NFL 2024 : Five defensive players poised to breakout this season

Kayvon Thibodeaux is poised for a breakout season in the Big Apple, as he gears up to become the next elite pass rusher.

Thibodeaux's rookie campaign saw him notch four sacks and six tackles for loss over 14 games, earning him a fourth-place finish in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race. He stepped up significantly in 2023, boosting his stats to 11.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and four passes defensed, while playing all 17 games.

After a stellar second season, the 6ft 5in, 258-pound linebacker has shown he's a force to be reckoned with off the edge. His explosive speed rush has already turned heads, but with the addition of two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns, who recorded eight sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits, a forced fumble, and two passes defensed last season, on the opposite side, Thibodeaux is set to wreak even more havoc.

Burns, acquired in a blockbuster trade, will draw the lion's share of attention from opposing offenses, freeing up Thibodeaux for more one-on-one opportunities. Coupled with second-team All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence dominating the interior, Thibodeaux is primed to post monster numbers in his third year.

Jalen Carter was a standout rookie in 2023 before slipping down the stretch, just like the Philadelphia Eagles as a whole, recording 33 total tackles, 20 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown.

After a standout career at Georgia, the Eagles partnered Carter with his former Bulldogs teammate Jordan Davis. The two are anticipated to man the front seven for the foreseeable future.

With Fletcher Cox gone, Carter takes over as the main man up front in the new 3-4 base scheme under new defensive coordinator in Vic Fangio. Big, fast, powerful, dominating and likely with better conditioning and experience in Year 2, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft excelled in such an alignment at Georgia and should truly burst toward taking the big-picture interior mantle from retiring Aaron Donald, with the mediocre Eagles' defense in need of a huge shakeup.

Christian Gonzalez is entering the 2024 season with high hopes and big expectations, fully healthy and ready to prove his mettle. The New England Patriots’ cornerback and their first-round pick (No. 17) from the 2023 NFL Draft is back in action after a shoulder injury sidelined him for the final 13 games of his rookie campaign. Gonzalez suffered a torn labrum against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, necessitating season-ending surgery.

Despite the setback, the former Oregon Ducks standout showcased his immense talent during his brief stint on the field in 2023. In just over three games last season, Gonzalez demonstrated his blend of height, speed, and physicality. He tallied 17 total tackles, an interception, three passes defended, and a sack, proving he could compete with some of the NFL's top receivers.

If Gonzalez plays like he did during those first four weeks, he could really help this Patriots defense be one of the best in the league.

Jermaine Johnson is a player who has yet to come close to reaching his full potential. He has already shown flashes of being an elite pass-rusher and big-time playmaker during the 2023 season that New York saw in him when the franchise drafted him with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

He racked up 55 total tackles to go along with 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception, a defensive touchdown, and seven defended passes in his improved sophomore season.

Following the departures of both Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers, the Jets are counting on Johnson to be more than just an improved player and those numbers are expected to rise this season.

Lucas Van Ness, the 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft, is on track to become a significant game-changer for the Green Bay Packers in his sophomore season, particularly with Jeff Hafley stepping in as the new defensive coordinator.

In his rookie year, Van Ness played a rotational role, tallying 4.0 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, and one pass breakup over 365 snaps in 17 regular-season games as he flew under the radar a bit. He also added another sack during the playoffs.

As the Packers bring back seasoned veterans Preston Smith and Rashan Gary on the edge, Van Ness is poised to see increased playing time and more pass-rushing opportunities in his second year. In Hafley's new scheme, Van Ness' versatility will be key, allowing him to line up both at defensive end and on the interior. His experience as a dynamic inside-outside rusher in Iowa's 4-3 defensive front will be an asset, making him a vital cog in the Packers' defense.

The Kansas City Chiefs faced some tough decisions this offseason, including the trade of star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans for a third-round pick after contract negotiations fell through. Replacing Sneed will be no easy feat, but the Chiefs are hopeful that Joshua Williams, a third-year player out of Fayetteville State, can rise to the occasion.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Williams has spent the last two seasons as Sneed's understudy. Fortunately for Kansas City, Williams has seen a fair amount of action in rotational role, accumulating over 900 snaps, including postseason play. Though his experience is limited, he made significant contributions during the Chiefs' Super Bowl runs.

Williams' sample size may be small, but his advanced metrics are promising. According to Pro Football Reference, opponents averaged just 4.9 yards per target when challenging Williams last year, a figure that closely mirrors Sneed's career-best 4.8 yards per target.

While no one expects Williams to be a carbon copy of Sneed, there is optimism that he can quickly become a reliable cornerback. The task will be less daunting if the Chiefs can generate more pressure from their young pass rushers.