NFL defense rankings 2025: Evaluating all 32 defenses, after the Jalen Ramsey-Minkah Fitzpatrick trade

Our weekly NFL defense rankings examine every unit across the league to determine the best defenses in the NFL. Following free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, let’s dive into our latest rankings for 2025 with evaluations on all 32 teams entering the summer.

1. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have the best NFL defense right now. A unit that allowed the sixth-lowest average QB rating (86.2) and led the NFL in Dropback EPA (-0.061) got even better this offseason with the additions of linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanaoa Hufanga and first-round defensive back Jahdae Barron. Denver now has the unquestioned best secondary in the NFL, which will likely finish as the best pass defense in football this fall. The few needs Denver entered the offseason with – linebacker, safety and nickel – were addressed perfectly and there was no doubt which unit belonged at the No. 1 spot after the 2025 NFL Draft.

Related: Best NFL cornerbacks 2025

2. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans rightfully spent the majority of their top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on the offense. That’s what happens when you have a defensive mastermind like Demeco Ryans as head coach and retain a majority of the starters from a unit that ranked fourth in Success Rate allowed (40.6 percent). Houston achieved a lot of that success even with Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward injured. The Texans also added depth behind standout edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr, signing Darrell Taylor. Between a dominant pass rush – first in ESPN pass-rush win rate in 2024 (49%) – and an elite secondary led by Dere Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, this should be one of the best NFL defenses in 2025.

Related: Best NFL edge rushers 2025

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman reloaded this defense after some key offseason departures. While Josh Sweat is gone, Philadelphia added pass-rushing depth thanks to the signings of Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche to pair with Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith. Meanwhile, Kelee Ringo and Adoree Jackson will have a shot to replace Darius Slay. Even the primary concern we had with this Eagles’ defense – the Nakobe Dean injury – was addressed by Jihaad Campbell falling into the Eagles’ laps in Round 1. If Campbell can stay healthy, Philadelphia has another version of Zack Baun. On top of all this, the team will be heading into its second season under Vic Fangio and his success speaks for itself.

Related: NFL power rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 teams

4. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens fielded a top-five defense in 2024 after benching Marcus Williams. There’s reason to believe this unit can be even better in 2025, especially after adding Jaire Alexander. The No. 2 corner spot was one of the club’s biggest issues this past year and going from Brandon Stephens to Jaire Alexander is a monumental upgrade. There’s an undeniable risk, considering Alexander played 14 games over the past two seasons, but he is still excellent when healthy. With Alexander, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, Baltimore has a top-two secondary. If the pass rush improves, this can be the top defense in 2025.

Related: Baltimore Ravens reporter names Day 3 pick who could start in 2025

5. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings had minimal capital to work with in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is why they splurged on free agency. Believe it or not, a defensive line that finished fourth in pass-rush win rate (46%) and run-stop win rate (33%) could be even better this fall thanks to the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. It’s also worth keeping in mind how much better this defense is with Ivan Pace Jr – 11 games played in 2024 – healthy. Our lone question mark is with the secondary, as Isaiah Rodgers steps into a full-time role and Minnesota looks to fill the void left by Camryn Bynum’s departure. With that said, Brian Flores will still orchestrate one of the best NFL defenses this season.

Related: Insider suggests Vikings ‘have some doubts’ about J.J. McCarthy

6. Detroit Lions

Losing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is an undeniable blow for the Detroit Lions defense, but this group can still exceed its effectiveness from last season. A top-five run defense in 2024 – 98.4 rush ypg and 4.5 yards per carry allowed – landed defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in Round 1. The 327-pound interior tackle is going to clog up running lanes and add to an already strong front against the run. More importantly, Detroit is getting back Amik Robertson, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeil and Derrick Barnes for the 2025 campaign. While a new defensive coordinator comes with an adjustment period and some growing pains for a first-time play-caller, a defense that ranked second in EPA per Play (-0.117) before Week 11 can return to form.

7. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks made re-signing linebacker Ernest Jones a priority this offseason and for good reason. After acquiring Jones, the Seahawks defense ranked fifth in EPA per Play (-0.064) and held opponents to 205 passing yards per game with an 84.8 QB rating and 5.3 ay/a. Seattle did spend the majority of its draft capital on the offense, but Mike Macdonald landed a new defensive toy in athletic marvel Nick Emmanwori. The Kyle Hamilton comparison is outlandish, but Macdonald will know how to utilize Emmanwori’s speed and length. The Seahawks also added DeMarcus Lawrence to solidify their defensive line and we’re expecting a second-year leap from Byron Murphy. Plus, the second year of Macdonald’s defensive scheme is historically when things click for the players.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to solve their CB2 problem with the Jalen Ramsey trade, a move that would’ve created a secondary that made this a top-five defense. However, Pittsburgh shipped safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami, a move that suggests Ramsey will be playing free safety in the Steelers’ defense. It’s certainly an upgrade, as Ramsey could have a Charles Woodson-like career arc with the transition to safety. However, we are still concerned about a 34-year-old Darius Slay starting opposite of Joey Porter Jr., considering the inconsistency of cornerbacks in their mid-30s.

Related: Pittsburgh Steelers have timeline for T.J. Watt contract extension

9. Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers ultimately cut Jaire Alexander, changing the outlook for this cornerback room significantly. Keisean Nixon is now the No. 1 corner with Carrington Valentine taking the spot opposite him when Nate Hobbs is in the slot. It’s a big gamble to take, especially for a club that struggled to generate consistent pressure last season. With that said, Green Bay had a top-10 defense statistically last season, even with Alexander injured. There’s a drop-off in our NFL defense rankings after the top seven teams, but this remains a top-10 unit.

10. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills‘ defense is decimated by injuries every year, but Sean McDermott keeps finding ways to make this unit at least play at an above-average level. With money to spend this offseason, Buffalo added depth with edge rusher Joey Bosa, cornerback Dane Jackson and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. The Bills also loaded up on defense in the draft, with the secondary – cornerback Maxwell Hairston (30th overall) – and the defensive line – tackle T.J. Sanders (31st overall), edge Landon Jackson (72nd overall) and tackle Deone Walker (109th overall) – providing McDermottt with more options than ever before. Buffalo could be even better if it had a high-end No. 2 edge rusher, which Bosa is not, but this defensive line has improved this offseason.

Also Read: Best NFL offensive lines 2025

11. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns convinced perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett to stay, and they supplied him with more help defensively. First-round pick Mason Graham drew a lot of NFL comparisons to Christian Wilkins and his ability to get upfield and disrupt the pocket is unique for a defensive tackle. Graham and Garrett are going to make each other more effective, which is great news for a defensive line that still finished top-five in pass-rush win rate and run-stop win rate last year. Cleveland also prepared itself for a world where linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) can’t return, using a second-round pick on Carson Schwesinger. The additions of Jerome Baker and Maliek Collins should give Cleveland an outstanding pass rush in 2025 and this can be a top-10 defense if the corners stay healthy.

Related: Reporter predicts which Cleveland Browns QB starts the most games

12. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach prioritized the defense in the 2025 NFL Draft, especially early. Needing help on the defensive interior, second-round defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott provides Steve Spagnuolo with a rotational interior rusher. Third-round edge Ashton Gillotte provides excellent depth behind Charles Omenihu and George Karlaftis, while fourth-round corner Nohl Williams adds a press-man boundary corner, which allows Trent McDuffie to stick inside. We do have some concerns regarding the run defense – 123 rush ypg and 4.6 ypa average in the final 8 weeks – but Kansas City did an excellent job adding depth to support McDuffie and Chris Jones. If the new-look secondary steps up, this should be a great defense.

13. New York Giants

The New York Giants are getting back a healthy Dexter Lawrence in 2025. In addition to adding an All-Pro defensive tackle back on the interior, New York also added an elite pass-rushing talent in Abdul Carter. New York will have to get creative with Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux but this defensive front is going to wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage. There’s a real path to New York finishing top-10 in pressure rate and pass-rush win rate in 2025. New York also solved its primary corner problem with Paulso Adebo, while adding safety Jevon Holland as a playmaker who can make Tyler Nubin’s life easier. We’re all in on the Giants’ defense.

Also Read: Predicting when Jaxson Dart makes first start for New York Giants

14. Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter did wonders with this roster last season, far exceeding expectations. A second year in his system will surely help, especially for youngsters like Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still and Junior Colson. However, this unit suffered some offseason losses, with Joey Bosa and Poona Ford departing. Looking at the Chargers’ defense, we have concerns at cornerback with Donte Jackson and some of the options behind him. Los Angeles is also banking a little too heavily on 34-year-old Khalil Mack, especially with no dependable complementary talent opposite him. Minter is great at maximizing what he has, though, which still gives us some confidence.

15. New England Patriots

Bringing in Mike Vrabel as head coach will certainly help the New England Patriots defense. Just as critical is a healthy Christian Barmore paired with free-agent signings Milton Williams and Carlton Davis III. New England upgraded at every level defensively this offseason, adding quality starters and depth behind them. We still have some concerns regarding the absence of a bona fide No. 1 edge rusher, but the Barmore-Williams pairing on the interior can make up for that. Just as important is the cornerback tandem of Davis and Christian Gonzalez, which could be one of the best pairings if the AFC if everyone stays healthy.

Related: Insider clarifies job security for New England Patriots general manager

16. Dallas Cowboys

Coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft, we originally had the Dallas Cowboys placed 10th in our NFL defense rankings. However, Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) is now likely to miss the start of the regular season and that leaves a gaping hole at cornerback opposite of DaRon Bland. We still like the pass-rushing help put around Micah Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa – Dante Fowler Jr., FOnovan Ezeiruaku and Payton Turner – but the secondary is now a bigger concern. If rookie Shavon Revel Jr. can exceed expectations in his first season back from an ACL tear, Dallas will climb this list.

Related: Cowboys insider sheds light on timeline for Micah Parsons extension

17. Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams‘ defensive line is phenomenal and it could improve even more this coming season. Recognizing that one more piece was missing from this front, Les Snead stole Poona Ford from the Chargers. If Braden Fiske and Jared Verse make second-year leaps, we’re looking at one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. There’s also reason to be excited about the safety play of Kamren Kinchens and Kamren Curl, especially after what Kinchens showed down the stretch as a rookie. What’s holding this unit back is the Rams’ cornerback room.

Related: Love the Rams? Check Out LAFBNetwork.com

18. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis squeezed all they could out of a weaker defensive roster last season. In the offseason, Arizona provided them with a quality edge rusher (Josh Sweat), then added Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson and Walter Nolen to bolster the pass rush. We’re very confident it will transform a defensive front that finished 28th in pass-rush win rate (33%) and 27th in pressure rate (19.2%) last season. With a more consistent pass rush, the outstanding talents of Budda Baker and corner Garrett Williams can turn this into a top-15 unit.

19. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts finally invested money in their secondary this offseason. We loved the addition of Charvarius Ward, who played at an All-Pro level from 2022-’23 with the San Francisco 49ers. Indianapolis also added playmaking safety Camryn Bynum, adding the experience and ball skills this young secondary lacked. It’s the improvements on the backend that leave us with confidence that last season’s 37 percent pass-rush win rate (21st in NFL) and 6.2% sack rate (24th) improve. We are, however, highly suspect of the play at off-ball linebacker as missed tackles (157, most in the NFL) were an alarming issue last season. At the very least, though, general manager Chris Ballard gave new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo some talent to work with.

20. Chicago Bears

A majority of the Chicago Bears offseason moves, rightfully, focused on strengthening the supporting cast around Caleb Williams. Chicago did add to its defensive line with Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo, risky signings given Jarrett’s age and Odeyingbo’s history as a backup. There’s optimism for safety Jaquan Briser’s return, who missed the rest of the season after a Week 5 concussion. We do like the Bears’ secondary and new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was an outstanding hire. For now, given this unit’s inconsistency last season, we’ll take a wait-and-see approach but there is upside here.

Related: Former NFL GM ‘not convinced’ Caleb Williams can lead Chicago Bears

21. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are banking a lot on the return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. He is brilliant as a defensive mind and knows how to maximize talent, but he won’t have nearly as much as he used to in his last stint here. Nick Bosa is still an All-Pro talent, but San Francisco got significantly weaker at off-ball linebacker and in the secondary this offseason. The additions of rookies Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins will improve the 49ers’ run defense 134.6 rush ypg, 4.4 ypc and 24 touchdowns allowed in 2024 – but we suspect an inconsistent pass rush and some questions in the secondary make this a favorable opponent for quarterbacks. If San Francisco’s bet on Josh Sweat pays off, in a reunion with Saleh, then this could be a top-15 defense.

Related: San Francisco 49ers’ early expectations for Brandon Aiyuk’s return

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

From Weeks 5-18 last season, opponents averaged a 100.0 QB rating with a 66.7% completion rate and 2 passing touchdowns per game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. A void at edge rusher played a key part in that and there’s optimism that a motivated Haason Reddick will help turn things around. Tampa Bay did address its need at corner early in the NFL Draft with Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, but rookies are volatile and Morrison has durability concerns. Realistically, this spot should be the floor for Tampa Bay in our NFL defense rankings this season but we’ll need to see the pass defense improve early on.

23. New York Jets

The bright side for the New York Jets defense is that Aaron Glenn is a great coach and there’s still some exciting talent on this side of the ball with Sauce Gardner, Jamien Sherwood and Quinnen Williams. However, New York took a massive hit at CB2 with eh move from DJ Reed Jr to Brandon Stephens. We are holding out hope that the Jets’ coaching staff can get safety Andre Cisco back to form, but there’s a real downside if his 2024 issues carry over into this season. We don’t expect New York to be as bad defensively as it was in 2024, but it’s hard to see a top-14 defense returning either.

Related: Jets insider sheds light on potential cost of Sauce Gardner contract extension

24. Miami Dolphins

Instead of trading Jalen Ramsey for draft picks, the Miami Dolphins flipped him for Minkah Fitzpatrick. It’s a return to Miami for the All-Pro safety, who started his career serving as a centerfielder in the Dolphins’ defense. It’s worth recognizing that Fitzpatrick hasn’t looked like an All-Pro defensive back for two years now, but this does help Miami’s secondary. We’re very high on Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, especially if the Dolphins defensive line stays healthy. Miami has the coaching and defensive front to be an above-average defense, but it’s the cornerback room of Storm Duck, Cam Smith, Artie Burns and Kader Kohou that raises alarm bells.

Related: Several Miami Dolphins players reportedly fed up with MIke McDaniel

25. Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders defense greatly exceeded our expectations last season and that’s a credit to Dan Quinn. While we don’t expect this to be one of the worst NFL defenses in 2025, we’re skeptical of it recapturing its success from last season. The Commanders grossly overpaid for defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw in free agency and we’re suspect of a 35-year-old Bobby Wagner maintaining his level fo play. Throw in a below-average pass rush with question marks at cornerback – Jonathan Jones and Marshon Lattimore – you can find reasons to be concerned. With that said, Quinn already proved us wrong once and he could certainly maximize this roster for a top-20 defense this fall.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t seem intent on using Travis Hunter a lot at cornerback this season. That’s a shame because he would’ve been the missing piece for this unit. Jacksonville also didn’t adequately address defensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft or free agency. As for the secondary, a lot is riding on second-year cornerback Jarrian Jones moving to the boundary, along with Tyson Campbell having a rebound year. The best-case scenario is a top-15 defense, but the likelihood of reaching that is low since Hunter will be playing receiver a lot more than he does corner.

27. Las Vegas Raiders

Our concern with the Las Vegas Raiders defense centers on the secondary. Eric Stokes, a former first-round pick, has allowed a 100-plus QB rating when targeted over the last three seasons, and fellow corners Jakorian Bennett and Darnay Holmes aren’t that much better. Las Vegas also lost Robert Spillane, who at the very least provided stable play at linebacker. We do like a Raiders defensive front with Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins and a healthy Malcolm Koonce, but there’s not a starter in the secondary who we trust for Las Vegas. To make matters worse, Wilkins’ foot injury is lingering into the summer.

Related: Latest on Christian Wilkins injury setback

28. Atlanta Falcons

We’re going to need to see it first with the Atlanta Falcons defense. Adding Leonard Floyd, James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker will help improve a front that finished 27th in pass-rush win rate and 31st in sack rate last year. However, Pearce Jr. is a one-trick pony and a 33-year-old Floyd is more of a No. 3 pass rusher at this point in his career. If Atlanta’s pass rush can even be average, it will make coverage a lot easier for an underrated secondary. With all that said, we’re very confident Atlanta will have one of the NFL’s worst run defenses.

Related: Insider details the likelihood of Atlanta Falcons trading Kyle Pitts

29. Cincinnati Bengals

If Trey Hendrickson is on the field for the Cincinnati Bengals this year, not holding out over his contract, this unit shouldn’t be awful. Cincinnati brought in a new defensive coordinator and the franchise is hopeful that a healthy Dax Hill and DJ Turner II will make a real difference for this pass defense. We’re a bit more skeptical, in large part because this is still a one-man pass rush. Maybe first-round pick Shemarr Stewart develops quicker than expected, but Cincinnati’s recent history of developing defensive linemen suggests otherwise.

30. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers tried to spend even more on this defense in free agency, but Milton Williams turned them down. At the very least, adding playmaking safety Tre’von Moehrig behind standout corner Jaycee Horn provides some optimism with this pass defense. Plus, Carolina is getting back standout defensive tackle Derrick Brown. The Panthers’ run defense is going to be awful again and they won’t fare that much better against the pass, but at least this unit won’t reach the abysmal lows we saw in 2024.

31. New Orleans Saints

Dennis Allen’s defensive mind is gone and the New Orleans Saints defense is aging fast. Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis are both entering their age-36 seasons, meaning Father Time will start showing up even more. On top of that, New Orleans is taking some chances with its young corner tandem of Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor, who will be exposed even more bu a bottom-10 pass rush. The Saints focused their top picks on offense, so this defense is likely taking another step back this season.

32. Tennessee Titans

As much as we like Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, he simply doesn’t have much to work with in 2025. Tennessee is trotting out a bottom-five secondary while relying on defensive tackles T’Vondre Sweat and Jeffery Simmons to generate all the pressure. This is just a poorly constructed roster and it’s going to result in the worst defense in the NFL this year.

Related: Tennessee Titans coach reveals why top rookie likely struggled in 2024

NFL defensive statistics are from ESPN, RBSDM.com and Pro Football Reference.

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