The San Francisco 49ers' 2024 campaign fell short of expectations, with the team finishing with just six wins, placing last in the NFC West, and missing the postseason for the first time since 2020.

Despite the disappointment, several defensive players delivered standout performances and earned notable grades from Pro Football Focus (PFF). Below is a list of the 49ers' top 12 defensive performers, per the analytics site, along with their defensive grades.


RELATEDPFF's highest-graded 49ers offensive players of the 2024 season
  1. DE Nick Bosa, 91.0
  2. LB Fred Warner, 89.2
  3. LB Dre Greenlaw, 82.0
  4. LB Tatum Bethune, 72.9
  5. LB Jalen Graham, 71.5
  6. S George Odum, 70.5
  7. CB Renardo Green, 69.2
  8. CB Deommodore Lenoir, 67.3
  9. LB Dee Winters, 66.4
  10. S Ji'Ayir Brown, 64.8
  11. S Malik Mustapha, 63.9
  12. S Tashaun Gipson Sr., 63.1

Injuries played a significant role in the 49ers' struggles during the season. While Greenlaw ranked as one of the top-three defenders for the team, he was limited to just two game appearances. Other players, such as Bethune, also missed time due to injury.

Quick Notes


Defensive end Nick Bosa's 91.0 grade was the second-highest on the team, behind only tight end George Kittle's 92.1 offensive grade. Bosa's 89.3 pass-rushing grade was the best on the defense.

Linebacker Fred Warner earned the highest coverage grade among his teammates. Rookie cornerback Renardo Green received the highest coverage grade among 49ers defensive backs, though he ranked fifth overall among his teammates in that category.

Despite limited playing time, linebacker Dre Greenlaw posted the team's best run-defense grade (85.0), with Warner coming in second at 82.1.

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