• The greatest defensive position of 2024: From Week 1, when T.J. Watt posted a dominant 95.3 PFF grade and compelled two fumbles (each negated by penalty), to Cameron Heyward’s persistently high-level play, the Steelers’ defensive entrance has been a pressure. Alex Highsmith has supplied elite all-around impression, whereas Nick Herbig has emerged as one of many league’s premier cross rushers. Watt, Heyward, and Highsmith all closed the season with PFF grades of 90.2 or higher, with Herbig not far behind at a formidable 82.0 general.
• The greatest run-defense unit of 2024: The battle for the highest run-defense unit has concluded, with the Titans edging out the Browns after Cleveland faltered in opposition to Derrick Henry and the Ravens’ dominant floor assault. Tennessee capped the season with 139 run stops, rating fourth within the NFL, and 54 tackles for loss or no acquire, good for third. They additionally tied Cleveland for the league’s lowest fee of downgrades in run protection.
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Estimated studying time: 5 minutes
The defensive position is the center of any profitable protection, tasked with each disrupting the opposing quarterback with a cross rush and shutting down dashing assaults on the line of scrimmage.
Elite defensive strains can change the course of a sport by making use of strain, forcing hurried throws and creating turnovers whereas additionally stifling run performs to regulate the tempo.
This season, we are going to monitor NFL defensive position play all season lengthy. Unlike our offensive line rankings, which in some instances think about previous-season rankings, these rankings shall be based mostly purely on 2024 play.
Here are the highlights for the 2024 season and the highest defensive strains in Week 18. For extra grades and statistics on the league’s greatest pass-rushers, try PFF Premium Stats.