The importance of a defensive lineman is only lost on casual fans that check out statistics. Because defensive tackles and ends take on the middle of the offensive line, they frequently absorb double coverage against the best offensive linemen in Madden NFL 24.
A superstar defensive lineman may not get loads of sacks or tackles but they demand the full attention of the defense, freeing up linebackers to get after quarterbacks. The best of the best manage to fight through the odds and stack up fumbles and sacks just fine in Madden NFL 24.
10 Jonathan Allen - DT - 92 OVR
With two consecutive Pro Bowls in two years, Jonathan Allen stood out as a bright spot in Washington. For all the issues the Commanders have a quarterback, they've got one of the best wideouts and one of the best defensive tackles in the game.
In addition to getting the usual sacks, Allen added interceptions and forced fumbles to his game this past season. With a greater eye for turnovers, Washington will be getting extra turns on offense should Allen keep up this level of play.
9 Quinnen Williams - DT - 93 OVR
Quinnen Williams set career highs in tackles and sacks last year and that earned him a Pro Bowl nod. Williams was so ahead of his development that the Jets, somewhat quickly after a rebuild, decided they wanted to get a jumpstart on a Super Bowl window.
This confidence might seem premature but players like Williams made the team believe in themselves. So much so that the coaches made some difficult decisions to get into a win-now mode. If the rest of the team plays as well as Williams, New York might actually be proven correct in this choice.
8 Cameron Heyward - RE - 93 OVR
Going to the last six straight Pro Bowls, Cameron Heyward is a force for the Steelers. This is a team famous for bringing pressure from T.J. Watt but it's Heyward's dominance that allows Watt to get better matchups. Dealing with Heyward is almost always a two-man job.
Pittsburgh is having a bit of a crisis on offense which is a shame because the defense, led by stars like Heyward, deserves better. If the team gets a complete roster on the offensive side of the ball, this defense is ready for a deep playoff run.
7 Von Miller - RE - 94 OVR
Despite not playing a complete season since 2018, Von Miller is still one of the best defensive players in the league. He's got two Super Bowl titles and a whopping eight Pro Bowl entries that make for an already legendary career.
But if he's got one more good year in him, Miller and the Bills could easily have one of the best defenses of all time. With two of the best safeties in the game, Buffalo is primed to win a championship if they just get some good luck with healthy players.
6 Dexter Lawrence II - DT - 94 OVR
2022 was the first Pro Bowl year for Dexter Lawrence II and Giants fans are hoping for more to come. The breakout year saw Lawrence participate in many game-changing moments that resulted in wins for the squad. Playing clutch on defense helped lead New York to a rare playoff appearance.
With the young Lawrence posting career numbers one season ago, it wouldn't take much progress for Lawrence to be the best defensive tackle in the league. When Madden NFL 24 was announced, it would be easy to see the fanbase playing through the season and nabbing a championship with Lawrence shutting down any runs up the middle.
5 Chris Jones - DT - 96 OVR
Two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Jones just tied his career high for sacks last season. As the highest-rated defensive tackle in the game, it's scary to think that this player, who has been to each of the last four Pro Bowls, is still in his prime.
When narrowing down the list of cover athletes, at some point Jones has to pop up as a potential candidate. Nobody else is going what he does at this position. Defensive tackles require unreal strength and Jones continually proves himself to be stronger than any competition.
4 Micah Parsons - RE - 98 OVR
Micah Parsons has been in the league for two years and has been nothing short of sensational. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 and outperformed this lofty standard in 2022, leading to Pro Bowl nods in both years.
As Madden contemplates skipping a year, the league has to hope that Parsons has an off-year soon. Teams are aggressively calling plays away from Parsons, making him responsible for deleting up to half of the field. He's a game-changer for the Cowboys.
3 Nick Bosa - RE - 98 OVR
Last year's Defensive Player of the Year award winner, Nick Bosa led the league with a staggering 18.5 sacks. The year before that one, he led the league in tackles for loss. Considering these are the major metrics for defensive linemen, it's safe to say a 98 or higher is completely fair for Bosa.
San Francisco came just short of reaching the Super Bowl last year with some unfortunate injuries at quarterback. 49ers fans are hoping for another big year from Bosa and some good health at quarterback; if they get both of those, this team is a championship favorite.
2 Myles Garrett - RE - 98 OVR
In each of the last two seasons, Myles Garrett has gotten 16 sacks. That's a preposterous number for a defensive end. Beyond just sacks, Garrett set a new career high in tackles en route to his fourth Pro Bowl selection. He's the defensive stalwart in Cleveland.
The team has one of the best wide receivers in football and Garrett on defense who could easily be a 99 OVR before the year is up. With some decent quarterback play, the Browns could be Super Bowl bound at long last.
1 Aaron Donald - RE - 99 OVR
Aaron Donald had a down year in 2022, only playing 11 of the 17 games. But when gamers were predicting the OVRs of the best players, everybody knew Donald would still be rated at a 99. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is already in the conversation of the best defensive player of all time.
Donald still scored 5 sacks in 11 games which would be great for a linebacker. For a defensive end, though, it shows that Donald is still doing what most linemen can only dream of. He's not slowing down very quickly and that should terrify the rest of the league.
Madden NFL 24 will be released on August 18th, 2023 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.