Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson ranked the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Philadelphia Eagles as the teams with the best defensive lines heading into the 2024 National Football League season.
Monson placed the Jets at the top spot despite the departures of Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers. Quinnen Williams, one of the most disruptive defensive linemen at present, will have a more prominent role in the Jets defense. He will get help from Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald IV, and Haason Reddick, who registered his fourth-consecutive double-digit sack season last year.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are in second place, thanks mainly to 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa. After signing the most lucrative deal among defensive players in NFL history (five years, $170 million), he responded with 10.5 sacks and 53 tackles during the regular season.
In addition to Bosa, the Niners revamped their defensive line by bringing in Leonard Floyd. Meanwhile, Javon Hargrave had seven sacks in the first season of his four-year, $84 million contract with San Francisco. They also traded for defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who had five sacks for the Houston Texans last season.
Finally, the Eagles are third because of Huff, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Milton Williams. The 2024 season will be Philadelphia’s first after Fletcher Cox’s retirement. The Eagles also have Josh Sweat, who had 6.5 sacks last season.
Here’s the full list of Monson’s defensive line rankings, published on June 25:
- 1. New York Jets
- 2. San Francisco 49ers
- 3. Philadelphia Eagles
- 4. Detroit Lions
- 5. Cleveland Browns
- 6. Dallas Cowboys
- 7. Indianapolis Colts
- 8. Pittsburgh Steelers
- 9. Las Vegas Raiders
- 10. Houston Texans
- 11. Green Bay Packers
- 12. Baltimore Ravens
- 13. Cincinnati Bengals
- 14. Kansas City Chiefs
- 15. New England Patriots
- 16. Buffalo Bills
- 17. Seattle Seahawks
- 18. New York Giants
- 19. Washington Commanders
- 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 21. Tennessee Titans
- 22. Los Angeles Chargers
- 23. Los Angeles Rams
- 24. New Orleans Saints
- 25. Miami Dolphins
- 26. Jacksonville Jaguars
- 27. Chicago Bears
- 28. Atlanta Falcons
- 29. Carolina Panthers
- 30. Minnesota Vikings
- 31. Denver Broncos
- 32. Arizona Cardinals
-Lance Fernandez