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Ranking all 32 NFL offenses
Saints, Broncos, Packers own top offenses; ranking every position group
Updated: August 11, 2014, 3:18 PM ET
By Gordon McGuinness | Pro Football Focus
Drew Brees
Al Bello/Getty Images
Drew Brees and the Saints could have their most dangerous offense ever this year.
Recently, Sam Monson and the Pro Football Focus analysis team ranked all 32 teams in the NFL by their current roster. Now, we take a look at all 32 teams in further depth. Below, you'll see not only where each team's offense ranks, but also how each position group -- quarterbacks, running backs, offensive line and receivers -- grades out against the rest of the NFL.
In order to compile the ranks, we used PFF's graded depth charts series as a starting point to grade and rank position groups throughout the league. Then, we weighted those rankings toward starters and moderated our expectations for rookies, according to the performance PFF data expects them to achieve in Year 1 by draft position.
The color-coded images at the right of every team include the team's NFL ranking in each of the four position groups. Offenses are divided into four position groups: quarterbacks, running backs (including blocking backs), receivers (wideouts and tight ends) and the offensive line.
1. New Orleans Saints
With our third-ranked quarterback situation, and plenty of talented targets for Drew Brees to throw to, it's easy to see why the Saints are our highest-ranked offense heading into the 2014 season. There's not much Brees struggles with as a passer, and he finished last year with the most touchdown passes (15) and second most yards (1,128) in the league on passes thrown 20 yards or farther downfield.
Of course it helps to have the weapons around him, with Jimmy Graham the standout among the tight ends and receivers. Graham's 2.26 yards per route run average was the most of any tight end with enough qualifying snaps last year, and figures to be just as dangerous in 2014.
2. Denver Broncos
Like the Saints before them, the Broncos find themselves high up in our offensive rankings with an elite quarterback, an impressive offensive line and talented receivers.
It's always been said that Peyton Manning had the quickest release in the NFL, and that was evident again last year, with his snap-to-throw average of 2.36 seconds once again the lowest in the league. The Broncos lost Eric Decker in free agency, but still have plenty of talent around Manning, including wide receiver Wes Welker, who was second in the league with 688 yards from the slot last year.
3. Green Bay Packers
A healthy Aaron Rodgers makes the Packers Super Bowl contenders once again, but the success of their offense won't only be because of the quarterback who had the highest accuracy percentage in the league last year at 79.3 percent.
The Packers' backfield stands out, too, with James Starks and Eddie Lacy combining to force 83 missed tackles on 418 total touches in 2013. If Lacy can repeat his rookie form, where he proved incredibly tough for opposing defenders to bring down, the Packers' offense should roll again.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Losing DeSean Jackson does hurt the Eagles' offense, as he finished last season with the sixth-highest yards per route run average among wide receivers, but this offense remains loaded without him.
Offseason addition Darren Sproles, who had 604 yards as a receiver last year, is a seemingly perfect fit for what the Eagles want to do offensively. The progression of Nick Foles will be key, and if he can repeat 2013 in terms of his deep-ball throwing (he threw 14 touchdowns to just one interception), the Eagles should be able to score plenty of points again in 2014.
5. New England Patriots
Though he does appear to have dropped slightly from the group of elite quarterbacks in the league (as PFF's Sam Monson detailed earlier this summer), plenty of teams would love to have Tom Brady under center.
One of the best in the NFL on passes between 0 and 20 yards from the line of scrimmage, he had an impressive touchdown-to-interception ratio of 22-to-6 on passes thrown in that area. The offense will be boosted by the return of tight end Rob Gronkowski, with the big target racking up 592 yards last season despite running just 215 routes in an injury-riddled year.
6. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks' defense gets a lot of the credit for their Super Bowl triumph, but let's not sleep on their offense. In Russell Wilson they have a quarterback who can do it all, including launching a stellar deep ball, with the former Wisconsin Badger throwing for 922 yards on passes 20 yards or more downfield, fourth most in the league.
The offensive line is a question mark, though with a ridiculous 75 missed tackles forced from 301 carries last year, running back Marshawn Lynch is very capable of masking some of their struggles.
7. San Francisco 49ers
On paper the 49ers look set to field the best group of receivers and tight ends in the league this year, which is a far cry from 2013. Anquan Boldin is seemingly ageless, pulling in tough catches and seeing a quarterback rating of 118.6 on all the passes on which he was the intended receiver, while Vernon Davis was second only to Jimmy Graham among tight ends in yards per route run (2.12) last year.
The question mark is quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who struggled under pressure with the fifth-lowest accuracy percentage in the NFL at 55.1 percent, but he is at least protected by an offensive line that features Joe Staley, who allowed just 20 total pressures on 471 pass-blocking snaps last year.
8. San Diego Chargers
A bounce-back campaign from quarterback Philip Rivers, who finished second in the league with an accuracy percentage of 78.7 percent last season, led to the Chargers making the playoffs in 2013.
Their receiving corps features talented second-year man Keenan Allen and Malcolm Floyd, who is returning from injury, and their backfield is solidly balanced. While Ryan Mathews is the better runner in the group, it was Danny Woodhead who finished second among running backs with 609 yards as a receiver. One key will be the progression of last season's first-round draft pick D.J. Fluker, who allowed 47 total pressures from 564 pass-blocking snaps and needs to improve in 2014.
9. Detroit Lions
With Calvin Johnson split out wide, the Lions were always likely to finish high up in a ranking of the league's top offenses, but the Lions deserve credit for improving around Johnson this offseason, adding Golden Tate, who forced 21 missed tackles last year while with the Seahawks.
One player who we don't hear enough about is Joique Bell, who forced himself into the Lions' plans last season with some very good performances. He was very tough to bring down, averaging 2.38 yards after contact per carry. Where this unit needs improvement is from QB Matthew Stafford, particularly when he's under pressure. He posted a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3-to-7 on the 165 passes he attempted while feeling the heat in 2013.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
The star of the Steelers' offense continues to be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, with the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback finishing last year with an accuracy percentage of 74.7 percent, tied for the seventh-best mark in the NFL.
They are let down somewhat by not having much at wide receiver outside of Antonio Brown, but they'll be hoping to see an improvement in the backfield as Le'Veon Bell enters his second year. He flashed as a rookie, forcing 36 missed tackles on 244 carries.
11. Minnesota Vikings
While there is uncertainty as to who will start at quarterback, the rest of the Vikings' offense looks poised for a big year. Their offensive line features talented run-blockers in John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco and Phil Loadholt, something that makes life a little easier for running back Adrian Peterson.
Though his 2013 season didn't quite live up to the previous year, Peterson still had a big year, averaging 2.97 yards after contact per carry and forcing 58 missed tackles as a runner. The quarterback position will obviously be key, but this looks like an offense that could have plenty of success if it gets even just solid play at the position.
12. Atlanta Falcons
Overreactions about his play in the postseason aside, Matt Ryan is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Despite having many key injuries around him, he still had the third-highest accuracy percentage in the league last year at 78.4 percent and also had the sixth-highest accuracy percentage on plays during which he was under pressure.
That's important, because their offensive line was one of the worst in the league last year, allowing 264 total pressures from 710 passing plays, and needs rookie first-rounder Jake Matthews to be great from the outset to be much better in 2014. Tony Gonzalez will be a big loss, as he dropped just four of the 87 catchable passes thrown his way in 2013, but the receiving corps will be boosted by the return of Julio Jones.
13. Chicago Bears
Life is made easier for quarterback Jay Cutler by the presence of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery at wide receiver, as the pair combined for 2,716 yards and 19 touchdowns last year.
He's got another big target in the middle of the field in 6-foot-6 tight end Martellus Bennett. He added 759 yards of his own last season and dropped just three of the 68 catchable passes thrown his way in 2013. As is the case with the Falcons, the Bears are stacked at the skill positions but are let down by their offensive line, which allowed 213 total pressures on 630 passing plays a year ago and needs big improvements from the right side in particular.
14. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys' offense is fairly solid across the board, though they do lack a position where they are truly among the league's best.
Left tackle Tyron Smith showed why the team wanted to get him signed to a long-term extension, allowing just 31 total pressures from 629 pass-blocking snaps, while center Travis Frederick was one of the best run-blockers at his position as a rookie.
They have a big-time talent at wide receiver in Dez Bryant, although he didn't display the best hands last season; he dropped 11 of the 104 catchable passes thrown his way.
15. Washington Redskins
Adding DeSean Jackson at wide receiver is big for Washington. He'll make things easier for quarterback Robert Griffin III, who recorded just 406 yards on passes thrown 20 yards or more downfield last season; Jackson racked up 553 yards on those deep passes last season all on his own.
Griffin definitely struggled last year, but it's hard to know how much of that was due to his recovering from his torn ACL. Looking back to his rookie year, Griffin had major success off of play-action and tied for the highest yards per attempt mark, something the team will be hoping he can repeat now that he's back to full strength.
16. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts boast some of the best tight ends and receivers in the league, and will be boosted by the return of tight end Dwayne Allen, who looked like one of the best all-around tight ends in the league as a rookie in 2012. The addition of Hakeem Nicks has the potential to be huge if he can get back to his top form, while T.Y. Hilton had an impressive finish to 2013.
The offensive line is a concern, and Trent Richardson has a lot to live up to at running back after the Colts gave up a first-round draft pick to trade for him last season. At quarterback we've seen Andrew Luck lead some impressive comebacks in his short time in the league, but we've also seen him struggle through three quarters enough that they've been forced to mount a comeback in the first place.
17. Carolina Panthers
Despite making the playoffs a year ago, the Panthers' offense has serious question marks after losing a lot from their line and receiving corps this offseason. Gone are Jordan Gross, who allowed just 29 total pressures from 554 passing plays last year, and left guard Travelle Wharton, who was solid in pass protection and excelled as a run-blocker.
They also lost talent at wide receiver, although the addition of Jerricho Cotchery was an underrated move. Cam Newton had his struggles as a passer last season but made up for it by making plays with his feet. He was also solid against the blitz, throwing 11 of his 25 touchdowns when teams tried to get extra pressure on him.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback Andy Dalton received a contract extension last week, but he has been very inconsistent with his level of play during his career, including a 3-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio when under pressure last season. The bigger story here should be the talent around him.
The Bengals' offensive line is among the best in the league, with Andrew Whitworth standing out both at left tackle and left guard last year. At receiver, A.J. Green represents a tough assignment for any corner, but like Dez Bryant, Green could afford to improve his hands after dropping 11 of the 109 catchable balls thrown his way in 2013.
19. Miami Dolphins
Ryan Tannehill seems to attract an unfair amount of criticism for a quarterback who took strides forward in his second year, but the talent around him remains a big question mark.
Wide receiver Brian Hartline had a solid year, finishing tied for 18th with a yards per route run average of 2.08, but Tannehill couldn't connect with Mike Wallace deep in the way many expected, with just six catches on passes traveling 20 yards or more through the air. The offensive line should benefit from the addition of Branden Albert; the former Kansas City Chief allowed just 23 total pressures last year.
20. Tennessee Titans
This offense is likely to only go as far as quarterback Jake Locker can take it, and we've seen him struggle in some areas, including completing just 43.9 percent of his passes when under pressure last season. But in fairness, he did show signs of strong play at times last season before being injured.
One player to get excited about is wide receiver Kendall Wright, who led all receivers with 694 yards from the slot last season and forced 19 missed tackles once the ball was in his hands. The Titans are going to want to make sure they get him the ball early and often in 2014.
21. New York Giants
The big thing for the Giants in 2014 will be ensuring that Eli Manning looks more like his 2012 version than his 2013 version. He struggled under pressure last year, throwing 10 interceptions when pressure got to him, tied for the second-highest total in the league.
There is plenty of talent at the skill positions, but plenty of question marks, as well, as we simply haven't seen enough of many of them to know what kind of an impact they'll have this season. But if rookie Odell Beckham Jr. can be a big-time target for Manning in his first season, this offense starts to look a lot better, given the upgrades they made along the offensive line this offseason.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If the Buccaneers are getting the Josh McCown we saw in Chicago last year, things might start to look up for this offense, but it's difficult to put too much stock into one season after we'd seen so little out of him throughout his career. Vincent Jackson leads the way at wide receiver, and the Bucs have high hopes for rookie Mike Evans opposite him, but there is very little on the depth chart behind those two.
Running back is where the offense looks its best, with Mike James and Bobby Rainey impressing when called upon and Doug Martin a year removed from rushing for 1,454 yards and forcing 53 missed tackles as a rookie.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
The good news for the Chiefs is that they have one of the best running backs in the NFL in Jamaal Charles, who racked up 1,973 yards from scrimmage and forced 63 missed tackles as a runner and a receiver in 2013.
The bad news is that they lost the two best players from their offensive line in Branden Albert and Geoff Schwartz, and are led by a quarterback in Alex Smith who completed just 47.5 percent of his passes when under pressure. With no definitive answers to the questions on the offensive line thus far, expect to see Smith under pressure plenty in 2014.
24. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens may have addressed some of the issues on their offensive line, including replacing center Gino Gradkowski, who allowed 36 total pressures last year (second most of any center), but there are still plenty of questions for the offense. As good as Joe Flacco can be when he's at the top of his game, we continue to see a very inconsistent level of play from him week to week.
One thing that may help Flacco is the return to full health for tight end Dennis Pitta, who had six touchdowns from the slot in 2012, tied for the best mark in the league.
25. Houston Texans
This was an offseason of change in Houston, but one thing that stayed the same for the Texans is that they still have one of the better offensive lines in the league, with Duane Brown, Chris Myers and Brandon Brooks leading the way.
The problems for the Texans are that they don't have an answer at the QB position (sorry, Ryan Fitzpatrick), and while they have good high-end talent at the wide receiver position (Andre Johnson had a yards per route run average of 2.30 last season, ninth best in the league, and DeAndre Hopkins showed flashes early in his rookie year) there is little depth behind them. With the likes of Keshawn Martin, Mike Thomas and DeVier Posey in reserve roles, the Texans aren't exactly well-positioned to deal with an injury to Johnson or Hopkins.
26. Cleveland Browns
The best part of the Browns' offense is their line, led by Joe Thomas, who is unquestionably the best pass-blocking left tackle in football. But they simply have too many questions elsewhere on the roster, including at the QB position; Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel have combined for just 380 regular-season snaps at this point in their careers.
The Browns look likely to lose star wide receiver Josh Gordon for at least part of the season, meaning that they need either Miles Austin or Nate Burleson to step up in a big way in their first seasons in Cleveland.
27. St. Louis Rams
The biggest problem for the Rams is at the wide receiver spot, where Kenny Britt is currently penciled in as a starter. Once upon a time Britt looked like he was ready to become one of the best receivers in the league, but since then things have looked worse and worse with each passing year. He dropped seven of the 18 catchable passes thrown his way in Tennessee last year.
Quarterback Sam Bradford has had his injury concerns, but even when he's been on the field he's struggled under pressure, completing just 38.8 percent of his passes, with one touchdown and four interceptions.
28. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders attempted to address their quarterback need by trading for Matt Schaub in the offseason, but coming off the season he had in Houston, that might not be such a good idea.
He crumbled under pressure in his final year for the Texans, tied for the lowest accuracy percentage in the league at 55.1 percent while throwing just one touchdown and five interceptions, including multiple game-ending pick-sixes. James Jones was a smart addition at wide receiver, but outside of him they are relying upon the likes of Andre Holmes to step up and make an impact.
29. Arizona Cardinals
On the surface the Arizona Cardinals have some talented pieces in place, most notably at wide receiver with Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. The offensive line, however, allowed the most pressure on a per-snap basis a year ago, with 242 total pressures from 620 passing plays.
The good news is that adding Jared Veldheer helps, as will Bobby Massie's expected return to the starting lineup at right tackle, but will it make enough of a difference? At running back it's hard not to be impressed by Andre Ellington, who forced 31 missed tackles from just 157 touches on offense, but it's fair to question whether he can be an every-down back or if he's better suited for a lower-volume, higher-impact role in which he won't be worn down by a full workload.
30. Buffalo Bills
It's too early to completely write off EJ Manuel already, but there are certainly some warning signs that he might not be the answer for the Bills at quarterback. He had the ninth-lowest accuracy percentage among quarterbacks as a rookie, and did have some big-time struggles along the way. On the plus side, there is talent in that backfield, and if they can get C.J. Spiller in space like they did in 2012 when he forced 66 missed tackles from just 250 touches on offense, big plays are likely to come. There is also some optimism in the form of rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins, but he isn't a proven commodity at this point.
31. New York Jets
Another team that struggled with a rookie quarterback in 2013, the Jets need to hope that the improvement shown by Geno Smith over the last four games of the season -- during which he looked like a much better player than we saw earlier in the year -- continues into 2014.
In the backfield they'll be expecting big things from Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory, but Johnson forced just 21 missed tackles from 279 carries last year, with the Jets likely needing to find ways to get him in space to get the most out of him. Eric Decker comes to New York after a successful start to his career in Denver, but there is very little beyond him on the receiver depth chart, and he won't have the benefit of Peyton Manning throwing to him any longer.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars' offense could wind up looking much better than this once this season begins, but right now they are a team of potential and question marks.
Luke Joeckel starts his second season at left tackle after allowing 15 total pressures from just 179 passing plays before injury cut his rookie season short, while rookie receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson find themselves in a spot where they should see plenty of early opportunities with little beyond Cecil Shorts III at wide receiver. Teams are always under pressure to play first-round rookie quarterbacks, and the pressure for the Jaguars to start No. 3 overall pick Blake Bortles will only mount if Chad Henne struggles again early in the year.
Saints, Broncos, Packers own top offenses; ranking every position group
Updated: August 11, 2014, 3:18 PM ET
By Gordon McGuinness | Pro Football Focus
Drew Brees
Al Bello/Getty Images
Drew Brees and the Saints could have their most dangerous offense ever this year.
Recently, Sam Monson and the Pro Football Focus analysis team ranked all 32 teams in the NFL by their current roster. Now, we take a look at all 32 teams in further depth. Below, you'll see not only where each team's offense ranks, but also how each position group -- quarterbacks, running backs, offensive line and receivers -- grades out against the rest of the NFL.
In order to compile the ranks, we used PFF's graded depth charts series as a starting point to grade and rank position groups throughout the league. Then, we weighted those rankings toward starters and moderated our expectations for rookies, according to the performance PFF data expects them to achieve in Year 1 by draft position.
The color-coded images at the right of every team include the team's NFL ranking in each of the four position groups. Offenses are divided into four position groups: quarterbacks, running backs (including blocking backs), receivers (wideouts and tight ends) and the offensive line.
1. New Orleans Saints
With our third-ranked quarterback situation, and plenty of talented targets for Drew Brees to throw to, it's easy to see why the Saints are our highest-ranked offense heading into the 2014 season. There's not much Brees struggles with as a passer, and he finished last year with the most touchdown passes (15) and second most yards (1,128) in the league on passes thrown 20 yards or farther downfield.
Of course it helps to have the weapons around him, with Jimmy Graham the standout among the tight ends and receivers. Graham's 2.26 yards per route run average was the most of any tight end with enough qualifying snaps last year, and figures to be just as dangerous in 2014.
2. Denver Broncos
Like the Saints before them, the Broncos find themselves high up in our offensive rankings with an elite quarterback, an impressive offensive line and talented receivers.
It's always been said that Peyton Manning had the quickest release in the NFL, and that was evident again last year, with his snap-to-throw average of 2.36 seconds once again the lowest in the league. The Broncos lost Eric Decker in free agency, but still have plenty of talent around Manning, including wide receiver Wes Welker, who was second in the league with 688 yards from the slot last year.
3. Green Bay Packers
A healthy Aaron Rodgers makes the Packers Super Bowl contenders once again, but the success of their offense won't only be because of the quarterback who had the highest accuracy percentage in the league last year at 79.3 percent.
The Packers' backfield stands out, too, with James Starks and Eddie Lacy combining to force 83 missed tackles on 418 total touches in 2013. If Lacy can repeat his rookie form, where he proved incredibly tough for opposing defenders to bring down, the Packers' offense should roll again.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Losing DeSean Jackson does hurt the Eagles' offense, as he finished last season with the sixth-highest yards per route run average among wide receivers, but this offense remains loaded without him.
Offseason addition Darren Sproles, who had 604 yards as a receiver last year, is a seemingly perfect fit for what the Eagles want to do offensively. The progression of Nick Foles will be key, and if he can repeat 2013 in terms of his deep-ball throwing (he threw 14 touchdowns to just one interception), the Eagles should be able to score plenty of points again in 2014.
5. New England Patriots
Though he does appear to have dropped slightly from the group of elite quarterbacks in the league (as PFF's Sam Monson detailed earlier this summer), plenty of teams would love to have Tom Brady under center.
One of the best in the NFL on passes between 0 and 20 yards from the line of scrimmage, he had an impressive touchdown-to-interception ratio of 22-to-6 on passes thrown in that area. The offense will be boosted by the return of tight end Rob Gronkowski, with the big target racking up 592 yards last season despite running just 215 routes in an injury-riddled year.
6. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks' defense gets a lot of the credit for their Super Bowl triumph, but let's not sleep on their offense. In Russell Wilson they have a quarterback who can do it all, including launching a stellar deep ball, with the former Wisconsin Badger throwing for 922 yards on passes 20 yards or more downfield, fourth most in the league.
The offensive line is a question mark, though with a ridiculous 75 missed tackles forced from 301 carries last year, running back Marshawn Lynch is very capable of masking some of their struggles.
7. San Francisco 49ers
On paper the 49ers look set to field the best group of receivers and tight ends in the league this year, which is a far cry from 2013. Anquan Boldin is seemingly ageless, pulling in tough catches and seeing a quarterback rating of 118.6 on all the passes on which he was the intended receiver, while Vernon Davis was second only to Jimmy Graham among tight ends in yards per route run (2.12) last year.
The question mark is quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who struggled under pressure with the fifth-lowest accuracy percentage in the NFL at 55.1 percent, but he is at least protected by an offensive line that features Joe Staley, who allowed just 20 total pressures on 471 pass-blocking snaps last year.
8. San Diego Chargers
A bounce-back campaign from quarterback Philip Rivers, who finished second in the league with an accuracy percentage of 78.7 percent last season, led to the Chargers making the playoffs in 2013.
Their receiving corps features talented second-year man Keenan Allen and Malcolm Floyd, who is returning from injury, and their backfield is solidly balanced. While Ryan Mathews is the better runner in the group, it was Danny Woodhead who finished second among running backs with 609 yards as a receiver. One key will be the progression of last season's first-round draft pick D.J. Fluker, who allowed 47 total pressures from 564 pass-blocking snaps and needs to improve in 2014.
9. Detroit Lions
With Calvin Johnson split out wide, the Lions were always likely to finish high up in a ranking of the league's top offenses, but the Lions deserve credit for improving around Johnson this offseason, adding Golden Tate, who forced 21 missed tackles last year while with the Seahawks.
One player who we don't hear enough about is Joique Bell, who forced himself into the Lions' plans last season with some very good performances. He was very tough to bring down, averaging 2.38 yards after contact per carry. Where this unit needs improvement is from QB Matthew Stafford, particularly when he's under pressure. He posted a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3-to-7 on the 165 passes he attempted while feeling the heat in 2013.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
The star of the Steelers' offense continues to be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, with the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback finishing last year with an accuracy percentage of 74.7 percent, tied for the seventh-best mark in the NFL.
They are let down somewhat by not having much at wide receiver outside of Antonio Brown, but they'll be hoping to see an improvement in the backfield as Le'Veon Bell enters his second year. He flashed as a rookie, forcing 36 missed tackles on 244 carries.
11. Minnesota Vikings
While there is uncertainty as to who will start at quarterback, the rest of the Vikings' offense looks poised for a big year. Their offensive line features talented run-blockers in John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco and Phil Loadholt, something that makes life a little easier for running back Adrian Peterson.
Though his 2013 season didn't quite live up to the previous year, Peterson still had a big year, averaging 2.97 yards after contact per carry and forcing 58 missed tackles as a runner. The quarterback position will obviously be key, but this looks like an offense that could have plenty of success if it gets even just solid play at the position.
12. Atlanta Falcons
Overreactions about his play in the postseason aside, Matt Ryan is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Despite having many key injuries around him, he still had the third-highest accuracy percentage in the league last year at 78.4 percent and also had the sixth-highest accuracy percentage on plays during which he was under pressure.
That's important, because their offensive line was one of the worst in the league last year, allowing 264 total pressures from 710 passing plays, and needs rookie first-rounder Jake Matthews to be great from the outset to be much better in 2014. Tony Gonzalez will be a big loss, as he dropped just four of the 87 catchable passes thrown his way in 2013, but the receiving corps will be boosted by the return of Julio Jones.
13. Chicago Bears
Life is made easier for quarterback Jay Cutler by the presence of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery at wide receiver, as the pair combined for 2,716 yards and 19 touchdowns last year.
He's got another big target in the middle of the field in 6-foot-6 tight end Martellus Bennett. He added 759 yards of his own last season and dropped just three of the 68 catchable passes thrown his way in 2013. As is the case with the Falcons, the Bears are stacked at the skill positions but are let down by their offensive line, which allowed 213 total pressures on 630 passing plays a year ago and needs big improvements from the right side in particular.
14. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys' offense is fairly solid across the board, though they do lack a position where they are truly among the league's best.
Left tackle Tyron Smith showed why the team wanted to get him signed to a long-term extension, allowing just 31 total pressures from 629 pass-blocking snaps, while center Travis Frederick was one of the best run-blockers at his position as a rookie.
They have a big-time talent at wide receiver in Dez Bryant, although he didn't display the best hands last season; he dropped 11 of the 104 catchable passes thrown his way.
15. Washington Redskins
Adding DeSean Jackson at wide receiver is big for Washington. He'll make things easier for quarterback Robert Griffin III, who recorded just 406 yards on passes thrown 20 yards or more downfield last season; Jackson racked up 553 yards on those deep passes last season all on his own.
Griffin definitely struggled last year, but it's hard to know how much of that was due to his recovering from his torn ACL. Looking back to his rookie year, Griffin had major success off of play-action and tied for the highest yards per attempt mark, something the team will be hoping he can repeat now that he's back to full strength.
16. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts boast some of the best tight ends and receivers in the league, and will be boosted by the return of tight end Dwayne Allen, who looked like one of the best all-around tight ends in the league as a rookie in 2012. The addition of Hakeem Nicks has the potential to be huge if he can get back to his top form, while T.Y. Hilton had an impressive finish to 2013.
The offensive line is a concern, and Trent Richardson has a lot to live up to at running back after the Colts gave up a first-round draft pick to trade for him last season. At quarterback we've seen Andrew Luck lead some impressive comebacks in his short time in the league, but we've also seen him struggle through three quarters enough that they've been forced to mount a comeback in the first place.
17. Carolina Panthers
Despite making the playoffs a year ago, the Panthers' offense has serious question marks after losing a lot from their line and receiving corps this offseason. Gone are Jordan Gross, who allowed just 29 total pressures from 554 passing plays last year, and left guard Travelle Wharton, who was solid in pass protection and excelled as a run-blocker.
They also lost talent at wide receiver, although the addition of Jerricho Cotchery was an underrated move. Cam Newton had his struggles as a passer last season but made up for it by making plays with his feet. He was also solid against the blitz, throwing 11 of his 25 touchdowns when teams tried to get extra pressure on him.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback Andy Dalton received a contract extension last week, but he has been very inconsistent with his level of play during his career, including a 3-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio when under pressure last season. The bigger story here should be the talent around him.
The Bengals' offensive line is among the best in the league, with Andrew Whitworth standing out both at left tackle and left guard last year. At receiver, A.J. Green represents a tough assignment for any corner, but like Dez Bryant, Green could afford to improve his hands after dropping 11 of the 109 catchable balls thrown his way in 2013.
19. Miami Dolphins
Ryan Tannehill seems to attract an unfair amount of criticism for a quarterback who took strides forward in his second year, but the talent around him remains a big question mark.
Wide receiver Brian Hartline had a solid year, finishing tied for 18th with a yards per route run average of 2.08, but Tannehill couldn't connect with Mike Wallace deep in the way many expected, with just six catches on passes traveling 20 yards or more through the air. The offensive line should benefit from the addition of Branden Albert; the former Kansas City Chief allowed just 23 total pressures last year.
20. Tennessee Titans
This offense is likely to only go as far as quarterback Jake Locker can take it, and we've seen him struggle in some areas, including completing just 43.9 percent of his passes when under pressure last season. But in fairness, he did show signs of strong play at times last season before being injured.
One player to get excited about is wide receiver Kendall Wright, who led all receivers with 694 yards from the slot last season and forced 19 missed tackles once the ball was in his hands. The Titans are going to want to make sure they get him the ball early and often in 2014.
21. New York Giants
The big thing for the Giants in 2014 will be ensuring that Eli Manning looks more like his 2012 version than his 2013 version. He struggled under pressure last year, throwing 10 interceptions when pressure got to him, tied for the second-highest total in the league.
There is plenty of talent at the skill positions, but plenty of question marks, as well, as we simply haven't seen enough of many of them to know what kind of an impact they'll have this season. But if rookie Odell Beckham Jr. can be a big-time target for Manning in his first season, this offense starts to look a lot better, given the upgrades they made along the offensive line this offseason.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If the Buccaneers are getting the Josh McCown we saw in Chicago last year, things might start to look up for this offense, but it's difficult to put too much stock into one season after we'd seen so little out of him throughout his career. Vincent Jackson leads the way at wide receiver, and the Bucs have high hopes for rookie Mike Evans opposite him, but there is very little on the depth chart behind those two.
Running back is where the offense looks its best, with Mike James and Bobby Rainey impressing when called upon and Doug Martin a year removed from rushing for 1,454 yards and forcing 53 missed tackles as a rookie.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
The good news for the Chiefs is that they have one of the best running backs in the NFL in Jamaal Charles, who racked up 1,973 yards from scrimmage and forced 63 missed tackles as a runner and a receiver in 2013.
The bad news is that they lost the two best players from their offensive line in Branden Albert and Geoff Schwartz, and are led by a quarterback in Alex Smith who completed just 47.5 percent of his passes when under pressure. With no definitive answers to the questions on the offensive line thus far, expect to see Smith under pressure plenty in 2014.
24. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens may have addressed some of the issues on their offensive line, including replacing center Gino Gradkowski, who allowed 36 total pressures last year (second most of any center), but there are still plenty of questions for the offense. As good as Joe Flacco can be when he's at the top of his game, we continue to see a very inconsistent level of play from him week to week.
One thing that may help Flacco is the return to full health for tight end Dennis Pitta, who had six touchdowns from the slot in 2012, tied for the best mark in the league.
25. Houston Texans
This was an offseason of change in Houston, but one thing that stayed the same for the Texans is that they still have one of the better offensive lines in the league, with Duane Brown, Chris Myers and Brandon Brooks leading the way.
The problems for the Texans are that they don't have an answer at the QB position (sorry, Ryan Fitzpatrick), and while they have good high-end talent at the wide receiver position (Andre Johnson had a yards per route run average of 2.30 last season, ninth best in the league, and DeAndre Hopkins showed flashes early in his rookie year) there is little depth behind them. With the likes of Keshawn Martin, Mike Thomas and DeVier Posey in reserve roles, the Texans aren't exactly well-positioned to deal with an injury to Johnson or Hopkins.
26. Cleveland Browns
The best part of the Browns' offense is their line, led by Joe Thomas, who is unquestionably the best pass-blocking left tackle in football. But they simply have too many questions elsewhere on the roster, including at the QB position; Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel have combined for just 380 regular-season snaps at this point in their careers.
The Browns look likely to lose star wide receiver Josh Gordon for at least part of the season, meaning that they need either Miles Austin or Nate Burleson to step up in a big way in their first seasons in Cleveland.
27. St. Louis Rams
The biggest problem for the Rams is at the wide receiver spot, where Kenny Britt is currently penciled in as a starter. Once upon a time Britt looked like he was ready to become one of the best receivers in the league, but since then things have looked worse and worse with each passing year. He dropped seven of the 18 catchable passes thrown his way in Tennessee last year.
Quarterback Sam Bradford has had his injury concerns, but even when he's been on the field he's struggled under pressure, completing just 38.8 percent of his passes, with one touchdown and four interceptions.
28. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders attempted to address their quarterback need by trading for Matt Schaub in the offseason, but coming off the season he had in Houston, that might not be such a good idea.
He crumbled under pressure in his final year for the Texans, tied for the lowest accuracy percentage in the league at 55.1 percent while throwing just one touchdown and five interceptions, including multiple game-ending pick-sixes. James Jones was a smart addition at wide receiver, but outside of him they are relying upon the likes of Andre Holmes to step up and make an impact.
29. Arizona Cardinals
On the surface the Arizona Cardinals have some talented pieces in place, most notably at wide receiver with Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. The offensive line, however, allowed the most pressure on a per-snap basis a year ago, with 242 total pressures from 620 passing plays.
The good news is that adding Jared Veldheer helps, as will Bobby Massie's expected return to the starting lineup at right tackle, but will it make enough of a difference? At running back it's hard not to be impressed by Andre Ellington, who forced 31 missed tackles from just 157 touches on offense, but it's fair to question whether he can be an every-down back or if he's better suited for a lower-volume, higher-impact role in which he won't be worn down by a full workload.
30. Buffalo Bills
It's too early to completely write off EJ Manuel already, but there are certainly some warning signs that he might not be the answer for the Bills at quarterback. He had the ninth-lowest accuracy percentage among quarterbacks as a rookie, and did have some big-time struggles along the way. On the plus side, there is talent in that backfield, and if they can get C.J. Spiller in space like they did in 2012 when he forced 66 missed tackles from just 250 touches on offense, big plays are likely to come. There is also some optimism in the form of rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins, but he isn't a proven commodity at this point.
31. New York Jets
Another team that struggled with a rookie quarterback in 2013, the Jets need to hope that the improvement shown by Geno Smith over the last four games of the season -- during which he looked like a much better player than we saw earlier in the year -- continues into 2014.
In the backfield they'll be expecting big things from Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory, but Johnson forced just 21 missed tackles from 279 carries last year, with the Jets likely needing to find ways to get him in space to get the most out of him. Eric Decker comes to New York after a successful start to his career in Denver, but there is very little beyond him on the receiver depth chart, and he won't have the benefit of Peyton Manning throwing to him any longer.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars' offense could wind up looking much better than this once this season begins, but right now they are a team of potential and question marks.
Luke Joeckel starts his second season at left tackle after allowing 15 total pressures from just 179 passing plays before injury cut his rookie season short, while rookie receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson find themselves in a spot where they should see plenty of early opportunities with little beyond Cecil Shorts III at wide receiver. Teams are always under pressure to play first-round rookie quarterbacks, and the pressure for the Jaguars to start No. 3 overall pick Blake Bortles will only mount if Chad Henne struggles again early in the year.
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mhughes0021
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is it just me?....or is dallas wayyyyy overrated in this ranking? I think theyre going to end up as one of the worst teams in the NFC.
sggatecl
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It was just offensive rankings. As a Lions fan, you know how far preseason offensive rankings get you.
Last edited:
mhughes0021
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ahhh gotcha...lions ranking actually makes more sense now.
tomdalton22
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yes...Dallas and the Lions will both be ranked in the bottom 1/2 of the league for defense.
Yesterday, we ranked every NFL offense and every single offensive position group. Now we turn our attention to defenses.
Below, you'll see not only where each team's defense ranks but also how each position group -- secondary, linebackers, edge rushers and interior line -- grades out against the rest of the NFL.
In order to compile the ranks, we used PFF's graded depth charts series as a starting point to grade and rank position groups throughout the league. Then, we weighted those rankings toward starters and moderated our expectations for rookies, according to the performance PFF data expects them to achieve in Year 1, by draft position.
The color-coded images at the right of every team include the team's ranking in each of the four position groups.
(To clarify: The Secondary grouping includes cornerbacks and safeties; Linebackers includes all 4-3 'backers and 3-4 ILBs; Edge Rushers includes 4-3 DEs and 3-4 OLBs; Interior Linemenincludes 4-3 DTs and all 3-4 linemen.)
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1. Seattle Seahawks
After last year's Super Bowl victory, this shouldn't be much of a surprise. But in case you needed a reminder: In Seattle's base defense, all 11 starters -- never mind the guys on the bench -- are solid or above-average players. There are only 20 players in the league who are likely to be bench guys this season that we think would rate as good starters. The Seahawks defense has two of them in DT Kevin Williams and Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith.
If there is any weakness, it is slot cornerback Jeremy Lane. He was decent in 2013, in allowing an NFL passer rating of 81.1 and defending three passes, but his inexperience showed at times. Still, Lane isn't enough to hold the Legion of Boom back from having the best secondary in the league.
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2. Kansas City Chiefs
There are 23 defensive players we consider elite. The only team with more than two is the Chiefs: Dontari Poe at nose tackle, Justin Houston at left outside linebacker and Eric Berry at strong safety. Their strongest unit is their edge rushers; there, Houston pairs with Tamba Hali. Rookie Dee Ford was just added to the mix as well. Hali led all 3-4 outside linebackers in pressures last year, with 77, while Houston's 59 pressures were seventh best, even though he missed the last five games of the regular season.
Kansas City's weakest link is the secondary. Aside from Berry, the Chiefs have mostly average defensive backs.
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3. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers make it this high on the list thanks to an excellent front seven. For the past three years, they've had Ray McDonald and Justin Smith at defensive end, Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith at outside linebacker, and Patrick Willis with NaVorro Bowman at inside linebacker. Once Bowman is healthy, those six players will be reunited.
The injury to Glenn Dorsey is potentially a big loss -- Dorsey was quietly impressive at nose tackle the past season -- but the core of an excellent defense remains intact. This should be one of the league's best units again in 2014, even as some key contributors rack up mileage.
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4. Denver Broncos
Given last year's Super Bowl performance and the Broncos' less-than-sturdy defensive reputation, it might be surprising to see them rated this high. To make our case: Denver will get Von Miller, who led the league in 2012 with 86 pressures, back this season; they added safetyT.J. Ward and pass rusher DeMarcus Ware in free agency; and DB Chris Harris also returns from injury.
This isn't a slam dunk, though, particularly considering how much the Broncos like to rotate their linemen. Their top eight players played between 300 and 800 snaps the past season. While they have some quality players along the line -- particularly Terrance Knighton -- they don't have the depth to always have multiple quality linemen on the field.
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5. New England Patriots
The Patriots' defense has been improving over the past few years. This offseason it only got better. They added arguably the league's best cornerback in Darrelle Revis. He allowed 0.72 yards per coverage snap, which was second best in the league. He is now paired with the league's best safety, Devin McCourty, who led all safeties in passes defended the past season.
They have good starters across the board in the front seven, where they're led by Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo and up-and-coming linebacker Jamie Collins. One caveat: the top four teams on the list have at least one great pass-rusher. The Pats don't have anyone who can reliably wreak havoc on opposing QBs.
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6. Buffalo Bills
The Bills' strength is in the interior of their defense. In 2013, three Bills interior linemen had at least 25 run stops. That group is led by Kyle Williams, who also had 69 pressures in '13, a top-five mark for interior linemen. Like the 49ers, Patriots and Seahawks, all 12 of the Bills' starters (crediting nickel corners as starters) have proven to be average NFL starters or better. That can't be said for 28 other NFL teams, though the season-ending injury to Kiko Alonso will hurt.
This season, they add Brandon Spikes, which will make it even more difficult for teams to run up the middle. They could have issues in the secondary, though. After losing Jairus Byrd in free agency, the Bills lack any player who excels in coverage.
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7. Carolina Panthers
The defense is led by two outstanding linebackers in Luke Kuechly andThomas Davis. That pair combined for 51 run stops, six interceptions and six passes defended last year. When their best four players are in, Carolina's defensive line is also quite formidable. They are led by Greg Hardy, who had 39 combined sacks and hits, which was third best for all players not named J.J. Watt or Robert Quinn.
While the defense has as much star power as any team up front, their secondary is a big cause for concern, given that it has lost four of its five best defensive backs.
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8. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins make it into the top fourth of the league due to their star players. Their best player on D is Cameron Wake, who had 71 pressures, fourth most among 4-3 defensive ends, despite missing games and being limited in his playing time for most of the first half of the season. They also have Brent Grimes, one of the league's most underrated corners, who had four interceptions and 14 passes defended last year and did not allow a touchdown in coverage all year. There's great rotational depth at defensive tackle here too.
On the downside, they have a few mediocre starters, and the majority of their depth is inexperienced.
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9. New Orleans Saints
Few teams have been able to turn a negative into a positive like the Saints have with their defensive backs. They invested recent high draft picks in Kenny Vaccaro and Stanley Jean-Baptiste while adding free agents Jairus Byrd, Keenan Lewis and Champ Bailey. Another big change for New Orleans was the emergence of Cameron Jordan andJunior Galette as a pass-rushing duo. Each had at least 12 sacks, 12 hits and 30 hurries.
Two of the Saints' highest paid players are Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne. Both have played two years for the team at roughly $8 million per, and neither has yet paid dividends.
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10. Green Bay Packers
The Packers are another defense that should be much improved in 2014. Their best two players, Clay Matthews and slot cornerbackCasey Hayward, played only a combined 659 snaps in 2013. Outside of Matthews, their strength is at cornerback, where they have Tramon Williams and Sam Shields. Those two allowed 57 percent and 50 percent catch rates, respectively, last season; combine them with Hayward, and you have one of the league's best secondaries.
Mike Daniels is a force inside who brought pressure on 11.7 percent of his pass rushes in 2013, sixth best for 3-4 defensive ends. While they have added a lot of draft picks and even free agents to the line, the Packers remain short on proven quality there and are waiting for players to step up.
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11. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are yet another team that will see their top two players return from injury. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins had 78 pressures in 2012, which was the second-most for any defensive tackle in a season since 2007. He was missed dearly this past season. Cincy also gets back Leon Hall, one of the league's best slot corners, who allowed 0.65 yards per coverage snap from the slot. That put him second best in 2012 before he missed time last year as well.
A number of other well-known players are mixed in among the starting lineup. Vontaze Burfict, Carlos Dunlap, Adam Jones and Reggie Nelsonwill all make a sizable impact. Still, the losses of Michael Johnson, James Harrison and Chris Crocker will hurt them, and there are some players who will need to step up in 2014.
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12. Detroit Lions
Like most teams in the middle of the pack, the Detroit defense has some assets mixed with some question marks. While Ndamukong Suh's sack numbers weren't all that high in 2013, it was his best year as a pro. With 72 pressures, he was constantly making life difficult for the quarterback. Their next best player isn't nearly as well known, but middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch had a defensive stop on 11.3 percent of his run plays, which was fifth best for middle and inside linebackers.
The Lions will be relying a lot on recent high draft picks in Ezekiel Ansah, Kyle Van Noy and Darius Slay. If all three live up to expectations, the question for the Lions might be how far in the playoffs they can go, rather than whether they can make the postseason at all.
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13. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have some aging playmakers on defense, but they have not reached the point where they've stopped making plays. Few teams are two-deep at pass rusher like Baltimore is, with Elvis Dumervil andTerrell Suggs. Both posted double-digit sacks, double-digit hits and double-digit hurries the past season. They also have a few players who are somewhat one-dimensional but very good in their respective specialties.
Haloti Ngata has continued to make things difficult for opposing running backs but wasn't as much of a force against the pass the past season as he has been previously. Daryl Smith excelled on pass plays, regardless of whether he was blitzing or dropping into coverage. Losing Arthur Jones, James Ihedigboand Corey Graham should hurt unless a number of replacements can step up.
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14. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts' ranking is helped out a lot by having Robert Mathis at outside linebacker. At the age of 33, his decline is inevitable. Still, that time has yet to come -- though he will miss the first four games of the season due to suspension.
Former Ravens Cory Redding and Arthur Jones are strong presences inside. Jones has made a run stop on one out of every 10 plays, the fourth best mark for 3-4 defensive ends. The star of their secondary isVontae Davis, who has only allowed half the passes thrown his way to be caught. Bjoern Werner is the only defensive player on the team to be drafted by the Colts in the first four rounds of the draft, and he didn't have a promising rookie year. Altogether, there is currently very little young talent to build around.
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15. New York Jets
The Jets make it this high based completely on the strength of their defensive line. While plenty has been said about Muhammad Wilkersonand Sheldon Richardson, and they deserve their due, Damon Harrisonhad a monstrous season last year on the nose without earning much fanfare. His 36 stops tied for the most among all defensive tackles. In terms of backups, Kenrick Ellis had a run stop on 15 percent of his run snaps, which was the best for all defensive or nose tackles.
The rest of the defense features a significant number of question marks and a hefty dose of questionable talent. Still, it's hard to picture an offensive line that would have much success against this defensive front.
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16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Few teams have as big a gap as the Bucs between their star players on defense and the rest of their talent. Strong arguments could be made for Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David as the best NFL players at their respective positions. But those two have had little help around them.
Only five teams have two elite defensive players. The other four rank in the top five. Although the Bucs made some good free agent additions in Michael Johnson and Alterraun Verner, this defense is still in desperate need of a better supporting case. Currently, McCoy carries almost the entire pass-rushing load.
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17. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have an odd problem on defense: Most of their top defensive talent plays the same position. At defensive end, they haveCedric Thornton, Fletcher Cox and Vinny Curry. While Curry is the backup of the three, he recorded a pressure on 14.7 percent of his pass plays, a mark that was second among 3-4 defensive ends, just behind J.J. Watt. At right outside linebacker, they have either Trent Cole or Brandon Graham on the field. While Graham is the backup there, he accumulates pressures on 11.9 percent of his pass-rush plays.
The Eagles have one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL in Brandon Boykin. But outside of Boykin, their starters grade largely average, and their backups are inexperienced almost across the board.
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18. Washington Redskins
After having one of the worst defenses in the league in 2013, Washington made moves in the right direction this offseason. Their strength was and remains their 3-4 outside linebackers. They combined for 103 pressures over the season. At defensive tackle, they had Barry Cofield, who recorded the eighth most pressures for the position at 41. Now, they've added Jason Hatcher, who had the fourth most for defensive tackles, at 51.
While they will have one of the best four-man rushes in the league, they still might have problems stopping the run as well as in coverage when the rush isn't able to pressure the quarterback.
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19. Cleveland Browns
The Browns weren't afraid to be big spenders in free agency this offseason. Those dollars should help the defense remain average. Last year, inside linebacker Karlos Dansby had 10 passes defended, which led all linebackers, while Donte Whitner had six passes defended, which tied for second most among safeties.
Returning cornerbacks Buster Skrine and Joe Haden had 15 and 12 passes defended, respectively, which were both in the top 10 for cornerbacks. All of that adds up to an impressive coverage unit for the Browns. But investments along the defensive line have yet to pay off, and they haven't been able to facilitate much of a pass rush.
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20. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are the highest-ranked team with no elite players and only one considered high-quality. The reason they stand out despite the low star power is that 10 of the 12 main contributors are average or better starters. The best player on the unit is Jurrell Casey, one of just a few interior pass-rushers to manage double-digit sacks the past season. While he plays a big part in their defensive line rankings, the team has good depth there. Only the team's shift to a new scheme could derail the impact of that unit overall.
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21. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have an interesting mix of tremendous players and areas of concern. Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu was a stud as a rookie and could be a star if he returns to full health after last season's ACL tear. Patrick Peterson is capable of manning up against the best receivers in the league. The one man on the defense we deemed elite is Calais Campbell, who had the second-highest overall PFF grade among 3-4 defensive ends.
While Campbell and Mathieu solidify the line and the secondary, respectively, there are plenty of questions at linebacker. They lostKarlos Dansby in free agency and Daryl Washington to suspension, and outside of a 36-year old John Abraham, they have lacked an edge rusher for several seasons.
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22. St. Louis Rams
You could argue the Rams' three best defensive players are defensive ends. Of course, they have defensive player of the year Robert Quinnat right and Chris Long at left end. But backup William Hayes was also incredibly impressive this past season. His run stop percentage of 10.5 was third best for the position in 2013. Adding to the abundance of riches, the next two best players are likely defensive tackles Kendall Langford and Michael Brockers. And we haven't even talked about rookie Aaron Donald, whom the Rams drafted in the first round.
But while they have a remarkable defensive line, their linebackers and defensive backs probably wouldn't be starters on most teams. Their mediocrity poses major problems for the entire unit.
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23. Oakland Raiders
The outlook for the Raiders' defense is uniquely dubious for two reasons. First, half of this year's likely starters were not on the team a year ago. Second, they are one of only five teams without an elite or high-quality starter. Top draft pick Khalil Mack could change that, but he won't be enough to solidify the unit overall. On the bright side, the Raiders have an all-new pass rush, which will consist of LaMarr Woodley, Justin Tuck, Antonio Smith and Mack.
The Oakland secondary should also be much improved. Safety Tyvon Branch missed nearly all of last year but had a 5.8 run stop percentage in 2012, which was seventh best for safeties that year.
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24. Pittsburgh Steelers
For the past several years, the best player on the Steelers has been safety Troy Polamalu. That remains true today, but neither he nor the defense is what it once was. Polamalu is still a force on his best day, and when targeted in 2013 he allowed just 52.1 percent of passes to be completed, tied for the lowest in the league among safeties with at least 35 targets. Meanwhile, as Polamalu declines, the emergence ofCameron Heyward and Jason Worilds gives the defense hope for the future.
The Steelers also invested early on defense in this year's draft. As long as they don't suffer any injuries, they should have a strong starting unit down the line. For now, though, they have either a rookie or someone with hardly any NFL experience providing the majority of their depth. An injury or two could cause major problems.
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25. Houston Texans
The Texans have defensive end J.J. Watt, who we would argue is the best player in the NFL. Watt had 54 stops against the run last year. The next most for a defensive linemen was 40. The Texans also should have a healthy Brian Cushing at inside linebacker, and first overall pickJadeveon Clowney can only help their pass rush.
But they only have four starters who were considered average or better the past season. Only three defensive players drafted in 2012 and 2013 remain on the roster -- and none of those three has yet lived up to expectations.
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26. New York Giants
The strength of the Giants is in a secondary that will look very different from last year's. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was added to the roster; he instantly becomes their best player on defense. Only 44.1 percent of passes thrown his way were caught last season, which was second best in the league, behind only new teammate Trumaine McBride, who allowed 43.8 percent. They also have Stevie Brownreturning from injury; he had eight interceptions in 2012. The losses ofJustin Tuck and Linval Joseph will hurt their defensive line, though DTJohnathan Hankins has flashed ability and could step up.
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27. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have been trying to get tougher on both sides of the ball. They have a long way to go to be good enough on defense. This summer, they spent three picks in the first four rounds of the draft on defensive players who might not pay immediate dividends but should help in the long run.
On the sunny side of things, they have three players who rank as good starters or better, all of whom were added within the past 18 months. Cornerback Desmond Trufant had a league-leading 15 passes defended as a rookie. The Falcons also added two linemen who specialize in stopping the run in Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai. All the same, the Falcons need some young players to step up to move up the defense rankings.
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28. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers' 2013 season was filled with great play on offense and some subpar play on defense. But there's reason to believe the unit will be better in 2014. OLB Dwight Freeney returns after achieving 19 pressures on 112 pass rushes before getting hurt the past season. At this point in his career, there's no guarantee he'll stay healthy.
While they had some trouble at cornerback, the additions of Brandon Flowers in free agency and Jason Verrett in the draft should help. For the most part, the defense is full of players who have yet to distinguish themselves as starters. But most are still young enough to improve.
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29. Minnesota Vikings
This offseason, the Vikings took some steps forward and a few back. Two of their best players on defense will be new additions Captain Munnerlyn and Linval Joseph. Munnerlyn was the only cornerback last year to be targeted more than 60 times and not allow a single touchdown. The addition of rookie pass-rusher Anthony Barr is also intriguing.
But the Vikes lost long-time stars Jared Allen and Kevin Williams, and let go of Erin Henderson, their best linebacker. That linebacking corps could be quite weak as a result. They have gotten younger on defense and have a few pieces of the puzzle, but they still need to find out if some of their young players are a fit to complete the picture.
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30. Chicago Bears
The Bears have five defensive players who are above-average starters but none who currently grades as elite or high-quality. They added the top two 4-3 defensive ends in run stop percentage this offseason inLamarr Houston, at 10.3 percent, and Willie Young, at 9.9 percent. The other three above-average starters are Tim Jennings, Lance Briggs andCharles Tillman -- who are 30, 33 and 33, respectfully.
Things get a lot more unconvincing after those five. While the Bears have built a strong offense, they haven't hit on too many defensive draft picks in the past decade. Most of their successes in the draft are now playing for other teams. We'll see if first-round rookie corner Kyle Fuller can buck that trend.
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31. Jacksonville Jaguars
In 2013, the Jaguars lacked star power, put a lot of young players on the field and hoped a few would show enough to stick. CornerbackAlan Ball proved up to the challenge; he had 13 passes defended on the year, good for sixth most in the NFL. A few young players were also able to play well enough to grade out as average starters. Then, in free agency, they added Red Bryant and Chris Clemons and made major upgrades to the defensive end position in the process.
Although they lack the big star that most defenses have, the Jags have taken steps in the right direction and could leap up the rankings if a few more youngsters emerge in 2014.
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32. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas had statistically one of the league's worst defenses in 2013. Then they lost their three best players this offseason. Jason Hatcherand DeMarcus Ware left for greener pastures, while Sean Lee suffered another injury and was shut down practically before a pad had been strapped on. The average team has 4.5 good starters or better on the defense, but the Cowboys currently have just one.
If there is hope for this defense, it comes on the defensive line. They added Henry Melton, who was one of the best pass-rushing interior linemen in 2012 before he got hurt in 2013. Defensive lineman Jeremy Mincey will also serve as an upgrade. Anthony Spencer sets the edge well and is a quality player when healthy. There are just too many question marks here overall, though.
Below, you'll see not only where each team's defense ranks but also how each position group -- secondary, linebackers, edge rushers and interior line -- grades out against the rest of the NFL.
In order to compile the ranks, we used PFF's graded depth charts series as a starting point to grade and rank position groups throughout the league. Then, we weighted those rankings toward starters and moderated our expectations for rookies, according to the performance PFF data expects them to achieve in Year 1, by draft position.
The color-coded images at the right of every team include the team's ranking in each of the four position groups.
(To clarify: The Secondary grouping includes cornerbacks and safeties; Linebackers includes all 4-3 'backers and 3-4 ILBs; Edge Rushers includes 4-3 DEs and 3-4 OLBs; Interior Linemenincludes 4-3 DTs and all 3-4 linemen.)
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1. Seattle Seahawks
After last year's Super Bowl victory, this shouldn't be much of a surprise. But in case you needed a reminder: In Seattle's base defense, all 11 starters -- never mind the guys on the bench -- are solid or above-average players. There are only 20 players in the league who are likely to be bench guys this season that we think would rate as good starters. The Seahawks defense has two of them in DT Kevin Williams and Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith.
If there is any weakness, it is slot cornerback Jeremy Lane. He was decent in 2013, in allowing an NFL passer rating of 81.1 and defending three passes, but his inexperience showed at times. Still, Lane isn't enough to hold the Legion of Boom back from having the best secondary in the league.
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2. Kansas City Chiefs
There are 23 defensive players we consider elite. The only team with more than two is the Chiefs: Dontari Poe at nose tackle, Justin Houston at left outside linebacker and Eric Berry at strong safety. Their strongest unit is their edge rushers; there, Houston pairs with Tamba Hali. Rookie Dee Ford was just added to the mix as well. Hali led all 3-4 outside linebackers in pressures last year, with 77, while Houston's 59 pressures were seventh best, even though he missed the last five games of the regular season.
Kansas City's weakest link is the secondary. Aside from Berry, the Chiefs have mostly average defensive backs.
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3. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers make it this high on the list thanks to an excellent front seven. For the past three years, they've had Ray McDonald and Justin Smith at defensive end, Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith at outside linebacker, and Patrick Willis with NaVorro Bowman at inside linebacker. Once Bowman is healthy, those six players will be reunited.
The injury to Glenn Dorsey is potentially a big loss -- Dorsey was quietly impressive at nose tackle the past season -- but the core of an excellent defense remains intact. This should be one of the league's best units again in 2014, even as some key contributors rack up mileage.
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4. Denver Broncos
Given last year's Super Bowl performance and the Broncos' less-than-sturdy defensive reputation, it might be surprising to see them rated this high. To make our case: Denver will get Von Miller, who led the league in 2012 with 86 pressures, back this season; they added safetyT.J. Ward and pass rusher DeMarcus Ware in free agency; and DB Chris Harris also returns from injury.
This isn't a slam dunk, though, particularly considering how much the Broncos like to rotate their linemen. Their top eight players played between 300 and 800 snaps the past season. While they have some quality players along the line -- particularly Terrance Knighton -- they don't have the depth to always have multiple quality linemen on the field.
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5. New England Patriots
The Patriots' defense has been improving over the past few years. This offseason it only got better. They added arguably the league's best cornerback in Darrelle Revis. He allowed 0.72 yards per coverage snap, which was second best in the league. He is now paired with the league's best safety, Devin McCourty, who led all safeties in passes defended the past season.
They have good starters across the board in the front seven, where they're led by Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo and up-and-coming linebacker Jamie Collins. One caveat: the top four teams on the list have at least one great pass-rusher. The Pats don't have anyone who can reliably wreak havoc on opposing QBs.
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6. Buffalo Bills
The Bills' strength is in the interior of their defense. In 2013, three Bills interior linemen had at least 25 run stops. That group is led by Kyle Williams, who also had 69 pressures in '13, a top-five mark for interior linemen. Like the 49ers, Patriots and Seahawks, all 12 of the Bills' starters (crediting nickel corners as starters) have proven to be average NFL starters or better. That can't be said for 28 other NFL teams, though the season-ending injury to Kiko Alonso will hurt.
This season, they add Brandon Spikes, which will make it even more difficult for teams to run up the middle. They could have issues in the secondary, though. After losing Jairus Byrd in free agency, the Bills lack any player who excels in coverage.
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7. Carolina Panthers
The defense is led by two outstanding linebackers in Luke Kuechly andThomas Davis. That pair combined for 51 run stops, six interceptions and six passes defended last year. When their best four players are in, Carolina's defensive line is also quite formidable. They are led by Greg Hardy, who had 39 combined sacks and hits, which was third best for all players not named J.J. Watt or Robert Quinn.
While the defense has as much star power as any team up front, their secondary is a big cause for concern, given that it has lost four of its five best defensive backs.
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8. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins make it into the top fourth of the league due to their star players. Their best player on D is Cameron Wake, who had 71 pressures, fourth most among 4-3 defensive ends, despite missing games and being limited in his playing time for most of the first half of the season. They also have Brent Grimes, one of the league's most underrated corners, who had four interceptions and 14 passes defended last year and did not allow a touchdown in coverage all year. There's great rotational depth at defensive tackle here too.
On the downside, they have a few mediocre starters, and the majority of their depth is inexperienced.
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9. New Orleans Saints
Few teams have been able to turn a negative into a positive like the Saints have with their defensive backs. They invested recent high draft picks in Kenny Vaccaro and Stanley Jean-Baptiste while adding free agents Jairus Byrd, Keenan Lewis and Champ Bailey. Another big change for New Orleans was the emergence of Cameron Jordan andJunior Galette as a pass-rushing duo. Each had at least 12 sacks, 12 hits and 30 hurries.
Two of the Saints' highest paid players are Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne. Both have played two years for the team at roughly $8 million per, and neither has yet paid dividends.
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10. Green Bay Packers
The Packers are another defense that should be much improved in 2014. Their best two players, Clay Matthews and slot cornerbackCasey Hayward, played only a combined 659 snaps in 2013. Outside of Matthews, their strength is at cornerback, where they have Tramon Williams and Sam Shields. Those two allowed 57 percent and 50 percent catch rates, respectively, last season; combine them with Hayward, and you have one of the league's best secondaries.
Mike Daniels is a force inside who brought pressure on 11.7 percent of his pass rushes in 2013, sixth best for 3-4 defensive ends. While they have added a lot of draft picks and even free agents to the line, the Packers remain short on proven quality there and are waiting for players to step up.
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11. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are yet another team that will see their top two players return from injury. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins had 78 pressures in 2012, which was the second-most for any defensive tackle in a season since 2007. He was missed dearly this past season. Cincy also gets back Leon Hall, one of the league's best slot corners, who allowed 0.65 yards per coverage snap from the slot. That put him second best in 2012 before he missed time last year as well.
A number of other well-known players are mixed in among the starting lineup. Vontaze Burfict, Carlos Dunlap, Adam Jones and Reggie Nelsonwill all make a sizable impact. Still, the losses of Michael Johnson, James Harrison and Chris Crocker will hurt them, and there are some players who will need to step up in 2014.
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12. Detroit Lions
Like most teams in the middle of the pack, the Detroit defense has some assets mixed with some question marks. While Ndamukong Suh's sack numbers weren't all that high in 2013, it was his best year as a pro. With 72 pressures, he was constantly making life difficult for the quarterback. Their next best player isn't nearly as well known, but middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch had a defensive stop on 11.3 percent of his run plays, which was fifth best for middle and inside linebackers.
The Lions will be relying a lot on recent high draft picks in Ezekiel Ansah, Kyle Van Noy and Darius Slay. If all three live up to expectations, the question for the Lions might be how far in the playoffs they can go, rather than whether they can make the postseason at all.
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13. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have some aging playmakers on defense, but they have not reached the point where they've stopped making plays. Few teams are two-deep at pass rusher like Baltimore is, with Elvis Dumervil andTerrell Suggs. Both posted double-digit sacks, double-digit hits and double-digit hurries the past season. They also have a few players who are somewhat one-dimensional but very good in their respective specialties.
Haloti Ngata has continued to make things difficult for opposing running backs but wasn't as much of a force against the pass the past season as he has been previously. Daryl Smith excelled on pass plays, regardless of whether he was blitzing or dropping into coverage. Losing Arthur Jones, James Ihedigboand Corey Graham should hurt unless a number of replacements can step up.
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14. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts' ranking is helped out a lot by having Robert Mathis at outside linebacker. At the age of 33, his decline is inevitable. Still, that time has yet to come -- though he will miss the first four games of the season due to suspension.
Former Ravens Cory Redding and Arthur Jones are strong presences inside. Jones has made a run stop on one out of every 10 plays, the fourth best mark for 3-4 defensive ends. The star of their secondary isVontae Davis, who has only allowed half the passes thrown his way to be caught. Bjoern Werner is the only defensive player on the team to be drafted by the Colts in the first four rounds of the draft, and he didn't have a promising rookie year. Altogether, there is currently very little young talent to build around.
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15. New York Jets
The Jets make it this high based completely on the strength of their defensive line. While plenty has been said about Muhammad Wilkersonand Sheldon Richardson, and they deserve their due, Damon Harrisonhad a monstrous season last year on the nose without earning much fanfare. His 36 stops tied for the most among all defensive tackles. In terms of backups, Kenrick Ellis had a run stop on 15 percent of his run snaps, which was the best for all defensive or nose tackles.
The rest of the defense features a significant number of question marks and a hefty dose of questionable talent. Still, it's hard to picture an offensive line that would have much success against this defensive front.
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16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Few teams have as big a gap as the Bucs between their star players on defense and the rest of their talent. Strong arguments could be made for Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David as the best NFL players at their respective positions. But those two have had little help around them.
Only five teams have two elite defensive players. The other four rank in the top five. Although the Bucs made some good free agent additions in Michael Johnson and Alterraun Verner, this defense is still in desperate need of a better supporting case. Currently, McCoy carries almost the entire pass-rushing load.
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17. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have an odd problem on defense: Most of their top defensive talent plays the same position. At defensive end, they haveCedric Thornton, Fletcher Cox and Vinny Curry. While Curry is the backup of the three, he recorded a pressure on 14.7 percent of his pass plays, a mark that was second among 3-4 defensive ends, just behind J.J. Watt. At right outside linebacker, they have either Trent Cole or Brandon Graham on the field. While Graham is the backup there, he accumulates pressures on 11.9 percent of his pass-rush plays.
The Eagles have one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL in Brandon Boykin. But outside of Boykin, their starters grade largely average, and their backups are inexperienced almost across the board.
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18. Washington Redskins
After having one of the worst defenses in the league in 2013, Washington made moves in the right direction this offseason. Their strength was and remains their 3-4 outside linebackers. They combined for 103 pressures over the season. At defensive tackle, they had Barry Cofield, who recorded the eighth most pressures for the position at 41. Now, they've added Jason Hatcher, who had the fourth most for defensive tackles, at 51.
While they will have one of the best four-man rushes in the league, they still might have problems stopping the run as well as in coverage when the rush isn't able to pressure the quarterback.
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19. Cleveland Browns
The Browns weren't afraid to be big spenders in free agency this offseason. Those dollars should help the defense remain average. Last year, inside linebacker Karlos Dansby had 10 passes defended, which led all linebackers, while Donte Whitner had six passes defended, which tied for second most among safeties.
Returning cornerbacks Buster Skrine and Joe Haden had 15 and 12 passes defended, respectively, which were both in the top 10 for cornerbacks. All of that adds up to an impressive coverage unit for the Browns. But investments along the defensive line have yet to pay off, and they haven't been able to facilitate much of a pass rush.
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20. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are the highest-ranked team with no elite players and only one considered high-quality. The reason they stand out despite the low star power is that 10 of the 12 main contributors are average or better starters. The best player on the unit is Jurrell Casey, one of just a few interior pass-rushers to manage double-digit sacks the past season. While he plays a big part in their defensive line rankings, the team has good depth there. Only the team's shift to a new scheme could derail the impact of that unit overall.
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21. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have an interesting mix of tremendous players and areas of concern. Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu was a stud as a rookie and could be a star if he returns to full health after last season's ACL tear. Patrick Peterson is capable of manning up against the best receivers in the league. The one man on the defense we deemed elite is Calais Campbell, who had the second-highest overall PFF grade among 3-4 defensive ends.
While Campbell and Mathieu solidify the line and the secondary, respectively, there are plenty of questions at linebacker. They lostKarlos Dansby in free agency and Daryl Washington to suspension, and outside of a 36-year old John Abraham, they have lacked an edge rusher for several seasons.
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22. St. Louis Rams
You could argue the Rams' three best defensive players are defensive ends. Of course, they have defensive player of the year Robert Quinnat right and Chris Long at left end. But backup William Hayes was also incredibly impressive this past season. His run stop percentage of 10.5 was third best for the position in 2013. Adding to the abundance of riches, the next two best players are likely defensive tackles Kendall Langford and Michael Brockers. And we haven't even talked about rookie Aaron Donald, whom the Rams drafted in the first round.
But while they have a remarkable defensive line, their linebackers and defensive backs probably wouldn't be starters on most teams. Their mediocrity poses major problems for the entire unit.
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23. Oakland Raiders
The outlook for the Raiders' defense is uniquely dubious for two reasons. First, half of this year's likely starters were not on the team a year ago. Second, they are one of only five teams without an elite or high-quality starter. Top draft pick Khalil Mack could change that, but he won't be enough to solidify the unit overall. On the bright side, the Raiders have an all-new pass rush, which will consist of LaMarr Woodley, Justin Tuck, Antonio Smith and Mack.
The Oakland secondary should also be much improved. Safety Tyvon Branch missed nearly all of last year but had a 5.8 run stop percentage in 2012, which was seventh best for safeties that year.
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24. Pittsburgh Steelers
For the past several years, the best player on the Steelers has been safety Troy Polamalu. That remains true today, but neither he nor the defense is what it once was. Polamalu is still a force on his best day, and when targeted in 2013 he allowed just 52.1 percent of passes to be completed, tied for the lowest in the league among safeties with at least 35 targets. Meanwhile, as Polamalu declines, the emergence ofCameron Heyward and Jason Worilds gives the defense hope for the future.
The Steelers also invested early on defense in this year's draft. As long as they don't suffer any injuries, they should have a strong starting unit down the line. For now, though, they have either a rookie or someone with hardly any NFL experience providing the majority of their depth. An injury or two could cause major problems.
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25. Houston Texans
The Texans have defensive end J.J. Watt, who we would argue is the best player in the NFL. Watt had 54 stops against the run last year. The next most for a defensive linemen was 40. The Texans also should have a healthy Brian Cushing at inside linebacker, and first overall pickJadeveon Clowney can only help their pass rush.
But they only have four starters who were considered average or better the past season. Only three defensive players drafted in 2012 and 2013 remain on the roster -- and none of those three has yet lived up to expectations.
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26. New York Giants
The strength of the Giants is in a secondary that will look very different from last year's. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was added to the roster; he instantly becomes their best player on defense. Only 44.1 percent of passes thrown his way were caught last season, which was second best in the league, behind only new teammate Trumaine McBride, who allowed 43.8 percent. They also have Stevie Brownreturning from injury; he had eight interceptions in 2012. The losses ofJustin Tuck and Linval Joseph will hurt their defensive line, though DTJohnathan Hankins has flashed ability and could step up.
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27. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have been trying to get tougher on both sides of the ball. They have a long way to go to be good enough on defense. This summer, they spent three picks in the first four rounds of the draft on defensive players who might not pay immediate dividends but should help in the long run.
On the sunny side of things, they have three players who rank as good starters or better, all of whom were added within the past 18 months. Cornerback Desmond Trufant had a league-leading 15 passes defended as a rookie. The Falcons also added two linemen who specialize in stopping the run in Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai. All the same, the Falcons need some young players to step up to move up the defense rankings.
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28. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers' 2013 season was filled with great play on offense and some subpar play on defense. But there's reason to believe the unit will be better in 2014. OLB Dwight Freeney returns after achieving 19 pressures on 112 pass rushes before getting hurt the past season. At this point in his career, there's no guarantee he'll stay healthy.
While they had some trouble at cornerback, the additions of Brandon Flowers in free agency and Jason Verrett in the draft should help. For the most part, the defense is full of players who have yet to distinguish themselves as starters. But most are still young enough to improve.
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29. Minnesota Vikings
This offseason, the Vikings took some steps forward and a few back. Two of their best players on defense will be new additions Captain Munnerlyn and Linval Joseph. Munnerlyn was the only cornerback last year to be targeted more than 60 times and not allow a single touchdown. The addition of rookie pass-rusher Anthony Barr is also intriguing.
But the Vikes lost long-time stars Jared Allen and Kevin Williams, and let go of Erin Henderson, their best linebacker. That linebacking corps could be quite weak as a result. They have gotten younger on defense and have a few pieces of the puzzle, but they still need to find out if some of their young players are a fit to complete the picture.
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30. Chicago Bears
The Bears have five defensive players who are above-average starters but none who currently grades as elite or high-quality. They added the top two 4-3 defensive ends in run stop percentage this offseason inLamarr Houston, at 10.3 percent, and Willie Young, at 9.9 percent. The other three above-average starters are Tim Jennings, Lance Briggs andCharles Tillman -- who are 30, 33 and 33, respectfully.
Things get a lot more unconvincing after those five. While the Bears have built a strong offense, they haven't hit on too many defensive draft picks in the past decade. Most of their successes in the draft are now playing for other teams. We'll see if first-round rookie corner Kyle Fuller can buck that trend.
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31. Jacksonville Jaguars
In 2013, the Jaguars lacked star power, put a lot of young players on the field and hoped a few would show enough to stick. CornerbackAlan Ball proved up to the challenge; he had 13 passes defended on the year, good for sixth most in the NFL. A few young players were also able to play well enough to grade out as average starters. Then, in free agency, they added Red Bryant and Chris Clemons and made major upgrades to the defensive end position in the process.
Although they lack the big star that most defenses have, the Jags have taken steps in the right direction and could leap up the rankings if a few more youngsters emerge in 2014.
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32. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas had statistically one of the league's worst defenses in 2013. Then they lost their three best players this offseason. Jason Hatcherand DeMarcus Ware left for greener pastures, while Sean Lee suffered another injury and was shut down practically before a pad had been strapped on. The average team has 4.5 good starters or better on the defense, but the Cowboys currently have just one.
If there is hope for this defense, it comes on the defensive line. They added Henry Melton, who was one of the best pass-rushing interior linemen in 2012 before he got hurt in 2013. Defensive lineman Jeremy Mincey will also serve as an upgrade. Anthony Spencer sets the edge well and is a quality player when healthy. There are just too many question marks here overall, though.
- Thread Author
- #11
dtroitlionsfan951
Well-known member
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- Aug 3, 2011
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- 2,324
The D could be that high. Sure he secondary lags but the front 7 has some serious potential. If they ever reach it who knows.
Well, for as much as this team has poured into that defensive line, they were one of the worst in the league last year. They have to make a serious, serious jump. And the fact that one of the key contributors has been demoted to the second team is scary.
sggatecl
Senior Member
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Keep in mind this list is heavily weighted towards teams with 1 or 2 elite players in their starting lineup. Not every team has one so the Vikings with AP and the Lions with Calvin get an extra jolt.
(Stafford) posted a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3-to-7 on the 165 passes he attempted while feeling the heat in 2013.
Waiting for LKP to provide Stafford's ranking relative to the other QBs in the league to make me once again feel all warm and fuzzy. 23-0...just 22 more games until it is in the books!
Waiting for LKP to provide Stafford's ranking relative to the other QBs in the league to make me once again feel all warm and fuzzy. 23-0...just 22 more games until it is in the books!
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/total/sort/totalPointsPerGame/position/defense
15th in PPG. 1st in 3rd down stop %. Top 5 in total pressure.
They were far from one of the worst defenses last year. They were good but gave up a few too many big plays. Some of that due to an injured number 1 CB.
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If 20 you mean 26 then yes.
tomdalton22
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Some of it due to Houston and others due to the guys that are still on the team.
tonyballs
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Wasn't the D 16th last year?
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