Next Gen Stats 2024 All-Pro Team: Broncos, Eagles duos put stamp on defense; plus, special teamers

Widely regarded as one of the league's most explosive edge rushers, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year continued his pass-rushing dominance in 2024 by tallying the third-most total pressures (84) and the second-most quick pressures (40) across the NFL. Despite operating in a Browns defense that rarely played with a comfortable lead, Garrett still averaged an elite 0.70-second get-off time, quickest among players with at least 200 pass rush snaps. In one-on-one situations, his 20.8% pressure rate led all defenders with at least 100 pass rushes, highlighting just how important it is for opposing quarterbacks to account for No. 95.

Hendrickson, winner of the 2024 sack title (he paced the NFL with 17.5), also led the league in pressures (92) and total games with five-plus pressures recorded (12). The defensive end accounted for nearly a third of the Bengals' individual pressures (32.2%) and almost half of their sacks (48.6%), both the highest team shares in the NFL. Most of his work (87 of his 92 pressures) came opposite left tackles -- that mark of 87 sits as the second-most pressures in a season by a pass rusher from right-edge alignment over the last nine seasons, behind only his own total of 88 from 2021.

Long considered one of the top interior defensive linemen in football, Jones showcased his versatility in 2024, wreaking havoc whether rushing from the inside or off the edge. He posted 23 pressures and 5.0 sacks from edge alignments, leading all players who primarily lined up at defensive tackle. His explosive first step also translated across multiple spots: Jones recorded the league's fourth-fastest get-off time (0.90 seconds) from the interior and the fifth-fastest (0.72 seconds) from the edge. Overall, his 26 pressures in under 2.5 seconds were four more than any other defensive tackle, tying for eighth in the league among all defenders.

Any time your name appears alongside Aaron Donald, you’re in elite company. Allen earned that distinction in 2024 when he became the first defensive tackle since Donald (in 2021) to crack the top 10 in total pressures (67, tied for ninth-most). His dominance extended to run defense, too: He recorded the third-most run tackles for loss or no gain (20) among all players and posted the second-highest run-stuff rate (6.5%) among defensive tackles with at least 200 run snaps. And he rarely came off the field -- Allen led all defensive tackles in playtime percentage (83.6%) and snaps per game (56.9).

Another one of Howie Roseman’s key offseason additions, Baun shifted to a more traditional off-ball linebacker role in his first year in Philadelphia, and it paid major dividends. With Baun manning the middle, the Eagles held opposing quarterbacks to a league-low 59.9% completion rate and a -10.6 completion percentage over expected on throws targeting the middle third. When targeted in coverage as the nearest defender, Baun allowed the fewest target EPA among linebackers (-25.7). His prowess also extended to run defense, where his -44.0 points added on run stops ranked second among his position group.

No off-ball linebacker in the last three seasons has impacted his team’s pass rush quite like Elliss did in 2024. His 34 total pressures tied him with Lavonte David for the most among linebackers, a mark that was last achieved in 2021, when Micah Parsons primarily played off the ball. Elliss finished the season second on the team in pressures -- the only off-ball linebacker to finish top two -- while posting a 14.5% team pressure share, the highest mark by a linebacker since Parsons in 2021. A top-six finish in total tackles (150) and a low missed tackle rate (15 total missed tackles for a mere 82 yards lost) only solidifies his breakout.

All season long, quarterbacks and play-callers made it a point to avoid "Surtain Island." The Broncos’ standout cornerback shadowed six receivers for at least 20 routes this season -- DK Metcalf, Mike Evans, Garrett Wilson, Jakobi Meyers, Jerry Jeudy and Ja’Marr Chase -- and not one surpassed 30 receiving yards when lined up against him. Opponents targeted Surtain on just 10.9% of his snaps, the lowest rate since 2021 among corners with at least 300 coverage snaps. When they did try him, Surtain allowed a league-best -0.43 expected points added per target (among CBs with at least 300 coverage snaps and 30 targets), while allowing a 46.6 passer rating in zone coverage, the lowest mark allowed among cornerbacks with at least 20 such targets as the nearest defender in coverage.

The Texans pass defense surged in 2024, due in no small part to Stingley. Among all defenders, he allowed the second-fewest receptions over expected (-7.6) and just 4.9 yards per target, the lowest mark for any cornerback with at least 30 targets as the nearest defender. His coverage downfield was especially dominant: On 42 targets beyond 10 air yards, Stingley allowed only nine completions while breaking up 12 passes, good for a 21.4% completion percentage allowed when targeted, the best among defenders with at least 15 such targets.

If you are wondering how the Eagles’ pass defense suddenly turned a corner this season, look no further than Week 6, when DeJean, a rookie, stepped into the starting nickel role. From that point on, the Eagles allowed just 4.2 yards per play out of nickel personnel -- which, over a full season (minimum 100 plays), would be the fewest since Next Gen Stats began tracking in 2016. That midseason switch flipped Philly from one of the league’s worst slot defenses to one of the best. DeJean’s individual numbers underscore his impact: He allowed only 4.9 yards per target as the nearest defender, lowest among slot corners with at least 30 targets, and the third-fewest by any rookie in our data.

Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Hamilton spent over half of his defensive snaps in the box (42.8%) or in the slot (28.3%), with an average depth from the line of scrimmage of 5.4 yards. During that span, the Ravens yielded the NFL’s highest explosive pass rate (18.7%) and the most passing yards on passes of 10-plus air yards (1,655). From Week 11 on, Hamilton’s role changed, moving to deep safety on over two-thirds of plays (69.3%), with an average depth of 10.0 yards. Baltimore saw immediate results: Over the Ravens final eight games of the regular season, the unit allowed the fewest expected points added against the pass (-85.7) and the second-fewest passing yards on targets of 10-plus air yards (575).

Joseph has been in a league of his own this season, making opposing quarterbacks deeply regret challenging him through the air. His -53.7 expected points added when targeted led all safeties by a wide margin (over 30 points better than Xavier McKinney’s -22.3), which ranks as the best mark by any safety since at least 2016. Joseph’s passer rating allowed (29.2) is also the lowest of any safety over the last three seasons (minimum 20 targets). The ballhawk capped his outstanding season with a league-best nine interceptions (five in man coverage) -- both highs for a safety since at least 2016.

In his 10th season in the Steel City -- in a stadium known for its difficult weather conditions, especially late in the year -- Boswell delivered arguably his best performance yet. The regular season leader in field goals made (41) finished fourth in field goal percentage (93.2%) while converting 12 of his 14 attempts from 50-plus yards and all 35 of his extra point tries. His 24.8 expected points added on field goals -- five-plus points more than the next-closest kicker -- is largely due to his accuracy in clutch moments, as he nailed 18 of 20 lead-changing field goals for 11.3 EPA on those high-stakes attempts.

With the help of tracking data, we can measure punt distance in terms of distance traveled in the air (as the crow flies) -- an area where Cole exceled, averaging 62.5 yards per punt, the highest mark since at least 2016 (minimum 10 punts). Cole finished top three in true punt distance for the fourth consecutive season, with an average distance exceeding 60 yards in all four seasons.

Turpin dominated the kickoff return game in 2024, leading the NFL with 904 return yards -- a total boosted by his league-best 292 kick return yards over expected, the highest mark for any player in the past six seasons (beating Keisean Nixon’s 214 in 2022). Turpin’s speed was his biggest weapon: He topped out at 21.85 mph on a 69-yard return in Week 17, the fastest top speed on a kick return since 2020. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they were called for holding on the play. Overall, Turpin hit 21-plus mph on three separate returns, the most by any player in a single season in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016).

Mims averaged 15.7 yards per return, the highest mark by any player with at least 10 returns. He also led the league in punt return yards over expected (148) and finished third in punt return success rate (57.7%) without a single fumble. Speed was a big part of his game -- among all players with at least 50 touches (from scrimmage or as a returner), Mims posted an average top speed of 16.0 mph, second only to the kickoff returner on this list, KaVontae Turpin (16.34).