DEF Rankings

It wasn't just the offense that faltered in New York last season, although it was once again the biggest problem, following a two-year stretch (2022-23) in which the team sported tough defenses and league-worst QB play. The QB play was better in 2024, but not by as much as expected, and the defense took a step backward with its vaunted secondary racking up penalties rather than takeaways. The Jets then lost CB D.J. Reed this offseason, signing Brandon Stephens to replace him alongside standout corners Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter. The safeties don't look nearly as good, nor do the edge rushers, but the Jets have a solid LB duo (Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams) to help install a new defense under coordinator Steve Wilks, who held the same job in Carolina (2017), Cleveland (2019) and San Francisco (2024).

The Cowboys' top-heavy roster fell apart last year, leaving defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer in a much tougher spot compared to predecessor Dan Quinn. After top-two fantasy finishes each of the previous three years under Quinn, the Cowboys sunk to 14th in D/ST scoring last year. Injuries were a big part of the story, in addition to Quinn's absence, with CB Trevon Diggs, CB DaRon Bland, DE Micah Parsons and DE Demarcus Lawrence combining for 32 missed games. The Cowboys have similar personnel for 2025, apart from losing long-time starter Lawrence to the Seahawks, with the hope being that healthier seasons from the top guys on both offense and defense can bring the Cowboys back to the playoffs (and make their D/ST a strong fantasy option again) under a new coaching staff that has Matt Eberflus calling playing on defense.

Baltimore finished 2023 atop the NFL in points allowed, sacks, takeaways and D/ST fantasy points, vaulting defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to the head coach job in Seattle. Internal promotion Zach Orr looked like a one-and-done midway through the 2024 season, but his defense played much better in the second half of the year to ultimately finish ninth in points allowed and 10th in yardage. The Ravens had 54 sacks, second most, yet were tied for 20th in takeaways (17). They largely opted for continuity this offseason, losing NT Michael Pierce to retirement and LB Malik Harrison to the Steelers while swapping out CB Brandon Stephens for Chidobie Awuzie. The Ravens still have standouts in S Kyle Hamilton, CB Marlon Humphrey, LB Roquan Smith and DT Nnamdi Madubuike, but all besides Humphrey took a step back in 2024 after career years in 2023. A strong draft would go a long way, as the Ravens don't have much cap space to address their questionable defensive depth beyond those top guys.

Robert Saleh is back as San Francisco's defensive coordinator -- a job he held from 2017 to 2020 -- after winning only 16 games in two-plus seasons as the Jets' head coach. The defense he returns to has only two mainstays from his previous tenure, DE Nick Bosa and LB Fred Warner, after losing four starters this offseason -- LB Dre Greenlaw (Broncos), CB Charvarius Ward (Colts), DT Javon Hargrave (Vikings) and S Talanoa Hufanga (Broncos). The 49ers restocked their secondary with successful draft picks the past few offseasons, but they haven't done the same in the front seven, leaving Bosa and Warner surrounded by a mix of mediocre veterans and unproven young players. That might work fine if both superstars stays healthy and Saleh makes schematic improvements, but this isn't the San Francisco defense of 3-4 years ago when Greenlaw was in his peak alongside Warner (and Bosa was surrounded by other capable pass rushers).

As well as the Chiefs have played under DC Steve Spagnuolo, they've never finished better than sixth in D/ST fantasy points, slipping all the way to 15th last season. Spagnuolo's defenses have thrived at scoring/yardage prevention more so than generating takeaways, and even the sack totals have been highly variable, dropping to 39 in 2024 (t-18th) after back-to-back seasons of 55-plus. The Chiefs still have stalwarts in DT Chris Jones, LB Nick Bolton and CB Trent McDuffie, backed by encouraging 2024 seasons from young players like DE George Karlaftis (8.0 sacks, 29 QB hits), S Jaden Hicks (three INTs), nickelback Chamarri Conner (77 tackles, two INTS) and LB Leo Chenal (60 tackles). The Chiefs didn't make splashy offseason moves, settling for discount veterans like CB Kristian Fulton and DT Jerry Tillery, but it appears they'll chug along just fine with their usual draft-and-develop success.