16. Green Bay Packers
Before the 2019 season, the Packers gave former Ravens defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith a four-year, $66 million contract. It proved to be a relative steal, as no defensive player in the NFL last season had more total quarterback pressures than Smith’s 105. Former Redskins edge-rusher Preston Smith, also acquired in free agency before the 2019 season, had 62 pressures of his own, giving general manager Brian Gutekunst two really big wins. Kenny Clark has developed into one of the five best defensive tackles in the game, and there’s an improving young secondary, led by cornerback Jaire Alexander and cornerback Adrian Amos, capable of executing Mike Pettine’s aggressive, multi-faceted defensive schemes. Where the Packers fell decidedly short in 2019 was with a woeful linebacker corps, which the team sought to improve with the free-agency acquisition of ex-Browns veteran Christian Kirksey (who Pettine once coached in Cleveland). If Kirksey can stay on the field — he’s missed all but nine games in the last two seasons — that might be all Green Bay needs to formulate a top-ten defense.
15. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers saw a fairly drastic downturn in overall defensive effectiveness in 2019 that had a lot to do with the absence of safety Derwin James, the 2018 Pro Bowler and All-Pro, who missed all but five games in 2019 due to a foot injury. James did get on the field in Weeks 12-16, and the extent to which the defense improved with his presence is a testament to his effectiveness, but it was a stark statement to the rest of the defense. With James back healthy, the addition of slot cornerback Chris Harris, Jr., and the consistent excellence of cornerback Casey Hayward — not to mention the dynamic pass-rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram — things should be a bit more consistent in 2020.
14. New York Jets
Last season, the Jets tied with the Buccaneers with the lowest yards-per-carry average allowed in the league (3.3), and only Tampa Bay allowed fewer rushing yards than the Jets’ 1,391. And, their 88.0 opponent passer rating allowed tied with the Panthers for 12th-best in the league. There’s a solid foundation for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, whose complex and aggressive schemes really work when they do, and really don’t when they don’t. Right now, the primary challenge for this defense is to try and make super-safety Jamal Adams happy with his contractual situation — if they can do that, and pair him with rookie safety Ashtyn Davis (who excels in the deep third), they could have something really special.
13. Kansas City Chiefs
Yes, the Chiefs are led by Patrick Mahomes and the NFL’s most explosive offense, but Andy Reid’s team wouldn’t have won Super Bowl LIV without the efforts of two new additions — defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who played at a Defensive Player of the Year pace through the entire season. Things could be even better in 2020 and beyond, as there appears to be a total belief in Spagnuolo and Mathieu as the defense’s schematic and emotional leaders, star defensive lineman Chris Jones got franchise-tagged, safety Juan Thornhill should be recovered from the torn ACL that cost him the postseason, and Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr. adds much-needed athleticism to the position if he can stay out of trouble.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
In 2019, the Eagles had a pressure rate of 24.3%, good for ninth in the NFL, and they still finished 16th in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted pass defense metrics. This had a lot to do with an under-performing secondary that allowed 22 touchdowns while picking off just seven passes. In the offseason, Philly got wise and traded a couple of mid-round picks to the Lions for cornerback Darius Slay, who will be more effective than anyone who played that position for the Eagles in 2019. It’s a relative embarrassment of riches for a defense with a front seven too good to be average, and if cornerback Sidney Jones continues to improve and safety Rodney McLeod repeats an outstanding 2019 season, this secondary might actually turn itself into a positive for the first time in a while.
11. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons had as drastic a defensive turnaround as any team in the 2019 season, which occurred when now-defensive coordinator Raheem Morris took a more pronounced role. From Weeks 10-9, Atlanta gave up 24 passing touchdowns and came up with just two interceptions. From Weeks 10-17, the difference was graphic — just nine touchdowns allowed, and 10 interceptions. The team lost cornerback Desmond Trufant in free agency, but selected Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell in the first round, and Terrell is a much better player than he showed in his team’s loss in the College Football Championship. Expect this defense to play far more to its talent with Morris firmly in charge.
10. New Orleans Saints
The 2019 Saints were one of eight teams to limit their opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game — at 91.3 yards per game, New Orleans ranked fourth in the league. The Saints also ranked third in the NFL with 51 sacks, and fifth with a pressure rate of 26.4%. The only real downturn was in a secondary that allowed far too many big plays, and was saved in a relative sense by cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who they picked up late in the season after the Giants waived him. Rookie defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson proved to be a fourth-round steal with his effective versatility, and Marcus Williams had an outstanding year at free safety, but the cornerback combo of P.J. Williams, Eli Apple, Marshon Lattimore, and D.J. Swearinger gave up 18 touchdowns and intercepted two passes. That’s not going to work in today’s NFL. The Saints wisely extended Jenkins through the 2022 season.
9. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings were able to finish seventh in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted defensive metrics in 2019, down from fourth in 2018, despite fairly disastrous seasons from outside cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, who combined for 10 touchdowns allowed and just one interception. Both are gone now, and the hope is that first-round cornerback Jeff Gladney from TCU can ramp things up a bit, along with third-year man Mike Hughes. Watch out for fourth-round linebacker Troy Dye from Oregon, who has the athleticism to add to an already stacked position group — Eric Kendricks maybe the best in his role in the NFL. The safety group is led by Anthony Harris, who received the franchise tag after a breakout season in which he intercepted seven passes and didn’t allow a single touchdown on 607 coverage snaps and 20 targets.