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Wolf Sports 2024 NFL All-Pro Team: Defense


Our 2024 NFL All-Pro Team continues with defensive selections, and you can view our choices on offense here.

 

EDGE: Trey Hendrickson, CIN

Season stats: 46 TKL | 19 TFL | 17.5 SK | 2 FF

The Bengals struggled on defense for much of the season, but Hendrickson was sensational with an NFL-high 17.5 sacks—and the crown as claimed in Week 18 with 3.5 takedowns in a 19-17 win over the Steelers that kept Cincinnati’s playoff hopes alive. Hendrickson’s play down the stretch was a major reason the Bengals became more of an opportunistic defense during a five-game winning streak to close out the year; and he also did all he could in the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs by getting to Patrick Mahomes twice as an always-relentless pass rusher.

 

EDGE: Nik Bonitto, DEN

Season stats: 48 TKL | 16 TFL | 13.5 SK | 2 FF | 1 FR | 1 INT | 2 TD

Bonitto was a legitimate NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate before slowing down slightly at the end of December, but that doesn’t at all take away from what he did in a complete breakout campaign. Aside from turning into one of the league’s best pure pass rushers, Bonitto was a big-time playmaker—scoring game-changing defensive touchdowns in back-to-back wins over the Browns (a 71-yard pick six) and Colts (a 50-yard fumble return) with Denver in the middle of a playoff push. The 25-year-old also had a stretch of 11.0 sacks in 11 games.

 

INT DL: Zach Allen, DEN

Season stats: 61 TKL | 15 TFL | 8.5 SK

Another star defender for the Broncos, Allen was disruptive all season long—with the standout performance being 3.5 sacks and six quarterback hits against Joe Burrow in Week 16. The disappointing playoff loss (though Allen played great) and general defensive struggles for the Broncos late in the year might lead to some having a short memory, but Denver was a top unit for much of the season, including versus the run where Allen led a rotating band of defensive lineman that all played extremely hard.

 

INT DL: Cameron Heyward, PIT

Season stats: 71 TKL | 12 TFL | 8.0 SK

Heyward had perhaps his best year yet in his age-35 season—coming through when challenged by Mike Tomlin (following a sub-standard 2023 season) as a force both versus the run and pass. The grizzled veteran also had a whopping 11 pass deflections that showed just how locked in he was, and you could never question Heyward’s effort despite being one of the oldest defensive players in the NFL. There is no reason to believe the lifelong Steeler will slow down after signing an extension last September.

 

LB: Zack Baun, PHI

Season stats: 151 TKL | 11 TFL | 3.5 SK | 5 FF | 1 FR | 1 INT

Baun was a complete steal in free agency with Philadelphia snagging him on a one-year deal, and he became an impact player as a full-time starter for the first time in his career—racking up tackles, making plays as a blitzer, and forcing turnovers for Vic Fangio’s elite defense. The versatility of Baun (who flashed last year in New Orleans) was appealing to the Eagles, and we also want to point out that Nakobe Dean had an All-Pro caliber season as the two formed a dominant duo at linebacker.

 

LB: Fred Warner, SF

Season stats: 131 TKL | 5 TFL | 1.0 SK | 4 FF | 2 INT | 1 TD

Warner not missing any time with a broken bone in his ankle suffered in Week 4 says all you need to know about him as a player, and he continued to be all over the place for the 49ers—including double-digit tackles in back-to-back games immediately after the injury. It’s probably not a coincidence that both interceptions for Warner came in September before the ankle impacted him, and he should continue to play at a superstar level next year with San Francisco making it known they want to improve the linebacker play alongside their leader.

 

LB: Roquan Smith, BAL

Season stats: 154 TKL | 4 TFL | 1.5 SK | 1 FF | 1 FR | 1 INT

The only player to make our All-Pro team in each of the past five years, Smith brought his usual passion and instincts to the middle of Baltimore’s defense—which started slow under new coordinator Zachary Orr but turned into a top unit by the middle of November. Although issues defending the middle of the field were a concern early on, we know Smith can cover at a high level, and things eventually came together to support the league’s best run defense (80.1 yards per game allowed).

 

CB: Pat Surtain II, DEN

Season stats: 45 TKL | 1 TFL | 4 INT | 11 PD | 1 FF | 1 FR | 1 TD

Surtain was our choice for NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the actual overwhelming favorite for the award, so it’s no surprise that the shutdown cornerback was a near-unanimous AP selection (getting 49-of-50 votes). The former first-round pick wasn’t used exclusively in shadow coverage, but that doesn’t really happen in today’s NFL; and Surtain neutralized every opponent he did face—whether it was a No. 1 wide receiver like Ja’Marr Chase or an elite tight end like Brock Bowers. Plus, Surtain had four interceptions to match a career-high mark, including a 100-yard touchdown against the rival Raiders.

 

CB: Derek Stingley Jr., HOU

Season stats: 54 TKL | 4 TFL | 5 INT | 18 PD

Again, true shadow coverage (i.e. nearly every snap of every game) has unfortunately become a thing of the past—but Stingley is another cornerback that does it as much as anyone. The highlight of the regular season was a phenomenal showing against Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins where he erased the speedy weapon and recorded two interceptions (with the second one sealing the game), and Stingley blended sticky coverage with aggressiveness, confidence, and ball skills at the catch point to record five interceptions and 18 passes defended.

 

SCB: Marlon Humphrey, BAL

Season stats: 67 TKL | 5 TFL | 0.5 SK | 6 INT | 15 PD | 2 FF | 1 TD

Humphrey has long been one of the game’s most complete cornerbacks, and the new scheme clearly suits him well with an ability to make an impact in a variety of ways. In coverage, Humphrey recorded a career-high six interceptions—which included one in both games against the Steelers, and another in an overtime win over the Bengals. As a tackler, Humphrey elevated the entire defense by showing he’s unafraid to come down to hit opponents, and he ties everything along with Roquan Smith.

 

S: Kerby Joseph, DET

Season stats: 83 TKL | 1 TFL | 9 INT | 12 PD | 1 TD

Joseph somehow didn’t make the Pro Bowl, but he’s deservedly a First-Team All-Pro after leading the league in interceptions and providing consistent playmaking for Detroit’s chaotic (in a good way) secondary. As defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn finally got the options at cornerback to play heavy man coverage, Joseph benefitted as the patroller behind them—recording seven interceptions across the first 10 games and then his final two in an NFC Championship rematch against the Niners. In addition to the ball production, Joseph makes pass-catchers think twice as a fearless hitter on the backend.

 

S: Xavier McKinney, GB

Season stats: 88 TKL | 2 TFL | 1.0 SK | 8 INT | 12 PD | 1 FR

The Giants allowed McKinney to hit free agency last spring, and he was added to the Packers as an immediate impact player—beginning his Green Bay tenure with an interception in five consecutive games and totaling eight on the year. An ability to take away the football shouldn’t overshadow the versatility of McKinney, and he was a stabilizing presence to accelerate the development of impressive rookie safeties Javon Bullard and Evan Williams.