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 though star power remains and first-round pick Nate Wiggins adds 4.28 speed to the secondary. 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 fielded a strong defense again last season, but it was perhaps disappointing relative to expectations (at least in the playoffs) and so they fired coordinator Steve Wilks after the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Internal promotion Nick Sorensen will call plays for the first time in his coaching career, having previously worked with defensive backs or as a defensive pass-game specialist. The Niners still have most of their key guys from last year, with exceptions being DT Arik Armstead, S Tashaun Gipson and nickelback Isaiah Oliver. Of that group, only Armstead was especially effective, and he's entering his age-30 season after missing 13 games the past two years. Javon Hargrave and offseason signing Maliek Collins should ensure the Niners still have plenty of interior pressure to help stud DE Nick Bosa, so the biggest personnel question at this point is how S Talanoa Hufanga (ACL) and LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) rebound from severe injuries. The secondary could be a legitimate weakness if Hufanga is absent or ineffective, but the Niners should still pretty loaded in the front seven even if Greenlaw isn't his old self.

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 are coming off back-to-back seasons finishing 13th or better in points allowed, yards allowed and D/ST fantasy scoring, despite having a terrible offense that often gave opponents short fields. HC Robert Saleh and DC Jeff Ulbrich have done nice work with the defense, though that's not necessarily a tall task when you have a trio of excellent cornerbacks (Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter), a pair of top-notch, three-down linebackers (C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams) and a dominant interior lineman like Quinnen Williams. The Jets lost pass rusher Bryce Huff this offseason but then traded for Haason Reddick, seemingly landing an upgrade to pair with recent first-round picks Jermaine Johnson (2022) and Will McDonald (2023) off the edge. The safeties look like the only weak point of this defense following Jordan Whitehead's departure in free agency, leaving Tony Adams and Chuck Clark as the likely starting duo. Even with that soft spot, there's potential for a huge D/ST fantasy season if QB Aaron Rodgers returns from his Achilles injury and uplifts the offense to a level that allows the Jets to avoid turnovers and play with leads more often.

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.