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Top Four NFL Defenses Heading Into 2022

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It is time to start looking at the NFL defenses that can make an impact on the 2022 NFL season!

Whether you are looking for players to make an impact on your fantasy football squad or to make some prop bets, there are four teams that you should be targeting.

The Buffalo Bills

The Bills had one of the most consistent defenses in 2021. The team allowed only 5.7 total yards per play from Week 1 through Week 11, resulting in a 62.2 passer rating and a 33% third-down conversion rate for opponents. With Von Miller now on the roster, they should be even better.

Miller will be an excellent mentor for edge rusher Gregory Rousseau, who showed flashes as a rookie and has the raw skill to make a leap in his second season. Throw in the presence of defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and a pair of high-class safeties and the picture is almost complete.

The final element could be the arrival of Kaiir Elam. His length and physicality will be the perfect complement to the rest of the secondary. With him as the number two corner, Buffalo looks rock solid in defense.

The Los Angeles Rams

Without Aaron Donald, the Los Angeles Rams would never win a Super Bowl. The prospect of his retirement should make everyone grateful for what we have in 2022. If this is Donald’s final season, the Los Angeles Rams still have one of the best NFL defenses.

Donald (86 pressures, 49 stops in 2021) gets a lot of attention, but there are plenty of other strong points. Last year, A’Shawn Robinson and Greg Gaines were among the top defensive tackles in ESPN’s run-stop win rate. Safety Jordan Fuller had 24 run stops and was one of the best safeties against the run in the league.

It’s easy to see how dominant the Rams’ defense can be when you combine it with Donald and Jalen Ramsey disrupting the passing game.

Here’s the terrifying part — Los Angeles has traditionally struggled at linebacker. Let’s add All-Pro Bobby Wagner to the equation. He isn’t the player he was, of course, but his leadership and his defensive instincts will be crucial in boosting the middle of the Rams’ defense.

The Green Bay Packers

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De’Vondre Campbell was re-signed by the Green Bay Packers, and Jaire Alexander will return to the field in 2022. Even if Campbell does not perform at an All-Pro level, Green Bay gains an All-Pro cornerback in Alexander and second-year cornerback Eric Stokes is also likely to improve.

Combine those players with Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Adrian Amos, and Darnell Savage and you have a recipe for success.

Green Bay’s first-round picks of linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt garnered some criticism. That said, those changes could be the icing on the cake for one of the finest defenses in the league.

With Walker, a 6-foot-4 missile with tremendous speed, and All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell, prowling the middle and making plays on the ball, the Packers can revert to two inside linebackers.

Significantly, for the first time in years, the Packers have now offered Kenny Clark some assistance. Wyatt is an athletic interior defensive lineman who can put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. Green Bay’s front seven improved significantly in the Draft, and the secondary was already strong.

New Orleans Saints

The Buccaneers aren’t the only ones who are looking forward to Tom Brady‘s return in 2022. The New Orleans Saints defense once again owned Brady during the regular season in 2021, resulting in the greatest quarterback in history finishing with an 89.7 passer rating, a 4-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and two losses against the Saints.

Brady isn’t the only one who has had trouble facing the Saints. The Saints forced the fourth-lowest average quarterback rating (81.7) and the third-lowest touchdown rate in the league (3.4%). On the ground, opponents were helpless, averaging the lowest yards per carry (3.7) in the NFL.

Marcus Williams‘ departure is a blow, but a healthy Marcus Maye and a second-year surge from Paulson Adebo could help close the gap.

Tyrann Mathieu joining the team will also help the defense. While the veteran safety is no longer an All-Pro performer, he is a defensive chess piece who can be moved around and has exceptional instincts which will make him a significant defensive presence in plays across the middle.

Thank you for reading my article on NFL defenses for 2022. You can check out all of my gaming, sports investing, and general NFL HOT takes on my IDP Guys author page. Feel free to connect with me on Twitter @MarcSaulino and follow @IDPGuys in an effort to stay informed about everything that is NFL relevant. 

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