We’ve already covered each offensive position, the offense as a whole and every defensive position. Edge rushers and corners typically cost the most, but some teams prioritize the interior defensive line and safeties. Here’s a look at the most expensive defenses in the league of players currently on the roster.

• Cap information compiled via Over The Cap
• PFF grades for the entire unit from 2024

1 – Steelers: $178,904,919

• Percentage of total cap: 63.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 12.9
• Edge rusher: 19.8 percent
• Linebacker: 10.8 percent
• Safety: 12.9 percent
• Cornerback: 7.6 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE T.J. Watt, $30,418,694
• PFF grade: 77.8 (4th)

2 – Giants: $150,963,580

• Percentage of total cap: 54.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 14.5
• Edge rusher: 15.4 percent
• Linebacker: 8.3 percent
• Safety: 6.2 percent
• Cornerback: 9.6 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Dexter Lawrence, $23,664,012
• PFF grade: 66.9 (20th)

3 – Colts: $144,375,895

• Percentage of total cap: 51.7 percent
• Interior defensive line: 16.1 percent
• Edge rusher: 13.8 percent
• Linebacker: 5.5 percent
• Safety: 5.4 percent
• Cornerback: 10.9 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL DeForest Buckner, $26,600,000
• PFF grade: 74.2 (9th)

4 – Bears: $144,096,835

• Percentage of total cap: 51.6 percent
• Interior defensive line: 6.8 percent
• Edge rusher: 14.3 percent
• Linebacker: 10.7 percent
• Safety: 6.9 percent
• Cornerback: 12.9 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Montez Sweat, $25,085,494
• PFF grade: 70.9 (11th)

5 – Patriots: $136,947,196

• Percentage of total cap: 49.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 12.2 percent
• Edge rusher: 8.4 percent
• Linebacker: 8.7 percent
• Safety: 11.2 percent
• Cornerback: 8.5 percent
• Top cap hit: S Kyle Dugger, $15,264,706
• PFF grade: 64.4 (24th)

6 – Texans: $136,249,076

• Percentage of total cap: 48.8 percent
• Interior defensive line: 6.5 percent
• Edge rusher: 17.4 percent
• Linebacker: 7.3 percent
• Safety: 7.3 percent
• Cornerback: 10.3 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Danielle Hunter, $20,200,000
• PFF grade: 74.8 (7th)

7 – Commanders: $135,199,729

• Percentage of total cap: 48.4 percent
• Interior defensive line: 14.2 percent
• Edge rusher: 11.9 percent
• Linebacker: 5.2 percent
• Safety: 5.9 percent
• Cornerback: 11.2 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Daron Payne, $26,170,000
• PFF grade: 54.5 (31st)

8 – Jaguars: $134,383,419

• Percentage of total cap: 48.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 6.6 percent
• Edge rusher: 16.00 percent
• Linebacker: 7.3 percent
• Safety: 6.5 percent
• Cornerback: 11.7 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Josh Hines-Allen, $15,370,588
• PFF grade: 63.1 (26th)

9 – Raiders: $133,170,860

• Percentage of total cap: 47.7 percent
• Interior defensive line: 10.7 percent
• Edge rusher: 21.7 percent
• Linebacker: 5.1 percent
• Safety: 4.9 percent
• Cornerback: 5.2 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Maxx Crosby, $38,153,250
• PFF grade: 57.2 (30th)

10 – Cardinals: $132,866,063

• Percentage of total cap: 47.6 percent
• Interior defensive line: 15.5 percent
• Edge rusher: 8.3 percent
• Linebacker: 7.5 percent
• Safety: 10.5 percent
• Cornerback: 5.8 percent
• Top cap hit: S Jalen Thompson, $13,727,750
• PFF grade: 64.8 (23rd)

11 – Ravens: $130,666,571

• Percentage of total cap: 46.8 percent
• Interior defensive line: 10.7 percent
• Edge rusher: 10.2 percent
• Linebacker: 10.8 percent
• Safety: 5.4 percent
• Cornerback: 9.6 percent
• Top cap hit: LB Roquan Smith, $23,718,750
• PFF grade: 75.4 (6th)

12 – Vikings: $130,098,936

• Percentage of total cap: 46.6 percent
• Interior defensive line: 10.3 percent
• Edge rusher: 15.6 percent
• Linebacker: 5.8 percent
• Safety: 7.4 percent
• Cornerback: 7.6 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Jonathan Greenard, $22,300,000
• PFF grade: 70.6 (12th)

13 – Broncos: $128,720,308

• Percentage of total cap: 46.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 16.7 percent
• Edge rusher: 6.8 percent
• Linebacker: 6.9 percent
• Safety: 7.9 percent
• Cornerback: 7.8 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Zach Allen, $19,795,000
• PFF grade: 74.1 (10th)

14 – Cowboys: $128,701,445

• Percentage of total cap: 46.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 5.8 percent
• Edge rusher: 14.3 percent
• Linebacker: 6.8 percent
• Safety: 8.5 percent
• Cornerback: 10.7 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Micah Parsons, $24,007,000
• PFF grade: 62.9 (27th)

15 – Browns: $128,649,318

• Percentage of total cap: 46.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 6.8 percent
• Edge rusher: 11.9 percent
• Linebacker: 5.9 percent
• Safety: 4.1 percent
• Cornerback: 17.4 percent
• Top cap hit: CB Denzel Ward, $24,560,505
• PFF grade: 74.5 (8th)

16 – Packers: $128,433,267

• Percentage of total cap: 46.0 percent
• Interior defensive line: 11.6 percent
• Edge rusher: 13.9 percent
• Linebacker: 4.6 percent
• Safety: 8.4 percent
• Cornerback: 7.5 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Rashan Gary, $25,771,138
• PFF grade: 70.5 (13th)

17 – Titans: $127,416,399

• Percentage of total cap: 45.6 percent
• Interior defensive line: 16.6 percent
• Edge rusher: 5.4 percent
• Linebacker: 3.6 percent
• Safety: 7.3 percent
• Cornerback: 12.8 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Jeffery Simmons, $22,770,588
• PFF grade: 67.4 (19th)

18 – Falcons: $123,285,208

• Percentage of total cap: 44.2 percent
• Interior defensive line: 9.3 percent
• Edge rusher: 9.4 percent
• Linebacker: 6.9 percent
• Safety: 9.9 percent
• Cornerback: 8.6 percent
• Top cap hit: S Jessie Bates III, $22,250,000
• PFF grade: 68.0 (17th)

19 – Buccaneers: $119,141,196

• Percentage of total cap: 42.7 percent
• Interior defensive line: 14.1 percent
• Edge rusher: 8.3 percent
• Linebacker: 5.4 percent
• Safety: 6.1 percent
• Cornerback: 8.8 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Vita Vea, $22,465,065
• PFF grade: 66.8 (21st)

20 – Dolphins: $118,635,929

• Percentage of total cap: 42.5 percent
• Interior defensive line: 8.7 percent
• Edge rusher: 12.3 percent
• Linebacker: 6.9 percent
• Safety: 2.2 percent
• Cornerback: 12.4 percent
• Top cap hit: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, $15,500,000
• PFF grade: 67.8 (18th)

21 – Panthers: $116,842,493

• Percentage of total cap: 41.9 percent
• Interior defensive line: 17.6 percent
• Edge rusher: 7.3 percent
• Linebacker: 6.0 percent
• Safety: 4.6 percent
• Cornerback: 6.3 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Derrick Brown, $18,740,000
• PFF grade: 44.7 (32nd)

22 – Chiefs: $114,646,156

• Percentage of total cap: 41.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 10.9 percent
• Edge rusher: 8.5 percent
• Linebacker: 9.1 percent
• Safety: 3.6 percent
• Cornerback: 8.9 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Chris Jones, $23,600,000
• PFF grade: 79.4 (2nd)

23 – Bills: $113,528,255

• Percentage of total cap: 40.7 percent
• Interior defensive line: 11.3 percent
• Edge rusher: 9.4 percent
• Linebacker: 7.6 percent
• Safety: 3.4 percent
• Cornerback: 8.9 percent
• Top cap hit: LB Matt Milano, $12,188,500
• PFF grade: 59.7 (28th)

24 – 49ers: $112,117,117

• Percentage of total cap: 40.2 percent
• Interior defensive line: 3.4 percent
• Edge rusher: 16.7 percent
• Linebacker: 9.0 percent
• Safety: 4.7 percent
• Cornerback: 6.3 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Nick Bosa, $20,430,870
• PFF grade: 68.4 (16th)

25 – Lions: $110,906,568

• Percentage of total cap: 39.7 percent
• Interior defensive line: 12.6 percent
• Edge rusher: 8.1 percent
• Linebacker: 7.7 percent
• Safety:  3.1 percent
• Cornerback: 8.2 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL D.J. Reader, $12,933,000
• PFF grade: 76.8 (5th)

26 – Seahawks: $110,780,512

• Percentage of total cap: 39.7 percent
• Interior defensive line: 11.6 percent
• Edge rusher: 10.2 percent
• Linebacker: 3.9 percent
• Safety: 4.5 percent
• Cornerback: 9.5 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Leonard Williams, $15,041,250
• PFF grade: 69.8 (14th)

27 – Chargers: $110,356,062

• Percentage of total cap: 39.5 percent
• Interior defensive line: 4.5 percent
• Edge rusher: 11.5 percent
• Linebacker: 4.0 percent
• Safety: 14.2 percent
• Cornerback: 5.3 percent
• Top cap hit: S Derwin James, $23,856,400
• PFF grade: 78.5 (3rd)

28 – Jets: $106,989,353

• Percentage of total cap: 38.3 percent
• Interior defensive line: 10.8 percent
• Edge rusher: 6.4 percent
• Linebacker: 7.2 percent
• Safety: 3.8 percent
• Cornerback: 10.0 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Quinnen Williams, $21,585,249
• PFF grade: 64.0 (25th)

29 – Bengals: $99,444,107

• Percentage of total cap: 35.6 percent
• Interior defensive line: 7.4 percent
• Edge rusher: 11.7 percent
• Linebacker: 5.7 percent
• Safety: 4.8 percent
• Cornerback: 5.9 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Trey Hendrickson, $18,666,668
• PFF grade: 66.0 (22nd)

30 – Saints: $92,497,857

• Percentage of total cap: 33.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 6.3 percent
• Edge rusher: 9.8 percent
• Linebacker: 5.4 percent
• Safety: 6.6 percent
• Cornerback: 5.0 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Cameron Jordan, $9,775,000
• PFF grade: 57.5 (29th)

31 – Rams: $69,208,636

• Percentage of total cap: 24.8 percent
• Interior defensive line: 5.4 percent
• Edge rusher: 4.3 percent
• Linebacker: 2.5 percent
• Safety: 4.6 percent
• Cornerback: 7.9 percent
• Top cap hit: CB Darious Williams, $9,166,666
• PFF grade: 69.7 (15th)

32 – Eagles: $64,445,867

• Percentage of total cap: 23.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 5.9 percent
• Edge rusher: 4.2 percent
• Linebacker: 4.8 percent
• Safety: 2.5 percent
• Cornerback: 5.6 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Jalen Carter, $5,947,110
• PFF grade: 91.2 (1st)