The 2023 season saw some great defenses play strong and fierce as advertised while other defenses struggled and fell flat during the final push towards the playoffs. Other defenses need to hit the reset button for the upcoming offseason if they want to have a fresh 2024 regular season.
Here are the final grades for all 32 NFL Team Defenses:
Arizona Cardinals: D+
The Cardinals’ defense had a tough season, as the Red Birds finished with a second consecutive 4-13 record. Budda Baker was the only Pro Bowler on the Cardinals and he had 87 tackles on the season. The Cardinals need to supply Baker with stronger defensive teammates, for him to work with. If not, they’ll end up having another disappointing 2024 season in the desert.
Atlanta Falcons: C-
The Falcons’ defense wasn’t anything spectacular. but Jessie Bates III had an outstanding season in Atlanta, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. The Falcons also saw some good production from Calais Campbell who had 56 tackles, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The Falcons need to add more defensive star-like playmakers to help support Bates III, if they wish to improve in 2024.
Baltimore Ravens: A-
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The Ravens’ defense looked solid and fierce as they dominated opponents all season long. Kyle Hamilton, Patrick Queen, Roquan Smith, and Geno Stone looked excellent, squaring up against the best offenses in the league and looking to strike fear in opponents in the playoffs and for years.
Buffalo Bills: B-
The Bills’ defense had a strong 2023 season, as they helped the team secure the AFC East crown and a home playoff game. Terrel Bernard led the team in tackles with 143 tackles, Leonard Floyd led the team with 10.5 sacks, and Rasul Douglas led the team with four interceptions. The Bills’ defense is a strong unit with a lot of grit and charisma that can get the job done against opposing offenses.
Carolina Panthers: F
The Panthers’ defense was completely nonexistent in the 2023 season. Frank Luvu led the team with 125 tackles, Brian Burns had eight sacks, and the team had eight interceptions all season long. Carolina needs to sign and draft stronger defensive talent, all around, if they want to put more pressure on opposing offenses in 2024.
Chicago Bears: C+
The Bears might have been mediocre at best, on offense, but the defense took a step in the right direction when the team traded for Montez Sweat. Sweat led the Bears with six sacks on the season and looks to continue being a game-changer for Chicago for many years to come. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson also earned his first Pro Bowl nod and played a very significant role in the Bears’ secondary on defense. Things are possibly looking up for the Bears’ defense.
Cincinnati Bengals: C+
The Bengals’ defense was nothing out of the ordinary, but they did have some good moments in the 2023 season. Trey Hendrickson made his third straight Pro Bowl appearance while Logan Wilson led the team with 135 tackles and four interceptions. The Bengals’ defense will be fine if they play their cards right against their AFC North rivals in 2024, by winning more divisional games.
Cleveland Browns: A-
The Browns’ defense was something to behold in the 2023 season. They terrorized opposing offenses and got key wins over heavy Super Bowl-favored teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward both made the Pro Bowl while Garrett led the team with 14 sacks. Also, give veteran defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz credit for bringing a strong winning attitude to the team, as they continue to pulverize opposing offenses, for a long time to come.
Dallas Cowboys: B+
The Cowboys’ defense had a very strong 2023 season. Micah Parsons led Dallas with 14 sacks while DeRon Bland had nine interceptions as both men earned Pro Bowl nods. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has one of football’s best defenses, finishing out the 2023 season, as this team gets themselves set for the playoffs and more.
Denver Broncos: C+
The Broncos’ defense started the 2023 season sluggish, but started to slowly progress and play very well against playoff-caliber teams like the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, and Green Bay Packers, respectively. Patrick Surtan II and Justin Simmons both earned nods to the Pro Bowl, Jonathan Cooper led the team with 8.5 sacks, and Simmons led the Broncos with three interceptions. The Broncos’ defense can only get better from here, if they want to return to the 2015 peak- when Von Miller was on the team.
Detroit Lions: B+
The Lions’ defense looked fierce during the 2023 season, as they secured first place in the NFC North and earned their first home playoff game since 1994. Aidan Hutchinson led the Lions with 11.5 sacks and earned a nod to the Pro Bowl while Kerby Joseph led the team with four interceptions and Alex Azalone had 129 tackles. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn deserves a lot of credit for making this Lions’ defense very aggressive, all season long, as they look to strike fear in opposing offenses for years to come.
Green Bay Packers: C+
The Packers’ defense may not have had much star power, rather they had players prove they belong in a very competitive NFC North. Rashan Gary led the Packers with nine sacks while Quay Walker had 118 tackles. The Packers’ defense needs to add one or two more star cornerbacks or safeties, if they want to bring their defense back to championship form in 2024.
Houston Texans: B-
The Texans’ defense had a solid 2023 season under head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke’s leadership, despite not having any Pro Bowlers on defense this season. Blake Cashman had 106 tackles, Jonathan Greenard led the team with 12.5 sacks, and Derek Stingley Jr. had five interceptions. Stingley Jr. looks to be the guy who can have a potential breakout season, if he and the Texans’ defense continue to play strong and aggressively, in an ever-so-competitive AFC South conference.
Indianapolis Colts: C+
The Colts’ defense had a somewhat respectable season, despite not having any defensive Pro Bowlers in 2023. Zaire Franklin led the team with 179 tackles, Samson Ebukam led the team with 9.5 sacks, and Julian Blackmon had four interceptions on the year. The Colts shockingly released star linebacker Shaquille Leonard after he expressed his frustration with the Colts coaching staff, for limiting his role with the team. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Will the Colts have a better 2024? Only time will tell, as they continue trying to improve, in a competitive AFC South.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C-
The Jaguars’ defense played decent ball, despite a late-season four-game losing streak, which ultimately cost the Jaguars a playoff spot and control of the AFC South. Josh Allen made the Pro Bowl and led the team with 17.5 sacks. The rest of the defense needs to step up and put more pressure on opposing offenses, if they want to get back on track in 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs: B-
The Chiefs’ defense continued to play well, despite the team going 4-4 after their week 10 bye week. Chris Jones had 10.5 sacks while Justin Reid led the team with 95 tackles. Jones is set to be an unrestricted free agent, in the 2024 offseason, as the Chiefs need to find a way to bring him back or find another big-name defensive star to come to Kansas City. If that fails, they need to draft and develop another defensive star. for the 2024 season.
Las Vegas Raiders: C
The Raiders’ defense is a good unit, but they ultimately missed out on the playoffs. Maxx Crosby and Jack Jones played very well in the Raiders’ defense with Crosby making the Pro Bowl. However, Jones and Crosby both want interim head coach Antonio Pierce to be promoted to head coach, otherwise they’ll request trades out of Sin City. Make Antonio Pierce the full-time head coach- Raiders!
Los Angeles Chargers: C-
The Chargers’ defense had a decent season, with Khalil Mack earning a Pro Bowl nod with 17 sacks. Derwin James Jr. had 125 tackles and Asante Samuel Jr. had a decent season, as well. The Chargers have defensive talent that just needs a new head coach to command the defense. Derrick Ansley is a good defensive coordinator, along with linebackers coach Giff Smith, who should stick with the team as an assistant coach, for 2024.
Los Angeles Rams: B
The Rams’ defense has a solid season under their belt, improving from their 2022 season. Aaron Donald dominated, with eight sacks on the season and a Pro Bowl nod. Jordan Fuller led the team with three interceptions and Ernest Jones led the team with 145 tackles. Fuller is set to become a free agent in 2024. The Rams need to add more youth to the defense to support Donald and keep the unit intact for an even better 2024 season.
Miami Dolphins: B-
The Dolphins defense had a decent 2023 season, but the unit got better when Jalen Ramsey came back from injury and helped the team out, in a big way. David Long Jr. led the team with 113 tackles, and Bradley Chubb led the team with 11 sacks but his season ended prematurely due to a torn ACL injury he suffered in week 17 during the team’s 19-56 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Ramsey led the team with three interceptions. Losing Chubb before the playoffs started certainly hurt. The Dolphins need to add more star power on defense if they want to make a strong push for the AFC East crown and a possible Super Bowl appearance in 2024 and beyond.
Minnesota Vikings: C-
The Vikings’ defense had an above-average 2023 season, as Danielle Hunter earned a Pro Bowl nod and led the team with 16.5 sacks. Camryn Bynum had 137 tackles, and Byron Murphy Jr. led the team with three interceptions. Hunter, Anthony Barr, and Sheldon Day are big names on the Vikings’ defense, who are set to become free agents in 2024. If the Vikings lose Hunter in free agency, it’s going to sting. The Vikings need to find a way to re-sign Hunter or replace him with a linebacker, who is just as talented.
New England Patriots: D-
The Patriots’ defense had a very tough 2023 season, as they were clobbered and crushed in a majority of their games. Matthew Judon and rookie Christian Gonzalez played very well before suffering season ending injuries. Ja’Whaun Bentley led the team with 114 tackles and Christan Barmore led the team with 8.5 sacks. With Bill Belichick gone and Jerod Mayo in as the new head coach, it is time for the Patriots to truly rebuild under new leadership. Jalen Mills, Myles Bryant, and Mack Wilson are notable names set to become free agents in 2024. Mayo has a lot of work to do if he wants to resurrect the Pats’ defense for 2024 but he does have Judon and Gonzalez returning to full strength in 2024.
New Orleans Saints: C+
The Saints’ defense played a solid season, but ultimately fell short of the playoffs, at the very end. Demario Davis led the team with 121 tackles, Carl Granderson led the team with 8.5 sacks, and Paulson Adebo led the team with four interceptions. Davis was named a second-team all-pro as he and the Saints look to keep improving in the 2024 season. Zach Baum and Johnathan Abram are notable names, set to become free agents in 2024 as the Saints need to get things going if they want to return to the playoffs.
New York Giants: D
The Giants’ defense have a lot to fix for the upcoming 2024 season. The team couldn’t close games out against tough opponents. They need more Pro Bowl-like talent on the backfield. Dexter Lawrence had a good season, and was named to his second Pro Bowl while Kayon Thibodeaux led the team with 11.5 sacks. Cam Brown, Isaiah Simmons, and Adorre’ Jackson are set to become free agents in 2024, as the team looks to rebuild their defense for the upcoming season.
New York Jets: C+
The shining star for the 2023 Jets, was their defense. C.J. Mosley led the team with 151 tackles, Bryce Huff had 10 sacks, and Jordan Whitehead had four interceptions. Sauce Gardner and Quincy Williams both earned Pro Bowl nods, as the team looks to improve even further on defense in 2024. Whitehead and Bryce Hall are going to be notable free agents come 2024. The team needs to find a way to keep at least one of them on the roster.
Philadelphia Eagles: B-
The Eagles’ defense continued to be a strong force, despite the team finishing 3-5 in the later part of the season. Haason Reddick had a strong season with 11 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl and Reed Blankenship led the team with 113 tackles and three interceptions. The Eagles’ defense needs to build upon their 2023 season and play even stronger for the 2024 season- if they want to possibly return to the Super Bowl and beyond.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B
The Steelers’ defense was the main reason why the team stayed afloat in a very competitive AFC North and punched their ticket to the playoffs as well. T.J. Watt had an outstanding season as he led the team with 19 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl but ended up hurting his MCL during the team’s week 18 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Kwon Alexander and Levi Wallace are two notable names that are set to become free agents in the 2024 season as the Steelers look to continue solidifying their defense for years to come under Watt’s leadership.
San Francisco 49ers: A-
The 49ers’ defense had an incredible 2023 season, as Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Fred Warner, and Charvarius Ward were named to the Pro Bowl. Warner led the team with 132 tackles, Bosa led the team with 10.5 sacks, and Ward had five interceptions. The 49ers got even scarier when they added Chase Young, to the mix, before the trade deadline as the continued to terrorize opposing offenses- for years to come.
Seattle Seahawks: B-
The best thing about the Seahawks is, and will most likely always be, their defense. Devon Witherspoon, Bobby Wagner, and Julian were named to the Pro Bowl. Wagner led the team with 183 tackles, Boye Mafe led the team with nine sacks, and Love led the team with four interceptions. Wagner is set to become a free agent in 2024 and he has no plans to retire anytime soon. It is uncertain whether he’ll return to Seattle or not next season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B-
The Buccaneers’ defense played well, as they helped the team win the NFC South and return to the playoffs, for a fourth straight season. Lavonte David led the team with 134 tackles, Yaya Diaby led the team with 7.5 sacks, and Antonie Winfield Jr. led the team with three interceptions. David, Winfield Jr. and Devin White are all scheduled to become free agents in 2024. These notable names may not be back in Tampa for the 2024 season. The Bucs need to possibly replace them via free agency or through the 2024 NFL Draft.
Tennessee Titans: D+
The Titans’ defense had an average showing in the 2023 season, as the team finished with a 6-11 record. Azeez Al-Shaair led the team with 163 tackles and Denico Autry led the team with 11.5 sacks. Al-Shaair and Sean Murphy-Bunting are two notable free agents in 2024. The Titans need to patch things up quickly, if they want to have a refreshing start to the new season.
Washington Commanders: F
The Commanders’ defense had a tough 2023 season, as the team finished in last place in the NFC East and didn’t win a game since the team’s week nine victory over the New England Patriots. Cody Barton led the team with 121 tackles and Kendall Fuller led the team with two interceptions. Fuller, David Mayo, and Terrell Burgess are notable defensive free agents for 2024. The team needs to hit the reset button and rebuild with new leadership, moving forward.
