NFL Defense Rankings: Predicting the Top NFL Defenses in 2024

The offense wins games but the defense wins championships.

You hear that saying all the time regarding the NFL because it is the truth.

Since 2013, defenses that ranked top 10 in points allowed per game during the season have won the Super Bowl eight out of 11 times.

Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl and ranked second in points allowed per game.

Their opponent in the Super Bowl did as well, as the San Francisco 49ers ranked fourth in points allowed per game last year.

Despite the NFL moving towards a much more offensive league and more rules getting implemented to favor the offense, eight teams allowed less than 20 points per game last season.

In this article, we will predict the top 10 NFL defenses of the 2024 regular season and explain in detail why each team will finish in the top 10.

Predicting The Top 10 NFL Defenses In 2024

Having a top-flight defense that can pressure the QB and take the ball away from opposing teams is critical to a team’s success in the NFL.

Some defenses that did not crack our top 10 list but have the potential to be top 10 defenses are the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now, we will get into predicting the top 10 NFL defenses of 2024.

10. New York Giants

• Key Defensive Additions: Brian Burns (EDGE), Jalen Mills (DB), Jordan Phillips (DL)
• Key Defensive Departures: Xavier McKinney (S), A’Shawn Robinson (DL), Jihad Ward (DL)
• Key Draft Additions: Tyler Nubin (S), Dru Phillips (CB)

Last season, the Giants ranked first in the league in takeaways but just 26th in points allowed per game and 28th in sacks per game.

They helped their defense tremendously this offseason by acquiring star edge pass rusher Brian Burns.

Burns will help the Giants’ defense become very formidable.

New York’s front seven on defense has a lot of potential and their secondary will remain ball hawks.

It may be aggressive to predict the Giants will have a top-10 defense in 2024 but the potential is there and Burns will help put more pressure on QBs, creating even more turnovers.

9. Cleveland Browns

• Key Defensive Additions: Quinton Jefferson (DT), Jordan Hicks (LB), Devin Bush (LB)
• Key Defensive Departures: Anthony Walker Jr (LB), Sione Takitaki (LB)
• Key Draft Additions: Mike Hall Jr (DT)

The Cleveland Browns have the reigning defensive player of the year in Myles Garrett.

Last year they ranked 11th in sacks per game, ninth in takeaways per game, but just 21st in points allowed per game.

Pro Football Focus ranks their defensive line fifth best and secondary sixth best entering the 2024 season.

They need to tighten up on defense, especially in the red zone.

Cleveland should not have ranked 21st in points allowed per game and they will improve on this in 2024.

The Browns will once again have a top defense in the league.

8. New Orleans Saints

• Key Defensive Additions: Willie Gay (LB, Chase Young (EDGE)
• Key Defensive Departures: Zack Baun (LB), Lonnie Johnson (CB), Malcolm Roach (DL), Isaac Yiadom (CB)
• Key Draft Additions: Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB)

Chase Young is a good addition for the Saints as they lacked a pass rush last year.

Despite ranking sixth in points allowed per game and third in takeaways per game, they only ranked 28th in sacks per game.

Cameron Jordan remains an outstanding run defender but has not rushed the passer effectively in the last couple of years.

New Orleans has a good secondary and Marshon Lattimore remains a very good CB.

The Saints will once again have a tough defense and should improve in getting to the QB.

7. Buffalo Bills

• Key Defensive Additions: Nicholas Morrow (LB), DeShawn Williams (DT)
• Key Defensive Departures: Tre’Davious White (CB), Jordan Poyer (S), Leonard Floyd (EDGE), Tyrel Dodson (LB), Dane Jackson (CB), Tim Settle (DT), Poona Ford (DT), Micah Hyde (S)
• Key Draft Additions: Cole Bishop (S), DeWayne Carter (DT)

Buffalo’s defense has been stellar for the last three years.

They have ranked in the top five in points allowed per game in each of the last three seasons.

The Bills ranked fifth in sacks per game and second in takeaways per game last year.

Losing Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer hurts but Christian Benford, Rasul Douglas, and Taron Johnson still make up a very good secondary.

Ed Oliver is a very good defensive lineman but he needs to improve on stopping the run.

Buffalo has a good front seven on defense.

The Bills have consistently had one of the league’s top defenses and this year will be no different.

6. Houston Texans

• Key Defensive Additions: Danielle Hunter (EDGE), Azeez Al-Shaair (LB), Myles Bryant (CB), Denico Autry (DL), C.J. Henderson (CB), Foley Fatukasi (DT), Tim Settle (DT)
• Key Defensive Departures: Maliek Collins (DT), Blake Cashman (LB), Jonathan Greenard (EDGE), Sheldon Rankins (DT), Denzel Perryman (LB)
• Key Draft Additions: Kamari Lassiter (CB), Calen Bullock (S)

No team improved more defensively last year than the Houston Texans.

This was in large part because of head coach Demeco Ryans and last year’s defensive rookie of the year Will Anderson Jr.

Houston will take another big step forward on defense in 2024.

They added pass rusher Danielle Hunter to pair with Anderson Jr and also added Azeez Al-Shaair.

The Texans ranked eighth in sacks per game last year and will generate even more pressure on QBs in 2024.

Houston ranked 16th in takeaways per game but with generating more pressure, they will create more turnovers.

The Texans will improve even more and threaten to be a top-five defense in the league in 2024.

Predicting The Top Five NFL Defenses In 2024

Now, we will predict the top five NFL defenses of the 2024 season.

These are the top NFL defenses in the league.

The Pittsburgh Steelers kick off the top-five list.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

• Key Defensive Additions: Patrick Queen (LB), Donte Jackson (CB), Dean Lowry (DT), DeShon Elliott (S)
• Key Defensive Departures: James Pierre (CB), Armon Watts (DT), Mykal Walker (LB)
• Key Draft Additions: Payton Wilson (LB)

The Steelers’ defense heavily relies upon the health of star pass rusher TJ Watt.

When he is healthy, the Steelers have one of the top defenses in the league.

Cam Heyward is aging but Keanu Benton is a strong presence on the defensive line.

Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the league’s top safeties.

Adding LB Patrick Queen was a nice addition for the Steelers who needed an ILB.

Alex Highsmith continues to improve and is a nice complimentary piece paired with Watt.

Joey Porter Jr will be better in his second season.

The Steelers’ offense hopes to improve this year, which will only help the defense.

Last year they ranked eighth in points allowed per game, 11th in sacks per game, and 13th in takeaways per game.

With a better offense and if Watt can remain healthy, the Steelers will have a top defense in the league.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

• Key Defensive Additions: No key additions
• Key Defensive Departures: L’Jarius Snead (CB), Willie Gay Jr (CB), Mike Edwards (S)
• Key Draft Additions: No key draft additions

The Chiefs had a very good defense last year, ranking second in points allowed per game.

Their defense improved because they were able to get to the QB, ranking third in sacks per game.

Losing L’Jarius Snead hurts their secondary but they will still put a lot of pressure on the QB.

Their defense carried them throughout the season and played well in the playoffs.

Chris Jones remains elite.

Trent McDuffie is one of the best cornerbacks in the league.

Kansas City has a lot of good all-around players on defense and this will be a very good unit in 2024.

3. San Francisco 49ers

• Key Defensive Additions: De’Vondre Campbell (LB), Jordan Elliott (DL), Leonard Floyd (EDGE), Ezekiel Turner (LB), Yetur Gross-Matos (DL), Rock Ya-Sin (CB), Isaac Yiadom (CB)
• Key Defensive Departures: Arik Armstead (DL), Oren Burks (LB), Clelin Ferrell (EDGE), Randy Gregory (EDGE), Javon Kinlaw (DL), Chase Young (EDGE)
• Key Draft Additions: Renardo Green (CB)

Despite losing Arik Armstead, the 49ers still have one of the best defensive lines in the league.

Nick Bosa is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.

Javon Hargrave is one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league.

The secondary does not have a lot of household names but they are one of the best in the league.

San Francisco ranked fourth in points allowed per game, 14th in sacks per game, and fourth in takeaways per game.

The 49ers have had one of the NFL’s top defenses for three years and this year will be no different.

2. Baltimore Ravens

• Key Defensive Additions: No key additions
• Key Defensive Departures: Patrick Queen (LB), Jadeveon Clowney (EDGE), Geno Stone (S), Ronald Darby (CB)
• Key Draft Additions: Nate Wiggins (CB), Adisa Isaac (EDGE)

Similar to the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens always have a top defense in the league.

Last year was no different.

They ranked first in points allowed per game and sacks per game, and sixth in takeaways per game.

Patrick Queen is no longer with the team but the Ravens seem to have no issue replacing defensive players.

Baltimore’s defense is one of the best and will remain a top defensive unit in 2024.

1. New York Jets

• Key Defensive Additions: Haason Reddick (EDGE), Isaiah Oliver (CB), Javon Kinlaw (DT)
• Key Defensive Departures: Jordan Whitehead (S), Bryce Huff (EDGE), Quinton Jefferson (DT)
• Key Draft Additions: No key draft additions

The New York Jets will have the best defense in 2024.

How the offense performs has a lot to do with how a defense performs.

If the offense goes three and out constantly, this hurts the defense.

Despite an awful offense last year, the Jets still ranked 10th in points allowed per game, sixth in sacks per game, and seventh in takeaways per game.

Aaron Rodgers was in for just four plays before an Achilles injury ended his season.

Rodgers will return this year and the Jets will be much better offensively if he is healthy.

This means their defense will as well.

Pro Football Focus ranks the Jets as having the best defensive line and secondary entering the 2024 NFL season.

With an improved offense, the New York Jets will have the NFL’s top defense in 2024.