Now that Sporting News’ 2024 All-Breakout Offensive Team has been named, it’s time to flip to the other side of the ball and reveal an All-Breakout Defense. Which young defensive players are on the brink of true stardom? Picking only a starting 11 is tricky, but there are studs to headline every position.
How do you identify a potential breakout? First, target non-rookie young players who have yet to get mentions as Pro Bowlers or All-Pros. Second, examine their environment and whether their team is putting them in a great position to succeed.
With that process in mind, for 2024, here are SN’s top candidates.
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Van Ginkel (6-4, 242 pounds) has been a strong part of the Dolphins’ outside linebacker rotation. After posting a career-high six sacks last year, the do-everything pass-rusher decided to reunite with Brian Flores in Minnesota for two years, $20 million. Van Ginkel will now go to work opposite fellow newcomer Jonathan Greenard. He also excels in coverage and just has a knack for making a lot of big plays around the ball. Van Ginkel is positioned to make his first Pro Bowl at 29.
Oweh, taken 31st overall in the 2021 draft out of Penn State, is ready for big things after no longer being a raw sack artist at 25. He’s put it all together with his 6-5, 257-pound frame, coming off five sacks in 13 games last season. Oweh will be a key force getting to the QB for new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, and he has a good shot to hit double-digits.
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Carter (6-3, 314 pounds) was huge as a rotational rookie, recording six sacks from the inside and also scoring his first NFL TD on a fumble return. With Fletcher Cox gone, Carter takes over as the main man up front in the new 3-4 base scheme under Vic Fangio. Carter thrived in such an alignment at Georgia and should explode toward taking the big-picture interior mantle from retiring Aaron Donald.
Speaking of Donald, the Rams already have found a fine successor in this 2023 third-round pick out of Wake Forest. At 6-2, 288 pounds, Turner is the ideal combination of svelte and stout. He had a whopping nine sacks with 16 QB hits and eight tackles for a loss as a rookie. Turner and Carter might be co-All-Pros right away and stay there for a while.
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Dodson broke out some in Buffalo last season with 2.5 sacks and 74 total tackles, but that also was his first full season of games. Seattle got him on a cheap one-year, $4.26 million contract, and he will be a huge upfield upgrade in the new defense of Mike Macdonald. Fred Warner and Bobby Wagner have dominated the Pro Bowl spots, but Dodson should get a nod if he can stay healthy. Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen both starred for Macdonald in Baltimore, so the coaching influence can’t be ignored.
Chenal’s play last season made it easy for the team to not re-sign Willie Gay Jr. Chenal now starts full-time with Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton on the strength of three sacks and 65 total tackles. He’s a great upfield complement to that pair and gives Steve Spagnulo extra blitzing pop.
Lloyd, taken No. 27 overall in 2022, has flashed as a tackling machine and playmaking cover man, but the overall defensive scheme under Mike Caldwell let down in his first two seasons. Now Lloyd goes to work for Ryan Nielsen, who had a great impact on the Saints’ front seven before influencing the Falcons well. Nielsen has his new higher-ceiling version of Kaden Elliss, who played for him both in New Orleans and Atlanta.
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Stingley is now the key cover man in Houston with well-traveled veteran Steven Nelson opting to retire. At 6-0, 190 pounds, it’s time for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft to emerge as a dangerous shutdown type after putting up five interceptions in his second season. Improving the pass rush will Danielle Hunter will only put Stingley in better spots to produce off pressure.
The 2021 fifth-rounder out of Oregon came more into his own late last season, ending up with three interceptions and another high back-end tackle total of 84. He has some safety-like qualities to his game, as he plays bigger than his 5-10, 200-pound frame. Lenoir’s outside development has been helped plenty by the presence of Charvarius Ward.
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Philadelphia continued to make over its secondary by drafting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and also signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson to start next to Blankenship at safety. Blankenship excels in coverage, and he had three interceptions and flew upfield for 113 total tackles in 2023. At 6-1, 203 pounds, the undrafted 2022 player from Middle Tennessee State has emerged as a physical cleanup force.
Battle flashed everywhere with two sacks, 71 total tackles, and an interception last season. The team did bring back Vonn Bell for his strong safety spot, but at 29, he’s more of a faded swing backup to Battle and Geno Stone. Battle should have a big year as a one-year delay to compensate for the 2023 free-agent loss of Jessie Bates III.
