lots of young, good depth completes this team, and gives them a great outlook for the 2024-25 season.
4. Washington Commanders
Top Players: Aidan Hutchinson, Robert Spillane, Devon Witherspoon, Rasul Douglas
Strengths: D-Line, LBs, CBs
Weaknesses: Age
Potential X-Factors: Breakouts from young players (Keeanu Benton, DeWayne Carter, Nate Wiggins) / Nik Bonitto, Will Anderson continued success
Washington nabs the no. 4 spot. A lot of elite players at their respective positions, allow this unit to be one of the best. Young players like Will Anderson, Nik Bonitto can exceed their 2023-24 point totals. The only thing that could slow this team down is age. 6 of their projected starters are over 30 years old, which is usually the cutoff for most NFL players. I don't expect too much regression from this group tho, and they should still be a top 5 unit for the 2024-25 season.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
Top Players: Zach Sieler, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jonathan Greenard
Strengths: D-Line, Safeties
Weaknesses: Proven Depth
Potential X-Factors: Trenton Simpson / Jaelan Phillips
Los Angeles has a young, exciting defense that gives them the no. 3 spot. Sieler, JOK and Greenard were all top 15 at their positions (Sieler top 5/Greenard top 10). This unit is very solid across the board with good depth at safety and DT. Not much depth at DE/LB is a concern for this team. Simpson is slated to slide into Queen's open starting role. The biggest X-Factor is Jaelan Phillips, who showed elite upside (15.6 ppg) in his 8 games last year. If he is healthy, this will be a top unit easily.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Top Players: Maxx Crosby, Xavier McKinney
Strengths: D-Line, LBs, Safeties
Weaknesses: Depth
Potential X-Factors: Junior Colson, Frankie Luvu, Jalen Pitre
Coming off a championship, Arizona looks to go back-to-back with a top 2 defense this year. With elite players like Maxx Crosby and Xavier McKinney, and young, exciting talent everywhere else, this defense has the pieces to be the best. Big X-Factors in Luvu and Pitre could put this unit over the top, if they return to their best versions in 2024-25 season. Colson and Christian Harris could have big roles in their respective defenses as well. The only problem is limited depth behind these guys. So as long as they stay healthy, this unit will be one of the best in the league.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Top Players: Josh Allen, Myles Garrett, Zaire Franklin, Josh Metellus
Strengths: D-Line, LBs, Safeties
Weaknesses: CBs, Proven Depth
Potential X-Factors: C.J. Gardner-Johnson staying healthy / Jamal Adams staying healthy
Pittsburgh takes the top spot in my rankings. With elite talent at most positions, this unit looks to compete with the best. Only weaknesses is actual CBs, with only really having Deommodore Lenoir, and proven depth (other than players like Arik Armstead, Jamal Adams). This team has all the pieces to be a top unit in 2024-25. If C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jamal Adams can stay healthy, this unit will be tough to compete with.
~ Star-power
~ Consistency
~ Injury history
~ Depth
The top 10 defenses all have big names, consistent point scorers across the board, and/or depth. I'll be starting this list with no. 10 and working up to the top spot!!
10. Green Bay Packers
Top Players: Nick Bosa, Brian Branch, Camryn Bynum
Strengths: D-Line & Safeties
Weaknesses: Linebackers
Potential X-Factors: Daiyan Henley getting starting role in LA / Bosa brothers being healthy / B.J. Ojulari breakout.
Green Bay comes in at no. 10 in my rankings. Having a solid starting defense across the board with good-great depth allows Green Bay to have a top 10 defense going into the year. Big factors like the Bosa's being able to return to their best versions, Young players in B.J. Ojulari, Trevon Moehrig and Jermaine Johnson taking the next step, or even Michael Hoecht taking some of the role left by Aaron Donald, could help this defense exceed expectations. Green Bay doesn't have many off-ball LBs but has plenty of edge rushers with LB eligibility that can fill out the starting spots.
9. Los Vegas Raiders
Top Players: Derrick Brown, Ernest Jones
Strengths: D-Line, LBs & CBs
Weaknesses: Safeties, IDP spot & Proven Depth
Potential X-Factors: Kobie Turner having a similar role to Aaron Donald (Donald is one of the best defensive players all-time so will be hard) / Brandon Jones, Tyrel Dodson and Dorance Armstrong having bigger roles with their new teams.
Los Vegas takes the no. 9 spot. With plenty of star-power to go along with consistent play, expect a good season from this group. Jones, Dodson, and Armstrong were stuffed down their depth charts and showed flashes last season, but now with new teams and expanded roles, they can breakout in a big way for Vegas. Most of their depth is young and unproven, but that doesn't mean they won't have solid seasons. This defense, led by Derrick Brown and Ernest Jones (both top 6 players at their positions last season), should be able to compete with the best of them in 2024-25.
8. New Orleans Saints
Top Players: Alex Singleton, Tyrique Stevenson
Strengths: LBs & Safeties
Weaknesses: D-Ends, Depth (other than DBs)
Potential X-Factors: Payton Turner & Jayson Oweh having consistent roles.
The no. 8 spot is taken by the Saints. Having top tier LB play, DB play and DB depth will be the strengths of this team. The only weakness I see is their young DE duo (Turner & Oweh). With minimal depth behind them, New Orleans is hoping for a breakout or two from those two players. Even with their shallowness at D-Line (other than Vita Vea), this defense projects to be a top 10 unit in the 2024-25 season.
7. Denver Broncos
Top Players: Quinnen Williams, Mike Hilton, Trent McDuffie
Strengths: D-Line, LBs, CBs
Weaknesses: Age of some top guys?
Potential X-Factors: Isaiah McDuffie & K.J. Britt win starting roles / YaYa Diaby & Ivan Pace continue on upward projections.
Denver projects to be a top 10 unit once again this season. Quinnen is a top 10 DT and Hilton/McDuffie are top 12 or so CBs (based on last year). The rest of the team is great, consistent players that will elevate their floor. LBs Britt & McDuffie can raise the ceiling of this unit, if they win their respective starting jobs. The only concern I have is the age of certain players (Eric Kendricks, Mike Hilton, Tyrann Mathieu) that could affect their play, not saying it will tho. All in all, this should be a top unit that has ample depth, consistency and star-power.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Top Players: Danielle Hunter, Ed Oliver, Kenny Moore, Jessie Bates III
Strengths: D-Line, CBs, Safeties
Weaknesses: LBs, Depth (other than D-Line)
Potential X-Factors: Improved play from Josey Jewell & Dane Jackson / Breakouts from Arnold Ebiketie, Leo Chenal, Calen Bullock.
Cincy comes in at no. 5. Having top 3 players at their respective positions in Hunter, Oliver, Moore and Bates makes this unit's floor great. Continued success from Wonnum, Jewell and Blackmon will help a lot. Depth could be a factor, with no real consistent LB options to choose from. Ebiketie needs a good year 3 to help this LB group, and Chenal has shown great flashes but is stuck behind 2 great LBs in Kansas City. If those 2 players, along with Dane Jackson and/or Calen Bullock have good years, expect this group to be one of the best. DE depths options like A.J. Epenesa and Za'Darius Smith could also be consistent options, allowing Cincy to move Hunter/Wonnum to LB spots and start them, which would also raise the floor of this unit altogether.
5. Cleveland Browns
Top Players: Foyesade Oluokun, T.J. Edwards, Roger McCreary
Strengths: LBs
Weaknesses: Safeties, Age of few starters
Potential X-Factors: Chase Young & Josh Uche returning to their best versions
Cleveland takes the 5th spot in my rankings. Having on of the best (if not the best) LB duo and a top 6 CB in McCreary, brings plenty of star-power to this unit. Veteran safeties, Jordan Poyer & Jordan Fuller will be on new teams, but should continue to produce as long as they can stay healthy. Calais Campbell is 37 but still has some juice. If young players like Chase Young and Josh Uche return to how they played in their best seasons, this defenses floor rises. Thibodeaux should also have a great year, rushing the passer across from Brian Burns. Lots of young, good depth completes this team, and gives them a great outlook for the 2024-25 season.
4. Washington Commanders
Top Players: Aidan Hutchinson, Robert Spillane, Devon Witherspoon, Rasul Douglas
Strengths: D-Line, LBs, CBs
Weaknesses: Age
Potential X-Factors: Breakouts from young players (Keeanu Benton, DeWayne Carter, Nate Wiggins) / Nik Bonitto, Will Anderson continued success
Washington nabs the no. 4 spot. A lot of elite players at their respective positions, allow this unit to be one of the best. Young players like Will Anderson, Nik Bonitto can exceed their 2023-24 point totals. The only thing that could slow this team down is age. 6 of their projected starters are over 30 years old, which is usually the cutoff for most NFL players. I don't expect too much regression from this group tho, and they should still be a top 5 unit for the 2024-25 season.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
Top Players: Zach Sieler, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jonathan Greenard
Strengths: D-Line, Safeties
Weaknesses: Proven Depth
Potential X-Factors: Trenton Simpson / Jaelan Phillips
Los Angeles has a young, exciting defense that gives them the no. 3 spot. Sieler, JOK and Greenard were all top 15 at their positions (Sieler top 5/Greenard top 10). This unit is very solid across the board with good depth at safety and DT. Not much depth at DE/LB is a concern for this team. Simpson is slated to slide into Queen's open starting role. The biggest X-Factor is Jaelan Phillips, who showed elite upside (15.6 ppg) in his 8 games last year. If he is healthy, this will be a top unit easily.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Top Players: Maxx Crosby, Xavier McKinney
Strengths: D-Line, LBs, Safeties
Weaknesses: Depth
Potential X-Factors: Junior Colson, Frankie Luvu, Jalen Pitre
Coming off a championship, Arizona looks to go back-to-back with a top 2 defense this year. With elite players like Maxx Crosby and Xavier McKinney, and young, exciting talent everywhere else, this defense has the pieces to be the best. Big X-Factors in Luvu and Pitre could put this unit over the top, if they return to their best versions in 2024-25 season. Colson and Christian Harris could have big roles in their respective defenses as well. The only problem is limited depth behind these guys. So as long as they stay healthy, this unit will be one of the best in the league.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Top Players: Josh Allen, Myles Garrett, Zaire Franklin, Josh Metellus
Strengths: D-Line, LBs, Safeties
Weaknesses: CBs, Proven Depth
Potential X-Factors: C.J. Gardner-Johnson staying healthy / Jamal Adams staying healthy
Pittsburgh takes the top spot in my rankings. With elite talent at most positions, this unit looks to compete with the best. Only weaknesses is actual CBs, with only really having Deommodore Lenoir, and proven depth (other than players like Arik Armstead, Jamal Adams). This team has all the pieces to be a top unit in 2024-25. If C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jamal Adams can stay healthy, this unit will be tough to compete with.