The NFL's best defensive players are also its most disruptive players. While offenses try to make big plays and light up the scoreboard, they need to worry about pass rushers, run stoppers, and cover men who can wreak havoc on their best-laid game plans.
If a player can get to the quarterback for plenty of sacks from the edge, he is worth a ton to his team, in terms of on-field impact and salary. Interior defensive linemen also are coveted more for their pressure, while linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties are expected to be rangy playmakers vs. the pass in the back seven.
There is great quarterback talent in the league, and the guys on the other side have risen to the challenge of trying to match that on every level. Here's Sporting News' look at the league's top 30 defenders going into the 2024 regular season, based on recent past performances and near-future expectations.
NFL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs
1. Myles Garrett, EDGE, Browns (age: 28)
Garrett has gone from living up to his No. 1 overall draft status in 2017 to become the league's most destructive force vs. the pass and run alike. He makes everything tick for the Browns' entire defense in Jim Schwartz's 3-4 front.
2. Micah Parsons, EDGE, Cowboys (age: 25)
Parsons seems to be getting better as a pass rusher, coming off a career-high 14 sacks in his third season. He smacks around QBs from every angle but also has the range to make a lot of big plays in pursuit against the run.
3. Nick Bosa, EDGE, 49ers (age: 26)
Bosa dropped down to 10.5 sacks last season after leading the league with 18.5 as NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. The 49ers are trying to ease his double-teaming by finding the right complementary help, but his length and strength still make it difficult for blockers to slow him down.
4. T.J. Watt, EDGE, Steelers (age: 29)
This other former DPOY finished second right behind AFC North rival Garrett in 2023 after leading the league (for a third time) with 19 sacks. He rebounded well from an injury-marred 2022. Approaching 100 career sacks, he's fast-tracking to the Hall of Fame right along with retired older brother J.J.
5. Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Raiders (age: 27)
Crosby is not only a devastating pass rusher who often is left carrying the Raiders' defense, but he also is a master of blowing up run plays in the backfield with a league-best 45 combined tackles for loss the past two seasons. He can be more dangerous now that Christian Wilkins has joined the front.
6. Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Texans (age: 22)
Anderson had a modest seven sacks as a rookie, but he delivered as advertised as an active all-around playmaker from Alabama. Here's projecting an elite bump in overall production for the reigning DROY in Year 2 under DeMeco Ryans.
7. Khalil Mack, EDGE, Chargers (age: 33)
Mack exploded past the century mark last season with a career-high 17 sacks, five years removed from his previous double-digit season. He's back healthy, and that's rejuvenated him into making a ton of plays vs. the pass. Mack is vital to an improved transition to Jesse Minter's defense.
8. Dexter Lawrence, DT, Giants (age: 26)
With Aaron Donald retired, Lawrence, a mild late bloomer, takes over as the NFL's best defensive tackle. He has been a load vs. the running game and now is just as hard to block on the interior pass rush.
9. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs (age: 30)
Jones has a combined 25.5 sacks the past two seasons, and he's a big-time anchor for the back-to-back Super Bowl-winning defense that has made life a lot easier for Patrick Mahomes and the offense. It's telling he's been right there with Mahomes and Travis Kelce in the dynasty's three-ring core.
10. Fred Warner, LB, 49ers (age: 27)
Warner is known as a nasty cover man and seems to keep getting better with making impact plays on the ball and cleaning up everything. He also is an adept blitzer who can blow up plays in the backfield when needed.
11. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Bears (age: 25)
Johnson had shutdown talent and terrific raw ballhawk skills when coming into the league, and he put them together at the highest level under Matt Eberflus last season, earning him an elite contract for the position.
12. Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets (age: 23)
Gardner cooled off a little from his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign, but he still was a young cover man that quarterbacks preferred not to test. When he's not thwarting wide receivers, he's also been a strong secondary tackling asset for Robert Saleh.
13. Quinnen Williams, DT, Jets (age: 26)
Williams broke out with a 12-sack season for Saleh in 2022, and playing more of a tackle/end hybrid role in 2023, he remained dominant all-around. He should get more help from the edge getting to the QB this year.
14. Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Lions (age: 24)
Hutchinson jumped to double-digit sacks (11.5) for Aaron Glenn in his second season. He also was sturdy against the run and active disrupting passes when called upon. He has amazing athleticism for a front-four player.
15. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Buccaneers (age: 26)
Winfield crept into the DPOY conversation last season with his league-leading six forced fumbles to go with three interceptions, six sacks, and a career-high 122 tackles. He was everywhere on the field making big plays, either while being super aggressive or reactive.
16. DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE, Cowboys (age: 32)
Lawrence hasn't put up prolific sack numbers in a while, but he's still effective smacking around QBs and stopping the run. He draws a lot of attention up front to facilitate production for Parsons and others.
17. Josh Hines-Allen, EDGE, Jaguars (age: 27)
He now has a new name for himself after breaking out for 17.5 sacks in his fifth season, his most disruptive pass-rushing campaign since he was a rookie. The Jaguars have infused some youth to boost the pressure, but he has grown up well to be their unquestioned passionate defensive leader.
18. DaRon Bland, CB, Cowboys (age: 25)
Bland burst on the scene with five interceptions as a rookie, but then he went nuts as a ballhawk with a league-leading nine in 2023, turning them to 209 return yards for five TDs. He also can be consistent in coverage and has used his size (6-0, 187 pounds) well as a support tackler.
19. Jessie Bates III, S, Falcons (age: 27)
Bates was coming off a couple of down seasons from his usual standard for the Bengals, but he found his playmaking mojo big-time again in Atlanta. Like Winfield, Bates was omnipresent vs. run and pass with six interceptions and 132 total tackles, both easy career highs.
20. Jalen Carter, DT, Eagles (age: 23)
The former Georgia national championship defensive linchpin is finding that role in Philadelphia, living up to be a dominant heir apparent to Fletcher Cox. Carter should build well on his six rookie sacks.
21. Trent McDuffie, CB, Chiefs (age: 23)
His combination of inside and outside play with the frame and range to cover well in any part of the field is what made L'Jarius Sneed expendable in a trade.
22. Tyrel Dodson, LB, Seahawks (age 26)
Dodson ascended through his four years with the Bills to the point he was a priority free agent pickup in Seattle to give it more big plays while giving up fewer. Dodson is an exceptional rangy tackler who can also come upfield to wreck things for the passing game.
23. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seahawks (age: 23)
Witherspoon got into the DROY conversation on the strength of some shutdown coverage despite posting only one interception as a rookie. At 6-0, 185 pounds, he used his size well in upfield support with three sacks and 79 total tackles.
24. Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Bengals (age: 29)
Following a banged-up letdown in 2022, Hendrickson went back to double digits for the third time in his career with 17.5 sacks last season. His trademark is relentlessly chasing the QB under Lou Anarumo.
25. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Texans (age: 23)
Stingley has had two productive all-around seasons, but he turned the corner a bit in coverage to showcase his classic playmaking ability for DeMeco Ryans last season. He can easily succeed Bland as the interception leader.
26. Kyle Hamilton, S, Ravens (age: 23)
The former stat-sheet stuffer at Notre Dame has translated that well as a first-round steal. The third-year safety/nickel back hybrid was dangerous in any capacity on the field with a knack for making huge plays in coverage and on the blitz.
27. Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Steelers (age: 27)
Highsmith dropped from 14.5 sacks to help compensate for an injured Watt in 2023 to seven last season, but his presence was still felt big-time. He's a mighty, run-containing complement with some great dropback and lateral qualities for their classic 3-4.
28. Justin Madubuike, DT, Ravens (age: 26)
Madubuike busted out in his fourth season just in time for a big new veteran contract, posting 13.5 sacks in a very Chris Jones-like role in Baltimore.
29. Charvarius Ward, CB, 49ers (age: 28)
The former Chiefs star is the last big corner (6-1, 196 pounds) to make the cut on this list. He had five interceptions to go with a league-leading 23 passes defended, and, as one might expect with his size, he added 72 tackles.
30. Demario Davis, LB, Saints (age: 35)
There was room for the oldest player on this list. Davis has strung together five exceptional seasons leading the Saints defense under Dennis Allen, all coming after turning 30. He is making a late push for the Hall of Fame with superb coverage, tackling, and blitzing. He is one of the league's steadiest seasoned veterans at any position.
