Ranking the best pass rush units on the Kansas City Chiefs 2024 schedule

Many different pass rush groups are searching far and wide for ways to better affect Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Since entering the league, Mahomes has routinely fared well against opponents who like to blitz. The calmness that he shows in those moments helps create huge plays for the Kansas City offense. And in other instances, Mahomes has the ability to extend plays and evade pressure with his legs to make defenses look helpless.

Entering the 2024 season, there are many intriguing defenses on the Chiefs' schedule. You have some teams that are boasting solid depth, especially in the pass rush. Other teams are looking for greater splashes after remodeling their defense with offseason moves. Finally, some of the defenses on the schedule are just looking for a reset and a new foundation.

Today, I am ranking who I believe are the five best opposing pass rushes on the Chiefs' 2024 schedule. If we are being completely honest, narrowing down this list was difficult. It was challenging to decide which above average units were going to have to be left off, in order to complete the top five.

Without further ado, let's kick things off with the pass rush that I ranked fifth on the Chiefs' schedule.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

It came down to the Las Vegas Raiders or the Cincinnati Bengals at the fifth spot. In the division, no pass rusher is as much a game-wrecker as Maxx Crosby. He offers a motor and effort that most teams would kill for from snap to snap. Elsewhere, the addition of Christian Wilkins in the middle of the defensive line is a huge boost from free agency. But in the end, I like the depth of the Bengals pass rush more.

Cincinnati had a bit of a down year defensively last season. However, most of that was due to the up-and-down play of the secondary, in my opinion. Since going to the Bengals, Trey Hendrickson has routinely been a productive fixture among pass rushers. He has tallied 39.5 sacks in three seasons wearing the Bengal tiger stripes, via Pro Football Reference. Hendrickson dominated with 17.5 sacks last year.

Beyond Hendrickson, you have a move that I would categorize as underrated from free agency. That would be the addition of defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. With BJ Hill next to him inside, plus the depth options of Sam Hubbard and Cam Sample, Cincinnati can offer a wide array of skill sets when rushing the passer. Young options like Myles Murphy and Kris Jenkins Jr. will look to provide another sense of strength, as well. You add in the multiple looks and adjustments from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, and the Bengals can pounce on you in a hurry.

4. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are receiving a tremendous amount of hype entering 2024, and rightfully so. To see where the Texans are now, compared to just a couple of years ago, it is pretty astonishing. Houston was able to jump start things with both early draft picks in 2023. One had arguably the best rookie quarterback season ever, in C.J. Stroud. But with Will Anderson, there is so much potential that he can reach still in the pass rush, despite a strong rookie campaign.

Anderson is a pass rusher that I would describe as violent and tenacious. His feet attack at a rapid pace. He tears through blockers in a rough way. Most of all, Anderson seems to increase his speed when getting home near the quarterback. You add that into the offseason moves that Houston made, and the Texans' pass rush pairs a young player with consistency. Whether it is always true or not, you could say that both Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry have been some of the most underappreciated pass rushers in recent years. The Texans added both in free agency, and they know how to work through blocks and produce. All told, Houston just simply enters this year with a more sturdy pass rush foundation than last season.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have struggled to find consistency on offense the last few years. Yet, Mike Tomlin's group is always stingy, especially upfront, on the defensive side. The EDGE rusher duo of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith may be the best duo that Kansas City will see in 2024. And with continuous questions for the Chiefs offensive tackles, this will be a fascinating test late in the year.

Watt is a perennial candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. Barring a surprise, Watt should eclipse 100 career sacks in this upcoming campaign. He currently has 96.5 sacks in his career so far through seven seasons, via Pro Football Reference. That is good enough for an average of nearly 14 sacks per season, even with missing some time due to injuries in that span. As Pro Football Reference shows, Watt has been the single-season leader in sacks in three of his seven career seasons.

As for Highsmith, he has really bolstered a solid technique and continues to come through in major moments. He has 29.5 career sacks in four seasons so far. If he continues to create more one-on-one opportunities for others on the defensive line, Pittsburgh can wreck games in a hurry. Besides the EDGE rush duo, you have the longtime stalwart Cam Heyward, a dependable Larry Ogunjobi and the up-and-coming Keeanu Benton that provide an immediate push from the middle of the defensive line. The Steelers will always provide a handful in their pass rush.

2. Cleveland Browns

Throughout the 2023 season, there were weeks where no defense was more in command the Cleveland Browns. That was espeically true, when Cleveland was at home during the early portion of the year. Cleveland has one of the best defensive ends in the NFL, in Myles Garrett. Just by himself, the Browns can be a unit that can put opposing offenses in a stranglehold.

With Garrett, he has excellent quickness and movement skills at his size. His strength and power has sometimes led blockers right into the laps of their quarterbacks. And even when offenses look to double team Garrett, it still is not always enough to slow him down. Following many solid seasons, last year's superb campaign earned Garrett NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

While it is hard enough trying to corral Garrett, the depth of the Browns' pass rush is truly starting to take shape. Za'Darius Smith, Alex Wright and Ogbo Okoronkwo provide a well-rounded group at defensive end alongside Garrett. But even at defensive tackle, long and powerful players like Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson really make Cleveland a stout and deep unit. And with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the Browns offer an attacking, fierce style that can really toy with the mind of opposing offenses.

1. San Francisco 49ers

From one dominant defensive end in Cleveland, to another in San Francisco. Nick Bosa has largely ended games as sort of a closer in key moments ever since he entered the NFL. From this pass rusher, there is really a rare mix of strength off of the line of scrimmage, quick feet and a swift hand technique to combat opponents. Bosa led the NFL in sacks in 2022 with 18.5, according to Pro Football Reference. In just the last three years, their database shows that he has averaged nearly 15 sacks per season.

Opposite of Bosa, the 49ers signed veteran Leonard Floyd this offseason. Some may scoff at the idea of him being a decent pass rusher still. But recently, Floyd has thrived as the secondary piece in a pass rush unit. He can win from wide angles, while also offering burst off of the line of scrimmage. Pro Football Reference displays that he has had anywhere from nine to 10.5 sacks in each of the last four seasons.

The projected starting defensive tackle duo of Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins is not going to be topped by many other defensive tackle rooms, due to their all-around games. And if there is anything we know about the San Francisco pass rush, it is that their depth can come in waves. This allows for the pressure to be sent routinely and heavily in a single game, giving the opponent no time to breathe. The Chiefs have done okay in the past against this 49ers pass rush group. Can San Francisco use this unit to finally top Kansas City this time around?