Hey everyone, welcome back to another edition of “Trench Talk” 2024. I’m Scott DiBenedetto, and I spent seven years in-house with the Cleveland Browns personnel department as a Scout and worked for the team from home the three years prior to that in an analytics/research role. I’m excited to bring my scouting perspective to Fantasy Points and let you all in on how a personnel department thinks about players and teams.
In my first article, we broke down the NFL’s offensive lines. This time, we will examine the other side of the line of scrimmage and see how the defensive lines stack up.
There are a few positions that teams have to game plan for specifically in the NFL. A stud receiver or a lightning-fast running back are a couple. Some might say Trent Williams. Throughout my time in the league, our offensive coaches needed to know who the most disruptive defensive lineman was each week, and if they needed to send extra help or avoid that guy altogether.
With how prevalent the passing game has become, this group’s importance and contract values have skyrocketed in recent years, with EDGE and Interior DL accounting for the second (Brian Burns $28.2M/yr) and third (Christian Wilkins $27.5M/yr) highest-paid free agent groups of 2024, behind only QBs. General managers are very willing to invest huge percentages of the salary cap into guys who can truly wreck the game, and a quality addition along the DL could be the missing piece for a championship team.
There are two main constructions of a defensive front, and both have been around for a while. The 4-3 vs. 3-4 debate will continue as long as football is played.
4-3 proponents, of which I am one, like this front because it allows the D-line to attack upfield, disrupt, and pressure the QB while the linebackers “make the DL right.”
3-4 advocates want the interior D-linemen to eat up blockers while inside linebackers can flow to the ball and outside backers can get after the quarterback. Teams use variations of both looks throughout seasons/games, but those are the core principles.
(And yes, there’s an outlier — New England. The Patriots' base is a Nickel 3-3-5 defense,)
What makes a good defensive line?
Much like in my OL article, I want to start with what I believe are the factors that lead to a quality defensive line:
Depth — It cannot be overstated how important quality depth is to a defensive line. It is impossible to play 90%+ of the snaps and still be fresh in the fourth quarter, so players that the coaches trust to be in for 15-20+ plays a game are critical.
Free Agency/Draft Investment — The D-line is the easiest group to bring in a veteran or rookie player and get them up to speed without much of a learning curve. This is pretty much a plug-and-play group, but new players still need to perform.
Continuity — Think of recent D-lines like Pittsburgh and San Fransico. Those groups are made up of the same main guys every year, and every year they cause a lot of problems up front.
Injuries — Opponents will lose all fear in a D-line if they know the biggest name/best pass rusher won’t be on the field.
Coaching — Defensive line is not as technically heavy as offensive line, but the right guy running the room is still important. There’s certainly an art to developing a quality spin move or freezing a tackle with a ghost rush, but there’s a lot more feel to this position than consistent technique. In my opinion, good coaching here is making sure everyone knows what they're supposed to do each play and then telling it straight when they screw up.
Scott DiBenedetto’s 2024 NFL Defensive Line Rankings
Let’s look at the projected starting DLs across the league and see how the big boys will factor into fantasy.
* Denotes Rookie
$ Denotes New Acquisition
The numbers in parentheses indicate the specific team’s base defense look
1. Cleveland Browns (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Za’Darius Smith / Alex Wright
DT Dalvin Tomlinson / Quinton Jefferson $ (NYJ)
DT Shelby Harris DE Myles Garrett / Ogbo Okoronkwo
Best Player: Garrett
Numbers don’t lie, and Cleveland’s 2023 DL numbers were exceptional. #1 in opponent rushing Success%. #2 in adjusted yards before contact per attempt (ADJ YBC/ATT). #3 in time to pressure (TTP). #2 in Pressure Rate over Expectation (PrROE). DE Myles Garrett has been the cornerstone of this DL since his rookie season, leading the team with 15 sacks last year. He’s a game wrecker who finally got some help in 2023, and the Browns have brought just about everyone back for another run in 2024.
Cleveland's DL room has depth and continuity aplenty. DC Jim Schwartz historically loves to rotate the guys upfront so they stay as fresh as possible, and this group is no exception. Adding Dalvin Tomlinson and Za’Darius Smith in 2023 gave Cleveland quality vet leadership, and they’ve invested in this group again, drafting Mike Hall Jr. in the second round. Third-year player Alex Wright continues to improve, and they added Quinton Jefferson in free agency.
For years it was Garrett and no one else. Now the Browns have a stable group up front, and are poised for another impressive season defensively.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE George Karlaftis
DT Chris Jones DT Derrick Nnadi / Tershawn Wharton DE Mike Danna / Charles Omenihu
Best Player: Jones
Depth and continuity will be a running theme at the top of this list, and Kansas City easily checks both boxes. This group was shaky vs the run, finishing #22 in ADJ YBC/ATT (1.68), but led the league in total sacks (70) and had the 5th-best PrROE (8.6%). With Aaron Donald’s retirement, Chris Jones is the best interior DL in the league without question, and is the straw that stirs the drink in KC. Collecting 11.5 sacks a year ago, Jones was 2nd best for interior rushers and is the epitome of a DT game-wrecker. If he stays healthy, this unit will be in shape to have another highly productive season.
Second-year DE George Karlaftis led the team with 13 sacks and improved in the run game. Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu are a quality pair on the other side, adding 8 and 9 sacks respectively. On the interior, Derrick Nnadi is the weak point coming off another down season in both phases. For a time, he was the stabilizing force in the run game, but those days seem to be behind him.
This battle-tested, championship defensive line will consistently cause trouble for every offense it faces in 2024. They have brought everybody back and are poised for another deep playoff run. It helps to have one of the most disruptive players in the league, but Kansas City’s DL has quality pieces that make it as formidable of a group as any in the NFL
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB TJ Watt
DE Larry Ogunjobi / Isaiahh Loudermilk
NT Keeanu Benton
DT Cam Heyward
OLB Alex Highsmith
Best Player: Watt
“The Standard is the Standard,” as HC Mike Tomlin likes to say in Pittsburgh, and for years this defensive front has lived up to that saying. Led by all-world OLB TJ Watt and stalwart DT Cam Heyward (who is currently holding out), these guys routinely make life hard on any offense. Watt led the team with 19 sacks in ‘23 and was helped out by his partner Alex Highsmith adding 10 sacks of his own. Coming out of college, I thought Highsmith would have been a nice pass-rushing piece, but he has paired nicely with Watt and become a worthy Steeler outside linebacker.
The two edge guys get all the hype, but Pittsburgh’s interior DL is as tough as they come. Heyward is the unquestioned leader and a perfect vet to bring along 2nd-year NT Keeanu Benton, who was an exceptional pass-rusher as a rookie. Playing the 3-4 scheme, the interior gets hammered taking on multiple blockers just about every play, but they finished top 10 in opponent rushing Success% and Stuff%, which accounts for minimal gains on the ground.
Having gone up against these guys twice a year in Cleveland, the Steeler defense always seemed to raise their level of play against us or the other AFC North teams. I don’t see that changing this season and they will once again need to be the heartbeat of the team as the offense figures things out. They do need to make Heyward happy, though.
4. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE DeMarcus Lawrence
NT Mazi Smith
DT Osa Odighizuwa / Chauncey Golston
DE Micah Parsons / Marshawn Kneeland *
Best Player: Parsons
DE/OLB/Football Player Micah Parsons is as rare of a talent as you can get on defense. He’s been an exceptional pass rusher each year of his career and continued that trend with 14 sacks last season. His DE partner Demarcus Lawrence creates one of the best EDGE pairs in the game, but he’s much better against the run, and his pass-rushing production doesn’t come close to Parsons’. Dallas lost Dorance Armstrong in free agency and drafted Marshawn Kneeland in the 2nd-round to fill that hole.
Inside, Dallas left a lot to be desired in 2023. Osa Odighizuwa is the bright spot as he’s improved in both phases in each of his first three seasons. Mazi Smith played 308 total snaps as a rookie and had a huge split in run vs pass performance. The arrow is still up after year one, but he’ll need to be more consistent vs the ground game now stepping into a starting role.
The Cowboys were a very polarizing DL in 2023. They came in at #1 in both TTP (2.27sec) and PrROE (11.9%), but were #23 in ADJ YBC/ATT (1.7yds) and #32 in rush Success% (51.6%). Clearly, this group needs to figure things out vs the run, but the continuity and other-worldly talent of Micah Parsons keeps them near the top of the list for 2024.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Travon Walker / Yasir Abdullah
DT Roy Robertson-Harris / Davon Hamilton
DT Arik Armstead $ / Maason Smith *
DE Josh Hines-Allen
Best Player: Hines-Allen
In 2023 the Jaguars had a sneaky-good defensive line led by DE Josh Hines-Allen, who contributed 17.5 sacks. This guy has lived up to being the 7th overall selection and has become one of the premier edge players in the NFL. His partner, Travon Walker collected 12 sacks in his second season, and overall the group finished #6 in TTP so they enjoy getting after the QB.
I absolutely love the pickup of vet DT Arik Armstead. In the interior, Jacksonville wasn’t bad in ‘23, finishing #10 in rush Success% and tied for #4 in Stuff%, but Armstead adds a proven, effective pass rush element. He brings excellent size, versatility, and proven leadership to a group that needs to take the next step. Roy Robertson-Harris is a solid DT, and they invested a 2nd-round pick in Maason Smith, so the interior has gotten a big-time upgrade in Duval.
If the starting four remain healthy the sky is the limit for this unit. The fate of Jacksonville’s season will come down to QB Tevor Lawrence, but this defensive line with shock people across the league in 2024.
6. Detroit Lions (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Marcus Davenport $ / John Cominsky
NT DJ Reader $
DT Alim McNeill / Levi Onwuzurike
DE Aidan Hutchinson / Josh Paschal
Best Player: Hutchinson
Who wants to bite some kneecaps? Detroit’s DL flew under the radar last season ending up just outside the top 10 in many key stats. However, they were buoyed by DE Aidan Hutchinson’s 15.5 sacks and overall presence on the field. In his second season, Hutchinson took a huge step forward as a rusher and quickly became the face of the defense. John Cominsky adds run support on the other side, and the Lions picked up Marcus Davenport from Minnesota. He’s coming off a bad ankle sprain but will be a good addition on the edge.
Inside, the Lions added one of the better nose tackles in the NFL in DJ Reader from Cincinnati. The Lions were good vs the run in ‘23, finishing #11 in ADJ YBC/ATT (1.42), but this dude will take them to the next level. Returning DTs Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike are good pieces to work with Reader and could become one of the toughest interior DLs to play against.
7. New York Jets (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Jermaine Johnson / Michael Clemons
LDT Javon Kinlaw $
RDT Quinnen Williams / Solomon Thomas
DE Haason Reddick $ / Will McDonald
Best Player: Reddick
The Jets made a big splash by trading a conditional 3rd-round pick with the Eagles for DE Haason Reddick. The pick will become a 2nd-rounder if Reddick plays 67.5% of the snaps or collects 10 sacks, per Ian Rapoport. He’s put up 54.5 sacks over the last four seasons, so odds are he’ll hit one of those conditions, but even so, this is a steal for the “win-now” Jets — presuming Reddick, who is very publicly holding out, actually reports to the team at some point.
Pairing him with arrow-up, 3rd-year DE Jermaine Johnson creates a scary set of edge rushers for Gang Green (again, theoretically). On the inside, Quinnen Williams has become a force in both phases, and HC Robert Saleh added another former 49er to the fold in Javon Kinlaw. I also like the depth New York has in 3rd-year EDGE Michael Clemons and 2nd-year EDGE Will McDonald. These two aren’t flashy yet, but they’ve been developed in-house and can spell the bigger names for a few series a game.
Just like with their offensive line, the Jets have put money and draft capital into their defensive front to maximize their time with QB Aaron Rodgers. We’ll have to wait and see if it pans out, but on paper, this is a scary group that can cause trouble in the AFC.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Bryce Huff $ / Brandon Graham
DE Milton Williams
NT Jordan Davis
DT Jalen Carter / Marlon Tuipulotu
OLB Josh Sweat / Nolan Smith Jr.
Best Player: Carter
The heartbeat of this D-line is the young interior three that have all been drafted and developed by the Eagles. Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, and Jalen Carter are poised to be the dominant interior group in the NFL, especially if Davis can show more than the flashes he’s had his first two years. Carter has young Aaron Donald vibes to him, and benefits from so much other talent up-front for Philly. Josh Sweat and ageless wonder Brandon Graham are stabilizers on the edge, and the addition of Bryce Huff brings back the pass-rushing ability they lost by trading Haason Reddick. Look for 2nd-year OLB Nolan Smith to get more snaps, as well.
Philadelphia is another unit consistently atop the NFL in recent years. I like the group they have now and expect them to be a top-ten D-line, however, losing Reddick to the Jets and Fletcher Cox to retirement means other guys will have to take on expanded roles. That being said, much like Kansas City, this is a battle-tested corps with exceptional vet leadership that will perform when called upon.
9. Buffalo Bills (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Greg Rousseau / Dawuane Smoot $
NT Daquan Jones
DT Ed Oliver / DeWayne Carter *
DE AJ Epenesa / Von Miller
Best Player: Oliver
Buffalo is a difficult team to place on this list. They have continuity and were better than expected statistically in 2023 including finishing #3 in Sack% (8.3%) and 7th overall with 51.5 sacks. So what holds them back from being higher?
Ed Oliver and Daquan Jones patrol the middle with Oliver being the disruptive 3T, and Jones as the stabilizing run-stuffer. There were plenty of big-name defensive injuries in Buffalo last season, but the run defense took a clear dip when Jones was sidelined with an injured pec muscle.
On the edge, Greg Rousseau took a step forward in year three and has the ability to become a force outside. The questions truly are on the other side. AJ Epenesa had the best year of his career, hit free agency, and re-signed, but was he working off a contract year bump, or has he taken his game to the next level?
Then there’s Von Miller. 2023 was a lost season, returning early from a torn knee, but he’s taken a pay cut to stay with the club in 2024. Does he still have All-Pro flashes in him? I wanted to put the Bills higher than this, but I can’t get by the DE questions and am torn on whether this team has quality depth or not.
10. Baltimore Ravens (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Odafe Oweh / David Ojabo
DE Broderick Washington
NT Michael Pierce / Travis Jones
DT Justin Madubuike
OLB Kyle Van Noy / Adisa Isaac *
Best Player: Justin Madubuike
Baltimore is another case of a steady, well-coached group with a great mix of vets and youth that is going to perform well no matter who is in the game. Justin Madubuike leads the way for this group as a solid performer in both phases. He finished a breakout 2023 season with 14.5 sacks and has become the best player up-front for the Ravens.
Michael Pierce and Broderick Washington are battle-tested interior players who have been in the Baltimore system for a while. Kyle Van Noy enters his 11th season and is a great vet presence for a very young OLB core. Odafe Oweh has had an up and down first three NFL seasons, but is still very arrow-up in my mind to become the next great Raven edge player.
In my mind, the biggest issue for Baltimore is its outside depth. David Ojabo tore his ACL early in 2023, and 3rd-round pick Adisa Isaac was recently put on the Non-Football Injury list with an undisclosed issue. As stated above, you cannot count on anybody to play 90%+ of snaps on the DL and still be fresh in the 4th quarter, so the Ravens will need one or both of the young guys to come back sooner rather than later.
11. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Nick Bosa / Yetur Gross-Matos $
DT Maliek Collins $
DT Javon Hargrave / Jordan Elliott $
DE Leonard Floyd $ / Drake Jackson
Best Player: Nick Bosa
San Francisco’s DL has been one of the most consistent units in the league since Robert Saleh and then-DC DeMeco Ryans instilled the “All Gas, No Brakes” mentality. This is an up-field, attacking unit that thrives on causing chaos for opposing offenses. 2023 was much of the same, with San Fran finishing #3 in ADY YBC/ATT (1.26yds), #4 in Pressure% (39.4%), and #4 in PrROE (8.8%). 2024, however, brings some bigger changes up-front that knock the 49ers out of the top 10.
DE Nick Bosa collected 12.5 sacks a year ago and continues to be a dangerous player in both phases. First-year 49er Javon Hargrave came in as a big-name free agent with disruptive pass-rush ability and didn’t disappoint, hauling in nine 9 of his own. That’s where the continuity ends.
They’ve brought in two nine-year vets, Maliek Collins and Leonard Floyd, who are coming off strong seasons in Houston and Buffalo, respectively. These guys have always performed better when they don’t have to be “the guy,” and San Fran provides them that opportunity.
My biggest hang-up with the 49ers is their depth. A couple of new guys haven’t lived up to their draft status, and one holdover is coming off an injury-shortened season. Mix that with losing Arik Armstead, and there are some cracks in this unit. The starting pieces are there to be disruptive once again, but I need to see the entire group embrace the “All Gas, No Brakes” mindset before moving them up the list.
12. Houston Texans (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Will Anderson
DT Foley Fatukasi $ / Tim Settle $
DT Denico Autry $ / Mario Edwards $
DE Danielle Hunter $ / Derek Barnett
Best Player: Hunter
The Texans are another difficult team to place. Statistically, they were exceptional vs both the run and pass in 2023. #1 in ADJ YBC/ATT (0.96yds), #3 in Stuff%, tied for #3 in rush Success%, #4 in TTP, and #10 in PrROE. However, they’ve made just about wholesale changes in this room leaving only DEs Will Anderson and Derek Barnett as top-eight holdovers. The big signing was Danielle Hunter, who comes in from Minnesota, bringing 16.5 sacks with him from a year ago. Inside, Houston signed four vets with position flexibility, so expect a heavy rotation with some exotic alignments up front.
Houston has gone through a makeover on their defensive line with three new projected starters and five total new players in the expected rotation. The Texans overall took a huge step forward in HC DeMeco Ryans’ first season, and have invested a lot of cap space into this unit. I’m not saying they’ll be as good statistically as in 2023, but I have a lot of faith that they will be knocking on the door of the top 10 all season.
13. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Rashan Gary / Lukas Van Ness
NT Kenny Clark
DT Devonte Wyatt / Karl Brooks
DE Preston Smith
Best Player: Smith
The Packers boast a battle-tested D-line whose main pieces have been together for a bunch of years. Preston Smith and Rashan Gary don’t get enough recognition as a truly impactful DE pair. Smith has been consistently good in both phases for many years, and Gary is right on his heels for the crown of best player on the unit.
Inside, veteran Kenny Clark put together one of the best seasons of his career in year eight, collecting eight sacks, the most he’s had in one season. The promising youth of Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Lukas Van Ness gives me confidence they will be able to carry the unit into the future. However, one or more of them will need to become a consistent threat to truly reach the next level.
Green Bay is right on the edge of being an elite D-line. They brought back everyone from 2023 and have a couple of good, young depth pieces. I’d like for them to have a more consistent second wave of rushers, but those guys could continue to develop into solid pieces. Expect another strong year from this unit.
14. Indianapolis Colts (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Kwity Paye / Laiatu Latu *
DT Grover Stewart / Raekwon Davis $
DT DeForest Buckner
DE Samson Ebukam / Dayo Odeyingbo
Best Player: Buckner
Indy is another team with a D-line on the cusp of being elite. Starting inside, DeForest Buckner leads this group as a consistently elite DT in both the run and pass game. He has been since being a 49er and I don’t see that changing.
Big Grover Stewart has continued to improve through year seven. I wasn’t sure he’d end up better than a solid rotational piece, but his run defense alone makes him a valuable starter. The edge is where Indy has a chance to be deadly. Samson Ebukam has been a nice player his entire career, and he took a clear step forward in both phases. Kwity Paye starts on the other side and has been respectable, but you’d expect more from a former 1st-round pick.
The edge depth for the Colts is very intriguing. Dayo Odeyinbgo hasn’t been the flashiest player in his career, but he collected nine sacks a year ago, and rookie Laiatu Latu has a ton of hype around him. I was super high on this guy coming out, and he has the talent to be dangerous early in his career.
This D-line fits so well with Indy’s personality as a team. No one is overly flashy or loud, but they play hard and get the job done. I’d expect these guys to once again have a quiet but very strong season.
15. New York Giants (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Brian Burns $ / Boogie Basham
NT Dexter Lawrence
DT Jordan Phillips $
DE Kayvon Thibodeaux / Azeez Ojulari
Best Player: Burns
Big Blue needed a shot in the arm of their D-line and got it when the Giants traded for DE Brian Burns. The Giants got over big time on Carolina in this deal, then signed Burns to a five-year extension worth $28.2M a year. Pairing Burns with 3rd-year DE Kayvon Thibodeaux creates a strong pair of edge players. Thibodeaux collected 11.5 sacks in ‘23 despite taking a step back in both phases. With the help of Burns on the other side, look for Thibodeaux to bounce back in 2024.
On the inside, Dexter Lawrence is an absolute monster of a football player. He’s improved each of his first five seasons, and is not to be messed with in the middle of the defense. Jordan Phillips comes in from Buffalo to round out the starting four. I’m certainly putting a lot of weight behind the top four here, but all four have proven to be effective players.
My biggest issue with New York is their depth, especially inside. I think there’s a big drop-off if any of the starting four go down for an extended period. A lack of quality DL depth can kill any momentum a defense builds, so the Giants need everyone to stay healthy.
16. Miami Dolphins (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Jaelen Phillips / Chop Robinson *
LDE Zach Sieler
NT Teair Tart $
RDE Calais Campbell $
OLB Bradley Chubb / Shaq Barrett $
Best Player: ?????
Miami brought in 5th-year NT Teair Tart, 10th-year EDGE Shaq Barrett, and 17th-year DT Calais Campbell to fill holes left by injuries and free agency. The Dolphins also used their first-round pick on another EDGE player in Chop Robinson (All-Name team guy). These moves represent a partial revamp of Miami’s DL room.
I say “partial,” because Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillps (their best player when healthy) are still working back from a torn ACL and Achilles, respectively. Could this be the perfect mix of vet leadership and young player enthusiasm?
I’ll be honest: I have no idea how good the Miami D-line will be in 2024. Their top two edge players are coming off major injuries, and their best interior player from a season ago, Christian Wilkins, is out in Vegas. However, the added pieces are intriguing, and if they get only one of the edge guys back, the Dolphins will easily slide into the top twelve and once again be able to strike fear into the AFC.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Sam Hubbard / Cam Sample
DT BJ Hill
DT Sheldon Rankins $ / Kris Jenkins *
DE Trey Hendrickson / Myles Murphy
Best Player: Hendrickson
The Bengals D-line, much like the defense overall, hasn’t been the focal point in recent years — that role clearly belongs to Joe Burrow and the offense. However, this group will sneak up on you if they’re underestimated. Buoyed by Trey Hendrickson’s league-leading 20.5 sacks a year ago, Cincy finished #8 in Pressure% and #9 in PrROE. Hendrickson is average against the run, but brings so much effort and ability as a rusher it’s hard to not call him the best on the unit.
Sam Hubbard and fellow vet BJ Hill have been steady, above-average players in their careers, and new addition Sheldon Rankins brings interior rush ability.
The big concern I have is the depth in Cincy. Cam Sample and Myles Murphy haven’t been the best 2nd wave edge pair, and rookie DT Kris Jenkins has potential in the run game but it’s a lot to ask for a rookie to replace the beast that is DJ Reader. Expect Hendrickson to boost this group’s numbers once again, but when it gets late in the season, don’t sleep on the Cincy D-line.
18. Tampa Bay Buccanneers (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka / Anthony Nelson
DE Logan Hall
NT Vita Vea
DE Calijah Kancey
OLB Yaya Diaby / Chris Braswell *
Best Player: Vea
Let’s talk about youth.
Four of Tampa Bay’s five starters have been in the league four years or less and all but one of those four have been productive right out of the gate. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka hasn’t lived up to his high first-round billing, but has 13 sacks in his first three seasons. He needs to take his pass-rush game to the next level but he’s effective outside.
Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby were a great pair of rookie pickups a season ago. I had Diaby as a good pass-rush piece, but he put up 7.5 sacks and an overall impressive year one. Kancey had a huge run-pass split in performance but has all the tools to continue ascending.
Logan Hall is the young starter at the other end of the spectrum. He has yet to live up to his early second-round draft status.
And oh, right… Vita Vea is still on the Bucs. He continues to be a productive and incredibly durable player in the middle, and is the anchor of this unit. He’s a throwback type nose guard who can be counted on to cause trouble. I just wish he wore a visor like Gilbert Brown back in the day.
This unit has the same group of guys coming back, which is a very rare thing on this side of the ball, I just don’t see enough quality depth to take them to the next level. The starters have the talent to be effective, but they can’t play every snap.
19. Minnesota Vikings (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Jonathan Greenard $ / Jihad Ward $
DE Jonathan Bullard
NT Harrison Phillips
DT Jerry Tillery $
OLB Andrew Van Ginkel $ / Dallas Turner *
Best Player: Greenard
The Vikings made a lot of changes up front defensively this offseason, and are hoping the “plug-and-play” strategy pans out. Jonathan Greenard comes in from Houston, bringing 13.5 sacks. His performance has roller-coastered a bit in his first four seasons, but I’d expect him to perform well again, given the help on the other side.
Andrew Van Ginkel joins from Miami and might be the most underrated edge player in the league. His numbers have never been sexy, but he’s been consistently effective his entire career. The Vikings even spent their second 1st-round pick here by taking Dallas Turner at #17, where many thought he’d be the first defender off the board.
Inside is another story for Minnesota. Harrison Phillips is the most consistent of the group but isn’t flashy. Jerry Tillery is coming off the best year of his career in Las Vegas but has had consistency issues, and Jonathan Bullard is on the decline. The strength of this unit is the edge, and those main three guys will have to carry this unit all season.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Maxx Crosby
DT Christian Wilkins $ / Byron Young
DT John Jenkins DE Malcolm Koonce / Tyree Wilson
Best Player: Crosby
Despite having 2nd-team All-Pro DE Maxx Crosby, 2023 was not great for the Las Vegas D-line. Crosby finished with 15.5 (t-6th) of the team’s 42 total sacks (22nd overall) and has taken his game to another level. Malcolm Koonce and 2023 1st-round pick Tyree Wilson split time on the other side and were better than expected, especially Koonce, who hadn’t seen many snaps in his first two seasons.
Vegas made a big move by bringing in DT Christian Wilkins on the most expensive free-agent interior DL deal this spring. He’s a bear to play against, and his disruptive pass-rush ability (9 sacks in 2023) is worthy of the $27.5M he’ll get each season. My biggest issue with Las Vegas is their depth, there’s a reason why I only have two backups listed.
Once again, the Raiders are dealing with a head coaching change. Only time will tell if Antonio Pierce is up for the full-time gig, but there’s no doubt he will get the boys fired up to play each week. Crosby and Wilkins are a dangerous pair when they’re aligned together so there’s hope to move up the list, but the lack of depth will limit this unit.
21. Tennessee Titans (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Harold Landry / Rashad Weaver
DE Sebastian Joseph-Day $ / TK McLendon
NT T’Vondre Sweat *
DT Jeffery Simmons / Marlon Davidson
OLB Arden Key
Best Player: Simmons
Tennesse also has a chance to be much higher once the 2024 season ends. They bring back three key starters in Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry, and Arden Key. Simmons is the main cog for this D-line as a sneaky disruptive interior player, and they will gladly welcome him back after missing the last five games of 2023 with a knee sprain. Landry has developed into a solid edge rusher with 25 total sacks over the last two seasons, and Key has become a reliable second option off the edge.
The changes are inside, with T’Vondre Sweat being drafted in the 2nd round. Sweat was an effective interior rusher and was an exceptional run defender at Texas.
The Titans are another team with depth issues, however. Veteran Sebastian Joseph-Day comes over from the 49ers, but he’s just the best of a bunch of JAGs once you get beyond the other projected starters. I’ve always thought this unit (and team) played hard for their former head coach no matter who was on the field, but will new HC Brian Callahan get the same effort levels?
22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Joey Bosa / Tuli Tuipulotu
DE Morgan Fox
NT Poona Ford $ / Christopher Hinton
DT Otito Ogbonnia
OLB Khalil Mack / Bud Dupree $
Best Player: Mack
Khalil Mack turned back the clock to 2016 and put up an impressive season in both phases, pushing for an All-Pro spot in year ten. Joey Bosa is still an effective player entering year nine, but he’s coming off a foot sprain and hasn’t made it through more than 11 games each of the last two seasons.
The Super Chargers opted for the free-agent route when adding talent to the D-line this offseason bringing in Bud Dupree and Poona Ford. Both guys have been above-average performers in their careers, but I like Dupree’s role as the #3 EDGE player better than Ford as a projected starter.
A big issue LA has is a lack of quality youth and depth. Tuli Tuipulotu was one of my favorite linemen coming out of school in ‘23 and had a good rookie season to build on. After that, the youth is mostly JAGs in Chris Hinton and Otito Ogbonnia.
LA was a tough team to place. It is a vet-heavy unit with only one young, quality depth piece. If everyone stays healthy, they could end up near the top ten, but if they lose the wrong vet, they could easily slide to the bottom. Given their ages and contracts, they’ll need to revamp this group soon, so hopefully, they can make a push in Jim Harbaugh’s first season.
23. Seattle Seahawks (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Boye Mafe / Darrell Taylor
DE Leonard Williams
NT Jarran Reed / Johnathan Hankins $
DE Dre’Mont Jones / Byron Murphy *
OLB Uchenna Nwosu / Derick Hall
Best Player: Williams
Seattle has some pieces, just not enough to push for a higher spot on this list. Leonard Williams leads the way and is still an effective player entering year 10. It’s incredible how consistently solid he’s been each year of his career. Dre’Mont Jones is a good interior player and veteran Jarran Reed is still serviceable, but neither guy will be a consistent disruptor.
Byron Murphy should see a lot of early snaps after being drafted 16th overall. On the edge, Boye Mafe continues to develop into a dangerous pass-rusher. I thought he would cap out as a #3 guy off the edge, but with 9 sacks last season, he’s on the path to becoming a well-known rusher. That’s the only bright spot outside for Seattle. Uchenna Nwosu has been consistently good on the other side but is coming off a torn pec muscle, and everyone else is unproven.
I’d expect this D-line to have some fun with first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, but there aren’t a ton of high-quality pieces to work with. This group has the potential to be higher in the future, but I don’t see it right now.
24. New England Patriots (3-3-5)
Projected Rotation
DE Keion White / Deatrich Wise
NT Davon Godchaux / Daniel Ekuale
DT Christian Barmore
WLB Matthew Judon / Anfernee Jennings / Josh Uche
Best Player: Judon / Barmore
The Patriots were a Jekyll and Hyde situation up front in 2023, finishing #7 in ADJ YBC/ATT and #2 in rush Success%, but #27 in total sacks and #26 in PrROE. Matthew Judon and Christian Barmore are the unquestioned leaders in New England. Barmore has become a legit dude in both phases inside, and Judon was off to a hot start before going down early in the season with a biceps injury.
The statistical split has to be attributed to Judon being out, but these two will need to be solid again for this defense to be respectable. Look for Keion White to become the third man alongside Judon and Barmore. He is very much arrowed up after a solid rookie season in a tough system.
It’s no secret that New England isn’t the same team it once was. They’ve gone through a major coaching change for the first time in nearly two and a half decades, and Willie McGinest or Vince Wilfork aren’t walking through the door for the D-line. I like the potential of new head coach Jerod Mayo and how hard this D-line plays, but you have to be able to disrupt the quarterback, and I don’t see that improving much from a season ago.
25. New Orleans Saints (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Carl Granderson / Payton Turner
DT Khalen Saunders / Bryan Bresee
DT Nathan Shepherd
DE Cameron Jordan / Chase Young $
Best Player: Jordan
New Orleans took a big swing bringing in perennial “just wait until he figures it out” guy Chase Young on a one-year deal, so expect him to get a healthy dose of snaps despite not being listed as a starter. To his credit, he stayed healthy all of 2023, but you need more consistency from a former 2nd overall pick.
Pairing him with Cameron Jordan is nice on paper, but Jordan himself has to answer for a steady decline in performance and bottoming out in sack production a season ago. Payton Turner was a DE I liked coming out in ‘21, but he’s only played 15 total games and hasn’t lived up to his 1st-round status. Inside, Khalen Saunders comes off his best season, and 2nd-year DT Bryan Bresee has a lot of upside, you just hope someone can be disruptive in the interior.
The Saints feel like they should be somewhere in the middle of this list. A lot of young, highly-drafted talent, a pair of steady vets, and only one major addition this season. It sounds like a good mix to have. However, I can’t, in good faith, rank them higher, given how poorly the returning guys performed last season. Statistically, 2023 was one to forget in the New Orleans D-line room. #29 in total sacks (32), #31 in PrROE (-2.42%), and #27 in Pressure% (30.8%). Surprisingly, they finished #6 in ADJ YBC/ATT, but that won’t save them here.
26. Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Arnold Ebiketie
DE Zach Harrison
NT David Onyemata
DT Grady Jarrett / Ruke Orhorhoro *
OLB Lorenzo Carter / Bralen Trice *
Best Player: Onyemata
There’s a lot of hope and promise in Atlanta these days, offensively at least, and the Falcons feel like they should have a higher-rated D-line. Every projected starter saw extended time in 2023, and they invested a couple of day-two picks into this group. So what’s keeping them lower on the list? The edges.
The interior pair of David Onyemata and Grady Jarrett enter years 9 and 10, respectively. They’ve been highly productive deep into careers at positions with a lot of wear and tear, but Jarrett wasn’t coming off a torn ACL in the past, which scares me a lot. That being said, these two are a great pair of vets to work with 2nd-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro. The other interior starter is 2nd-year Zach Harrison, who wasn’t bad as a rookie but had Calais Campbell as protection.
My biggest issue with Atlanta is the JAGs they have starting on the edges. Arnold Ebiketie and Lorenzo Carter have had very “run of the mill” careers to this point, and I’m not sure 3rd-round pick Bralen Trice can turn things around quickly enough for this unit.
27. Washington Commanders (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Dorance Armstrong $
LDT Daron Payne
RDT Jonathan Allen / Jer’Zhan Newton *
DE Clelin Ferrell $ / Dante Fowler $
Best Player: Payne / Allen
If you haven’t heard, Washington went through a lot in 2023. A new owner in May, flashes of hope in September, and picking #2 by the time the season ended. We can save all the high-level stuff for another article, so let’s focus on the D-line.
DTs Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen are the anchors of this unit and have been through a lot in their combined 13 seasons in Washington. Allen was flat-out bad vs. the run in 2023, but I would still put a lot of faith in this pair. They even have some help with 2nd-round pick Jer’Zhan Newton entering the fold. He’s a quick, disruptive player who should work well with the existing vets.
The big moves for Washington came at DE. Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler come over from the Cowboys, and Clelin Ferrell joins from San Francisco. Armstrong has outperformed his 4th-round draft status by entering his 7th season, but Fowler and Ferrell have not come close to fulfilling top-4 selections. There’s potential for this vet-heavy group to be effective, but they could easily fall into yet another bad year of football in Washington.
28. Chicago Bears (4-3)
Projected Rotation
DE Montez Sweat / Jacob Martin $
NT Andrew Billings $ / Zacch Pickens
DT Gervon Dexter
DE DeMarcus Walker / Dominique Robinson
Best Player: Sweat
Chicago as an organization is certainly on the rise. GM Ryan Poles made his mark on the team by moving on from Justin Fields and drafting Caleb Williams, signifying a new era in Bears football. Before the QB movement, he made another franchise-altering (possibly) move by trading for Washington’s DE Montez Sweat, who has been a consistent performer since entering the NFL. There just isn’t much help for him in the rest of the unit.
DE Jacob Martin comes over from the Colts and adds to the EDGE core of Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, and Dominique Robinson. Other than Sweat, none of them were particularly good in 2023.
On the inside, big man Andrew Billings joined the club from Vegas to be a plug in the middle of the line. My exposure to him in Cleveland was bad, but he’s played better than I expected since leaving the Browns. Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens are second-year interior players who round out this unit. If those two come along, Chicago has some hope and pieces to work with in the future. I just need to see someone else step up other than Sweat.
29. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Jared Verse *
DE Braden Fiske *
NT Bobby Brown / Larrell Murchison
DT Kobie Turner / Tyler Davis *
OLB Byron Young / Brennan Jackson *
Best Player: Turner
I’ll qualify the LA breakdown by saying the Rams have a ton of youth across the front and could be poised to shoot up this list by the end of the season. They have so much home-grown, developable youth it’s insane. However, they have to fill the massive hole created by losing the greatest interior defensive lineman ever in Aaron Donald.
Kobie Turner had an excellent rookie season and has the best chance to fill AD’s shoes. He was good in both phases and collected 9.5 sacks in his first season. OLB Byron Young also had a solidly good rookie season bringing in six sacks off the edge.
LA then invested multiple draft picks in its defensive front. First-round OLB Jared Verse and 2nd-round DL Braden Fiske are both penciled in as starters and come off productive final seasons at Florida State. I’d also expect OLB Brennan Jackson (5th) and DL Tyler Davis (6th) to see a good amount of time this season. The Rams have rebuilt their defensive front and could set for years to come upfront, this just might not be the year where they take that step.
30. Denver Broncos (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Baron Browning / Nik Bonitto
DE Zach Allen
NT DJ Jones
DE John Franklin-Myers $
OLB Jonathon Cooper / Jonah Elliss *
Best Player: Cooper
There isn’t much to get excited about on the D-line in Denver. Yes, they have continuity, but where is the production?
On the edge, OLB Jonathon Cooper is the best player, leading the way with ten sacks a year ago. Nik Bonitto added 7.5 sacks but will be competing with Baron Browning, who is not a highly productive player, to be the starter opposite Cooper. Denver also drafted Jonah Elliss in the 3rd round. Elliss a dangerous pass rusher at Utah, collecting 13 sacks in his final college season. Will that translate to the NFL level though?
I’m hung up on Denver’s interior, there’s a real lack of production and depth here. John Franklin-Myers comes over from the Jets and is the best of the starting three inside guys. He’s been solidly in the “good” category his entire career but also is not the flashiest/most productive guy. Zach Allen and DJ Jones are great depth pieces on most other teams. Here, they have to start, and their production level is not sustainable long-term. I’m intrigued by the edge players Denver has, I just don’t see the interior holding up their end of the deal.
31. Carolina Panthers (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Jadeveon Clowney $ / K’Lavon Chaisson $
DE Derrick Brown
NT Shy Tuttle
DE A’Shawn Robinson $
OLB DJ Wonnum $
Best Player: Brown
Carolina is another team whose D-line went through a makeover going into 2024. Four new vets, a late-round pick, and a couple of college free agents come into the mix with returning starters Derrick Brown and Shy Tuttle.
Brown is the bright spot for this unit. He’s improved all four years in the league and his play landed him a four-year, $96 million extension in the off-season. New interior DL A’Shawn Robinson comes in from the Giants as a vet presence but has been on a downward trend lately. DJ Wonnum outperformed his 4th-round status in Minnesota without being a big-time producer.
K’Lavon Chaisson comes in from Jacksonville looking to rub the “bust” stink off of himself, and NFL mercenary Jadeveon Clowney comes home to Carolina. They have a couple of pieces but don’t expect this group to be world-beaters in 2024.
It’s flat-out not a good time to be a Carolina Panthers fan. A new, offensive-minded head coach with a young QB should be an exciting time, but having potentially the worst owner in the game makes it tough to see this team doing anything of note this season.
32. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
Projected Rotation
OLB Zaven Collins
DE Darius Robinson * / LJ Collier
NT Bilal Nichols $ / Khyiris Tonga $
DT Justin Jones $
OLB BJ Ojulari
Best Player: Ojulari… maybe?
There’s not much to be said about Arizona’s defensive line.
In 2023, the Cardinals finished #31 in ADJ YBC/ATT, #30 in rush Success%, #30 in TTP, #24 in PrROE, and #23 in Pressure%. All this means one thing — they weren’t very good up front. This has led to a total revamp in the middle of Arizona’s 3-4 scheme.
They’ve brought in three vets — Bilal Nichols, Justin Jones, and Khyiris Tonga — to stop the bleeding in the middle. Jones and Nichols have been on the downswing as of late and Tonga hasn’t seen the field much in his first three seasons. Arizona also invested their first-round pick in Darius Robinson, who will move to the 3-4 DE spot. This dude is big and long but will need to figure things out quickly inside.
The bright spot is on the edges. Zaven Collins moved to outside linebacker in year three and was a much more effective player, and OLB BJ Ojulari was capable in his rookie season. If those two can be a consistent presence, the Cardinals will finish higher statistically on the defensive side, but I wouldn’t count on them to finish well in the standings.
