DEF Rankings

Baltimore led the NFL in points allowed, sacks, takeaways and D/ST scoring in 2023, after finishing Top 10 in all those same categories the year before. Mike McDonald thus lasted just two seasons as defensive coordinator, becoming Seattle's head coach this offseason and leaving internal promotion Zach Orr behind as the new DC in Baltimore. The Ravens also lost OLB Jadeveon Clowney (9.5 sacks), LB Patrick Queen (133 tackles), No. 3 safety Geno Stone (seven INTS) and CB Ronald Darby (seven starts, seven PDs), so they won't have the depth they did last offseason even if star power remains. LB Roquan Smith, S Kyle Hamilton and DT Justin Madubuike are among the league's best at their respective positions -- and joined by a number of other quality starters -- but the combination of offseason losses, a coaching change and a tough schedule (.536 opponent win percentage) suggest Baltimore's defense isn't nearly as far ahead of the pack as last year's results might seem to suggest.

The 49ers found an experienced replacement for new Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, tabbing Steve Wilks as their new defensive coordinator. While Wilks' track record is mixed, it'll be hard to mess things up too badly with a DT Javon Hargrave (11 sacks for Philly last year) joining a front seven that already had DE Nick Bosa, LB Fred Warner and LB Dre Greenlaw. The secondary is less impressive, though CB Charvarius Ward and S Talanoa Hufanga were fantastic last year en route to a No. 3 fantasy ranking for the San Francisco defense. They did lose some bodies, with 32-year-old safety Jimmie Ward following Ryans to Houston and defensive ends Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu (9.5 combined sacks) also signing elsewhere. It's an impressive unit nonetheless, with as much star power as any defense in the league.

The Cowboys were either first or second in D/ST scoring the past three seasons, achieving a level of repeated excellence rarely seen at the position in fantasy. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn moved on to Washington this offseason for his second shot as a head coach, opening the door for 67-year-old Mike Zimmer to take his fourth DC job in the NFL (second time with Dallas) after an eight-year stint as the Vikings' head coach (2014-21) and two years working in college as an analyst/consultant for Deion Sanders. Zimmer's defenses have generally performed quite well, and 32-year-old LB Eric Kendricks will give him a familiar face from Minnesota to wear the green dot. The Cowboys' superb edge defenders should make up for a lack of top talent at linebacker, with superhuman Micah Parsons joined by run-stuffer Demarcus Lawrence (115 tackles the past two seasons) and 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams (8.5 sacks on 576 career snaps). They'll get along fine without DE Dorance Armstrong (who followed Quinn to Washington) and should also have enough to talent to survive the loss of Stephon Gilmore, especially if CB Trevon Diggs bounces back from an ACL tear to form a fearsome playmaking duo alongside CB DaRon Bland (nine INTs, five TDs). Some decline is certainly possible, and last year's Bland-led total of seven non-offense TDs is nearly impossible to repeat, but the Cowboys still have Parsons and still figure to collect plenty of sacks and takeaways.

The Jets defense took a massive step forward in Year 2 under HC Robert Saleh and DC Jeff Ulbrich, ranking 13th in fantasy scoring, fourth in points allowed and fourth in yardage. Rookie fourth overall pick Sauce Gardner was a star from the jump, and free-agent addition DJ Reed did strong cover work on the other side of the field. Just as encouraging, 2019 third overall pick Quinnen Williams had 12 sacks and 28 QB hits, nearly doubling his career totals. The Jets did lose D-linemen Nathan Shepherd and Sheldon Rankins in free agency, but neither was a standout and the secondary could get even stronger after adding Chuck Clark via trade. The deal for Aaron Rodgers also helps from a fantasy standpoint, potentially forcing opponents into more pass-heavy situations that are good for sacks and turnovers.

Cleveland had one of the top defenses for both real life and fantasy in 2023, ranking sixth in D/ST scoring and first in yards allowed. A turnover-plagued offense meant the Browns allowed more points than other teams with top defenses, but big plays were never in short supply with the defense ranking sixth in sacks (49) and t-third in interceptions (18). DE Myles Garrett was named DPOY after his sixth straight year with double-digit sacks while Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome formed perhaps the best CB trio in the league. The Browns are returning every player that had multiple interceptions and/or more than two sacks last year, with the only major changes coming at linebacker where Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush replace Anthony Walker and Sione Taki-Taki. DC Jim Schwartz is also back, after directing the best defense yet in the second iteration of the Browns franchise. A tough-looking schedule -- .547 win percentage in 2023 -- is perhaps the biggest drawback, with Cleveland set to face Baltimore (twice), Cincinnati (twice), Kansas City, Miami, Dallas and Philadelphia.