The Jets need Darron Lee to step up as a coverage linebacker after two poor seasons to start his career. DT David Irving will miss the first four games of the season after failing a drug test but is a stout interior presence when on the field.Behind them is a linebacker pair with the potential to be one of the league’s best … if healthy. Swearinger are both reliable.You can pretty much pencil in Ryan Kerrigan for 10 sacks. DT Chris Jones is a blue-chip talent but the Chiefs are going to be asking a lot of him. That’s not a good thing.The success of the Dolphins defense will be decided by the play of its defensive line. Linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks will offer more pressure on Mike Zimmer’s famed double-A gap blitzes. A breakout year from OLB Shane Ray wouldn’t hurt either. Edge-rusher Demarcus Lawrence leads the team with 5.5 sacks, 23-year-old linebacker Jaylon Smith continues his triumphant return from a devastating injury with a team-leading 57 tackles and Lee and Vander Esch have been fantastic.The Cowboys are a well-coached defense that hasn't allowed more than 24 points in any contest, and their young talent should only improve.Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden missed three games, but he is back and had a great Week 8 game versus the San Francisco 49ers (one sack, seven tackles). DE Adrian Clayborn adds some badly needed pass rushing, and DE Derek Rivers has been unblockable during preseason after missing his rookie campaign with an injury. He’ll join Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan on the edges. Chicago also ranks One could make a case for half of this list to be called the league's No.
That’s how deep the back end of this defense is.We’ve seen the Falcons defense play at a high level in the playoffs. There is a dearth of talent and experience at defensive end, but that may not matter with those two monsters destroying interior linemen snap after snap. The team also improved the second level of the defense in the draft after taking LB Rashaan Evans in the first round.
Share this article share tweet text email link Steven Ruiz. Ranking the NFL's Top Defenses in 2018. While the Bucs certainly overpaid for the former Giants pass rusher, he was a much-needed addition. Especially if first-round DE Marcus Davenport is ready to contribute sooner than the draft experts think he will. OK, so how did they turn things around? The secondary isn’t nearly as good as it was during the Super Bowl run, but Chris Harris is still one of the league’s best cover corners and CB Bradley Roby is developing nicely. If so, this will be one of the league’s scariest defenses. Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky has a spotty track record in 11 years in that role with four different teams. His Texans teams have ranked third, first and ninth in yards allowed per game in his three seasons, respectively. Atlanta has safeties to spare. This is Part 4, which explains why simulated creeper pressures are gaining popularity. New Orleans has one of the league's best offenses, but Baltimore held the Saints to seven points through three-plus quarters. Second-round DT P.J. Jason Pierre-Paul was the big acquisition. DE Yannick Ngouke broke out in 2017 is still improving. And the secondary is deep enough to withstand losing CB Jimmy Smith for a couple of games. He’ll get help from DE Emmanuel Ogbah, but there is little in the way of pass rush behind those two. New defensive coordinator Teryl Austin knows how to develop a young secondary, so expect this group to break out in 2018.It’s hard to find a weakness on this defense. Dre Kirkpatrick is a good No. CB Jonathan Joseph isn’t getting any younger (or faster) and CB Kevin Johnson has disappointed when he’s actually been able to stay healthy. Just as Buffalo appeared to be rolling defensively, it allowed 37 points to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.It's been a bizarre year in Buffalo, especially with the team's significant offensive concerns.