NFL defensive line rankings ahead of Week 13

The defensive line is the heart of any successful defense, tasked with both disrupting the opposing quarterback with a pass rush and shutting down rushing attacks at the line of scrimmage. This season, we will monitor NFL defensive line play all season long, ranking the league's unit from No. 1 to No. 32.

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• The Dolphins are white-hot: Powered by sensational performances from Chop Robinson and Zach Sieler , Miami's defensive line is heating up down the stretch. • The 49ers miss Nick Bosa : Without the former Defensive Player of the Year, no San Francisco defensive lineman posted an overall grade above 64.0 in the team's loss to the Packers.

• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full access to all our in-season fantasy tools, including weekly rankings , WR/CB matchup charts , weekly projections , the Start-Sit Optimizer and more. Sign up now! Estimated reading time: 5 minutes The defensive line is the heart of any successful defense, tasked with both disrupting the opposing quarterback with a pass rush and shutting down rushing attacks at the line of scrimmage. Elite defensive lines can change the course of a game by applying pressure, forcing hurried throws and creating turnovers while also stifling run plays to control the tempo.



This season, we will monitor NFL defensive line play all season long. Unlike our offensive line rankings , which in some cases consider previous-season rankings , these rankings will be based purely on 2024 play. Here are the highlights for the 2024 season and the top defensive lines in Week 12.

For more grades and statistics on the league's best pass-rushers, check out PFF Premium Stats..