The Best and Worst Defensive Rosters in the NFL Heading into the Draft
The first few rounds of NFL free agency are over, and teams are now focusing on Pro Days and last-minute tweaks to their draft boards. One way to create a road map for how teams will approach the NFL Draft is to examine their overall roster pre-free agency, what they did or didn't do to solve those issues, and then project those missing holes into the draft process.
Below, we will look at the five best and worst defensive rosters heading into the draft. The best way to read the team Havoc Ratings charts is to view them as total unit average grades. These are individual performance grades and not overall defensive metrics.
Some of the teams on this list might surprise you. Individual performances don't always translate to elite team success. Teams can have great player performances, but they can be average at best if they aren't working entirely as a whole unit. The Colts are the best example of this and why the organization replaced defensive coordinator Gus Bradley with the highly respected Lou Anarumo (Bengals).
Free agency and the draft are about talent acquisition and filling the roster's needs. Some teams must stand pat or grab one or two players to fill much-needed depth. For others, like Carolina, a complete talent overhaul is necessary to be competitive in 2025.
Finally, this is a great test to see how well a coordinator performs. For teams with limited production but finish in the top ten in EPA/play, the scheme allows the defense to flourish even without high production levels. On the other hand, when a team has high levels of individual production but lacks overall success, that is a mark on the DC, whose scheme is not amplifying the play on the field.
*For most positions (non-QB), 'starter level' means top 64 at your position.
Five Worst Defensive Rosters
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars need to semi-rebuild their defensive roster. They are decent through the middle of the box, but their secondary is in shambles, not to mention inconsistent play from high-priced Edges. They also finished 28th in EPA/play.
Their interior defensive line was above average. Mason Smith, when healthy, can be a force. Partner Davon Hamilton is one of the best run-defending iDLs in the NFL. He finished #2 in Run Havoc this past season.
At Edge, Josh Hines-Allen has consistently been in the top 25 in Havoc Ratings. This year, he didn't match his output from '23, when he finished seventh overall. Still, he is considered a bonafide star in this league and is critical to the Jaguars' success.
Opposite Hines-Allen is the much-maligned Travon Walker. Because Walker comes with the '#1 overall' tag, there are higher expectations than usual. Until this past season, he didn't play up to that potential. This year, he finished 20th overall in Havoc at DE.
There are pieces to build from in the box. The Edges and iDLs are stable, as is the linebacking corps. Foyesade Oluokun has been one of the best LBs in the NFL for several years. His partner, Devin Loyd, had a semi-breakout season, finishing 28th in Havoc for LBs. Both don't add much in pass rush but are consistent in coverage and fitting the run.
Finally, the secondary is a disaster. The Jaguars finished the year by a wide margin as the worst passing defense in the NFL. Their safety play was at the bottom of the league in Havoc Ratings, and outside Tyson Campbell, there isn't a 'named' player in the corner. Campbell is often injured and has struggled in man coverage for the past two seasons. He has never recaptured the same level of play as in '22, when he finished 16th in Havoc for CBs.
Who have they brought in:
Safety Eric Murray (Texans), Ni Jourdan Lewis (Cowboys)
Who have they lost:
Safety Andre Cisco (Jets), CB Ronald Darby (Texans)
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay might seem like an odd choice at #31, but when you examine their roster, you see inconsistent performances and a lack of depth. This roster heavily relies on several individual players to have success. Overall, the Packers are a top-10 defense in the EPA. But once you scratch the surface, there is a lack of depth and ability.
Havoc Ratings rates on-field performance against other players and distills performance through the number of snaps a player plays. Overall unit grades are averaged across the group. DC Jeff Hafley's job this year was tremendous, as was the injury luck.
Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, and TJ Slaton (Bengals) all played poorly individually. If there was one knock on the defense, it was in stopping the run. Outside at Edge, Rashan Gary was a top 25 performer in Havoc (#34), while Kinglsey Enagbare (DE72) and Lucas Van Ness (DE102) performed below starter levels.
Four defenders at linebacker saw 400+ reps, with rookie Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker playing right at starter levels. The other two, Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie, who the Packers resigned, played well below.
Safety Xavier McKinney, at one point, was the top Safety in Havoc in the middle part of the season. Though his play cooled off, he still finished in the top 20 (#19). Both rookie Safeties, Javon Bullard and Eric Williams, played well, but only at the starter level. Williams, when not hurt, looked like a future star.
The corners, which saw Keisean Nixon move from Nickel to outside CB, was the best unit overall for the Packers. Nixon finished the year as the #15 CB in Havoc Ratings, with Jaire Alexander finishing 28th. Back-up Carrington Valentine finished in the top 50, and Eric Stokes, released and picked up by the Raiders, was the sole CB outside the top 100.
Who have they brought in:
CB Nate Hobbs (Raiders)
Who have they lost:
LB Eric Wilson (Vikings), CB Eric Stokes (Raiders), TJ Slaton (Bengals)
Cleveland Browns
At one point, the Browns had the best roster in the NFL, but they just couldn't figure out the quarterback position. Now, they are staring into the void with little cap space and an aging roster.
2024 was the year the defense fell off a cliff. Outside of Myles Garrett, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (who might never return from his injury), and Safety Grant Delpit, their defense had no 'star power.' Garrett doesn't have a star player opposite him. DE Isaiah McGuire finished 48th in Havoc. Overall, the unit finished 14th in EPA/play in the league, but it was a far cry from what it did last year when it was arguably the best unit.
The secondary saw the biggest slide. Last season, the unit smothered opponents, while this year, it finished 25th in EPA/pass. CB Denzel Ward finished 46th in Havoc. He played well when in man coverage (#12) but struggled mightily in zone (119th).
Martin Emerson, who looked like a rising star last year, bottomed out and finished 132nd in Havoc. He was ranked 17th in 2023. Ni Greg Newsome tied Emerson for 132nd overall. There is a trend in the secondary; they all can play man, but they struggle when they need to play zone.
Who have they brought in:
LB Jerome Baker (Titans)
Who have they lost:
DT Dalvin Tomlinson (Cardinals)
New England Patriots
Outside of the defensive front, this is a defensive roster needing a total rebuild. Still, neither unit was in the top 10 in production. Anfree Jennings was the star up front, finishing 14th in DE Havoc Ratings. Davon Godchaux finished 24th in DT Havoc Ratings, and is now in Pittsburgh.
Belichick was always able to find consistency in the front seven. The D-line carried their weight last year. Though there was no star power, there was depth and consistent play. Linebacker was the opposite. The use of 'tweener off-ball defenders finally caught up to the organization once Belichick left.
New England finished 27th in EPA/play last season, a far cry from what they were under Bill Belichick. Outside Christian Gonzalez (CB33) and Jabrill Peppers (S3), the safety position took a significant step back; no one in the secondary played well. That is probably why new Head Coach Mike Vrabel spent all his cap dollars rebuilding the defense.
Who have they brought in:
DT Milton Williams (Eagles), DT Khyris Tonga (Cardinals), DE Harold Landry (Titans, LB Robert Spillane (Raiders), CB Carlton Davis (Lions), LB Jack Gibbons (Titans)
Who have they lost:
CB Jonathan Jones (Commanders), DE Deatrich Wise (Commanders), Davon Godchaux(Saints), Daniel Ekuale (Steelers)
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Miami Dolphins
Miami is another team that punched above its production. The Dolphins finished eighth in EPA/play but had one of the worst-performing rosters in the NFL. One reason this happens is that you have dominant play in one area or player, with not much help in other areas.
Up front, the duo of Zach Seiler and Calais Campbell (a current free agent) held down the middle of the defense. Though talented, the Edge's play was inconsistent, and the LB corps was also inconsistent.
In the secondary, Jalen Ramsey finished 45th in CB Havoc, with partner Kendall Fuller (current free agent) finishing 79th overall. Ni Kader Kohou finished 59th. Safety Javon Holland may have gotten a big payday from the Giants, but he finished 84th in Havoc. His partner and current free agent, Jordan Poyer, finished 65th.
The Dolphins' numbers are so low due to a lack of depth and inconsistent production. Anthony Weaver, as should the defensive front, should be given tremendous credit for keeping this unit together and keeping it in the top ten in EPA/play.
Who have they brought in:
LB KJ Britt (Buccaneers), Saf Ashton Davis (Jets), LB Willie Gay (Saints)
Who have they lost:
LB Anthony Walker (Buccaneers), DE Da'Shawn Hand (Chargers), Javon Holland (Giants)
Top Five Defensive Rosters
Denver Broncos
The Broncos had the #5 DT in Zach Allen, a top-15 Edge in Jonathan Cooper, the #8 Safety in Brandon Jones, and the #4 CB in Pat Surtain. That's enough production to get you into the top five defensive rosters in the NFL.
There are glaring issues, though. There isn't a consistent corner opposite Surtain, and PJ Locke (S50) played well, but he isn't the long-term answer opposite Jones. With LB Alex Singleton injured for much of the year, the linebacker corps was average at best.
Still, this is a roster that most NFL organizations would take. Cooper is a rising star, and Nik Bonitto finished in the top 30 in DE Havoc. The issue? Depth; there just isn't any. If the Broncos can find depth at DE and a consistent starting CB opposite Surtain (or an elite Nickel), Denver should be on this list next season.
If they stay healthy, their free-agent signings could make this one of the best units in football. They finished second only to the Super Bowl champion Eagles in EPA/play.
Who have they brought in:
LB Dre Greenlaw (49ers), Saf Talanoa Hufanga (49ers),
Who have they lost:
LB Cody Barton (Titans)
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee finished 21st in EPA/play. So why are they in the top 5? Production for key units. Remember, these are averages across the board and not weighted, giving one position preference over the other.
The Titans have an elite interior line with T'Vondre Sweat (DT 30) and Jeffery Simmons (DT4) anchoring the middle. The Edges played average, while the LB corp, though flawed, did play well. The trio of Luke Gifford (49ers), Jerome Baker (Browns), and Kenneth Murray (Cowboys), were all picked up quickly this offseason.
The cornerback position was a significant issue all year. L'Jarius Sneed played well enough to end up in the top 25 at his position, but Ni Roger McCreary took a significant step back, and there was a revolving door opposite the former Chief. Safety was a bright spot, though. Armani Hooker is a rising star and finished eleventh in Safety Havoc Ratings. Quandre Diggs (S39)and Mike Brown both played above starter level.
Though the Titans' defense was 'good' on average, major gaps created too much inconsistency for them to have a top-level defense.
Who have they brought in:
LB Cody Barton (Broncos), DE Larenzo Carter (Falcons), DT Dre'Mont Jones (Seahawks)
Who have they lost:
DE Harold Landry (Patriots), LB Jack Gibbens (Patriots), LB Kenneth Murray (Cowboys), LB Jerome Baker (Browns), LB Luke Gifford (49ers)
Houston Texans
The edges of this defense are stocked full of talent. The cornerback room is by far one of the best units in the NFL. Derek Stingley (CB2) is arguably the best CB in the NFL, with rookie Kamari Lassister finishing in the top ten (CB7). With no other CB garnering more than 25% of the playing time, that quickly boosts the unit to #1.
Houston plays with a Safety Ni, mainly Jalen Pitre, who only played in twelve games. He finished as the 28th best Safety and is widely considered one of the better Nickels in the NFL. Rookie Safety Calen Bullock has star potential, while opposite him, Jimmie Ward (S41) played slightly better in only ten games. Eric Murray finished as the 83rd best Safety and will move to Jacksonville this offseason.
Up front, the Edge tandem of Will Anderson Jr. (DE12) and Danielle Hunter (DE13) is among the best in the NFL. Because of their backups, they aren't ranked higher than seventh. Inside, there was inconsistent production. Behind the line, Azeez Al-Shaair is a top ten LB, while his counterpart, Henry To'o To'o, finished 44th overall in LB Havoc.
Houston is primed for another year of success on defense. If they can add depth and find a dominant inside presence, the unit has a chance to be special.
Who have they brought in:
DE Darrell Taylor (Bears), DT Sheldon Rankins (Bengals), Saf Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (Eagles), CB Ronald Darby (Jaguars)
Who have they lost:
Saf Eric Murray (Jaguars)
Seattle Seahawks
It took the Seahawks a while to get going, but they finished as one of the better defenses in the NFL. They have star power outside with Riq Woolen (CB12) and Devon Witherspoon (CB13), who can play outside and Nickel. There is a need for a third CB who can come in when Witherspoon moves inside.
One position that Head Coach Mike Macdonald focused on last year was the Safety position. Julian Love (S9) is one of the best Safeties in the NFL, and his partner, Coby Bryant (S25), had a breakout season once Rayshawn Jenkins went down with an injury. Macdonald wants to focus more on his Big Nickel (three Safety) package, and the emergence of Bryant allows him to invest in that.
Linebacker was probably the biggest change from start to finish. Once Ernest Jones was inserted into the lineup, the defense solidified and became a top unit. Jones finished 20th in LB Havoc. Tyrice Knight added an element of pass rush (LB23) and finished above starter level (LB56).
Seattle's Edges were a primary concern all year, but inside was a different story. Leonard Williams finished atop the DT Havoc Ratings. Jarron Read (DT20) and Byron Murphy (DT 55) finished within the starter level.
Who have they brought in:
DE Demarcus Lawrence (Cowboys)
Who have they lost:
CB Tre Brown (49ers), Roy Roberston-Harris (Giants), Dre'Mont Jones (Titans)
Indianapolis Colts
Yes, the Indianapolis Colts had the best overall roster regarding Havoc Ratings. The unit finished 14th in total EPA/play, and though the secondary is ranked high, they finished 22nd in EPA/pass. How can this be?
First, Havoc rates show production on the field individually, not as a whole unit. At Field Vision, we then average the units' grades as a whole. At CB, Kenny Moore is widely regarded as one of the best and can play inside and out. He finished eighth in CB Havoc. CB Jaylon Jones had a breakout season, with two interceptions and ten PBUs. Third CB Samual Womack finished 67th in Havoc.
Nick Cross performed exceptionally well at Safety, finishing 4th overall in Havoc. His partner and current free agent Julian Blackmon (injured at the end of the year) finished as the 23rd best Safety in Havoc.
Going down the defense, the LB unit was in the top ten, with Zaire Franklin finishing as the #5 LB and EJ Speed finishing in the top 60 (starter level).
The defensive ends produced below-average numbers, but the interior line of Deforrest Buckner (DT3) and Grover Stewart (DT9) dominated at times.
One of the things helping Indy in these ratings is that they didn't play very many people. There aren't many players who play 25% or more of the snaps. Still, the inconsistency of performance relative to overall defensive play illustrates why they decided to move on from Bradley.
Who have they brought in:
CB Chavarius Ward (49ers), DT Neville Gallimore (Rams), Saf Cam Bynum
Who have they lost:
DE Dayo Odeyingbo (Bears)
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