2025 Defensive Line Rankings

The major offseason events (free agency and the draft) have concluded, so it is an excellent time to start analyzing depth charts to determine where teams rank going into the 2025 season. Knowing the strength of different position groups could be beneficial when determining which teams to target and avoid in fantasy.

We have already ranked and analyzed every offensive line group heading into 2025. Now it is time to turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball. Below you’ll find a ranking of all 32 defensive line starting units and key depth players.

As a reminder, these rankings pay attention to position designations. That means you won’t see a lot of well-known edge-rushers if their teams play a base 3-4 defense. Don’t fret though, the linebacker groups will have their rankings in due time. Check out the NFL defensive line rankings below. 

2025 Defensive Line Rankings

1. Cleveland Browns (Base 4-3)

LE: Myles Garrett, LDT: Maliek Collins, RDT: Mason Graham, RE: Isaiah McGuire
Key Depth: Mike Hall Jr., Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Ogbo Okoronkwo

Cleveland is one of two teams (Pittsburgh) that has a unit that ranks in the top 10 for average PFF grade (81.2), run grade (75.0) and pass-rushing grade (79.2). 

Myles Garrett’s greatness is well established at this point after four straight seasons with a 92.0+ PFF grade and 14.0-plus sacks. The team hopes that rookie Mason Graham can add some much-needed interior defensive line talent after selecting him with the fifth overall pick. Graham posted back-to-back seasons with a 90-plus PFF grade at Michigan. He will form a solid tandem with veteran free-agent acquisition Maliek Collins.

The final edge spot will likely be a rotation between Isaiah McGuire, Ogbo Okoronkwo and free agent Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Cleveland also has to hope that 2024 second-round pick Mike Hall Jr. can show growth after a solid rookie season (67.7 PFF grade) that was limited to 232 snaps due to injury. 

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-4)

LE: Derrick Harmon, NT: Keeanu Benton, RE: Cameron Heyward
Key Depth: Isaiahh Loudermilk, Yahya Black, DeMarvin Leal, Dean Lowry

Cameron Heyward is the ageless wonder. He’s had at least an 89.0 PFF grade and 782 snaps played in seven of the last eight seasons. During that stretch, he finished with at least 56 pressures seven times and hit 8.0-plus sacks six times. 

Nose tackle Keeanu Benton finished 2024 with the same amount of pressures as his rookie season (22). He remains a strong interior pass rusher (at least a 75 pass-rush grade in two seasons), but his work in the run game needs work. He has a 15.4% missed tackle rate to start his career.

A strong unit was further amplified by the addition of Oregon’s Derrick Harmon in the first round of the draft. Harmon flourished in his lone season with the Ducks, logging a 17.6% pass-rush win rate and logging 43 hurries and 5.0 sacks on 346 pass-blocking snaps. There are concerns about the health of his knee, but if it holds up, he will only amplify the impact of this group.

Pittsburgh boasts solid veteran depth behind its starters, but any time without Harmon, Benton or Heyward will be very noticeable. Expect this unit to dominate as long as they are all on the field.

3. Houston Texans (4-3)

LE: Will Anderson Jr., LDT: Tim Settle Jr., RDT: Sheldon Rankins, RE: Danielle Hunter
Key Depth: Denico Autry, Darrell Taylor, Mario Edwards Jr., Folorunso Fatukasi

The edge duo of Will Anderson Jr. (11.0 sacks and 51 pressures) and Danielle Hunter (12 sacks and 66 pressures) is the most formidable defensive line duo in the NFL. The team also has experienced veteran depth in Denico Autry and Darrell Taylor. 

The interior defensive line is far less certain with returning players Tim Settle (57.6 PFF grade), Mario Edwards Jr. (56.2) and Folorunso Fatukasi (33.7) back in the fold. Houston signed Sheldon Rankins in free agency to fortify the group, but he’s coming off a season where he played career-low snaps (287) and a 55.3 PFF grade.

If Rankins can re-discover his form (or benefit from being surrounded by superior edge talent), this group could press for the top unit in the NFL. However, there is just too much uncertainty on the interior to push them past the top two teams on this list to start the year. 

4. Indianapolis Colts (4-3)

LE: Kwity Paye, LDT: Grover Stewart, RDT: DeForest Buckner, RDE: Laiatu Latu
Key Depth: Samson Ebukam, JT Tuimoloau, Adetomiwa Adebawore

Three of the Colts’ four returning starters played at least 15 games and logged at least 600 snaps. The only player who didn’t (DeForest Buckner) missed five games with an injury but still finished fourth on the team in pressures (35). 

Samson Ebukam is a veteran presence who missed 2024 with an Achilles injury (he is also a cut candidate), but the team hedged his availability by drafting Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau in the second round of the draft. He should be able to replace some of Dayo Odeyingbo’s high-effort snaps after he posted a career-best 12.5 sacks in his final season with Ohio State.

The key to this group climbing is 2024 first-round pick Laiatu Latu taking a step after an uneven rookie season. Latu finished second on the team in pressures (38) but converted those into just four sacks. He also led all of the Colts defensive linemen in missed tackle rate (25.7%). 

5. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)

LE: Braden Fiske, NT: Poona Ford, RE: Kobie Turner
Key Depth: Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton

The Rams faced an impossible task in 2024, replacing Aaron Donald after his retirement.

They did an excellent job.

Kobie Turner (74.9 PFF grade) was mostly able to replicate his strong rookie season, increasing his pressure total (54) while weathering a dip in PFF grade (83.8 in 2023) and sack totals (8.0). Neither should be surprising given how defenses no longer needed to focus on Donald wreaking havoc.

The Rams also hit on their Donald replacement in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft with Florida State’s Braden Fiske. He was far from a finished product in the run game (40.0 run defense grade) but finished third on the team in pressures (51) and led in sacks (8.5) as a rookie.

Turner and Fiske will be joined by veteran nose tackle Poona Ford, who is coming off an 85.1 PFF grade in his lone season with the Chargers. He has at least 22 pressures and 2.0 sacks in four of his last five seasons. 

An injury could derail this group in a hurry, but the Rams have young, disruptive pieces along the defensive line to complement their strong edge-rushing presence. 

6. Tennessee Titans (3-4)

LE: Sebastian Joseph-Day, NT: T’Vondre Sweat, RE: Jeffery Simmons
Key Depth: Abdullah Anderson, Keondre Coburn

The Titans boast a defensive line featuring three above-average players who all do their respective roles quite well, especially when it comes to stopping the run. 

The combination of Sebastian Joseph-Day, T’Vondre Sweat, and Jeffery Simmons combined to average a 75.2 run defense grade and a 75.4 PFF grade. Of the three, Simmons was the only notable pass-rusher, finishing with an 81.6 pass-rush grade and 45 pressures with 5.0 sacks.

There were initial concerns that Sweat would enter the NFL as a rotational player due to his massive size (6-foot-4, 366 pounds), but he quickly proved he is a three-down player by finishing seventh on the team in defensive snaps (699) and playing in all 17 games.

Outside of Sweat, this group is getting a bit old, which is a problem given their lack of depth. But this is still a very strong group of experienced veterans who are willing to eat blocks to let the team’s edge-rushers get after the quarterback.

7. Buffalo Bills (4-3)

LE: Greg Rousseau, LDT: DaQuan Jones, RDT: Ed Oliver, RE: Joey Bosa
Key Depth: A.J. Epenesa, Michael Hoecht, Larry Ogunjobi, T.J. Sanders

Few teams can match the talent and depth of the Bills defensive line heading into 2025. 

Buffalo returns four of its top five leaders in pressures and sacks from 2024. The team is also boosted by the fact that Greg Rousseau has developed into one of the better edge-rushers in the NFL after posting a third straight season with a PFF grade above 83.0 and 40+ pressures. 

The Bills added Joey Bosa to try to upgrade Von Miller (as long as Bosa can stay healthy). The veteran edge was limited to just 457 snaps in 2024 but still generated 34 pressures on 315 pass attempts. The team also made sure to add reliable depth in Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi 2025 second-round pick T.J. Sanders will also provide some pass-rush upside after posting a 12.6% pass-rush win rate in his final season at South Carolina. 

This is a strong group with at least one talented edge-rusher (Rousseau) and interior offensive lineman (Ed Oliver). If they can get consistently positive contributions from the rest of the group they can be formidable next season. 

8. Seattle Seahawks (3-4)

LE: Leonard Williams, NT: Byron Murphy II, RE: Jarran Reed
Key Depth: Johnathan Hankins, Mike Morris

Leonard Williams dominated in his first full season as a Seahawk. The veteran defensive end posted a career-high PFF grade (87.1) and had his second consecutive season with at least 50 pressures. He also posted his first double-digit sack season since 2020 (11.0). 

Jarran Reed (48 pressures) is another quality end, but this group needs 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II to elevate his game after struggling through injuries as a rookie. Murphy had a solid 21 pressures on 244 passing downs in his first year but was limited to 457 snaps and finished with a 57.8 PFF grade in his first season. 

Health will be crucial for Seattle with Johnathan Hankins (35.9 PFF grade) as the only notable backup. If Murphy can take his game to the next level with Williams and Reed matching their 2024 output, this could be a formidable group.  

9. Denver Broncos (3-4)

LE: Zach Allen, NT: D.J. Jones, RE: John Franklin-Myers
Key Depth: Malcolm Roach, Sai’vion Jones

Denver’s defensive line doesn’t have much name recognition, but it has four returning players who quietly go about their job so their edge-rushing talent can disrupt opposing quarterbacks.

The Broncos return four players (Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach) who finished 2024 with at least 450 snaps played, a PFF grade over 63.0 and a pass-rush grade above 64.0. That group combined to generate 170 pressures and 19.0 sacks, both of which are impressive for a 3-4 defensive line group.

Their return, combined with the addition of 2025 third-round pick Sai’vion Jones (15.1% pass-rush win rate in 2024) gives this group a collection of high-effort defensive linemen that frequently make plays in the backfield. 

10. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

LE: Nick Bosa, LDT: Jordan Elliott, RDT: Alfred Collins, RE: Mykel Williams
Key Depth: Yetur Gross-Matos, CJ West, Kevin Givens 

The defensive line has been a strength in San Francisco for years, but this year the team chose to replace veterans with highly drafted rookies. 

Nick Bosa remains one of the premier edge-rushers when he’s on the field. Bosa was limited to just 14 games in 2024 but still posted a 91.0 PFF grade and led the 49ers in pressures (69) and sacks (9.0). He will be joined by 2025 first-round defensive end Mykel Williams and second-round defensive tackle Alfred Collins. 

Williams was hampered by an ankle injury during his final college season but played most of the year and still found a way to post a career-high 5.0 sacks. He is still young and has the length and strength to develop into a force if healthy. Collins will be trusted to be a presence in the run game due to his length and versatility (85.0 PFF grade). 

Early production from Williams and Collins would elevate higher into these rankings. The team also has solid depth in players like Yetur Gross-Matos, Kevin Givens and rookie defensive tackle CJ West. 

This unit doesn’t have much name recognition outside of Bosa, but they should be solid as a sum of their parts.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)

LE: Shemar Stewart, LDT: B.J. Hill, RDT: T.J. Slaton Jr., RE: Trey Hendrickson
Key Depth: Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai, Kris Jenkins Jr. 

This ranking is contingent upon the Bengals figuring out a way to make Trey Hendrickson happy at defensive end. The team cannot afford to lose one of the most productive pass-rushers in the NFL (299 pressures and 57.0 sacks since joining the team in 2021). 

The Bengals have invested premium draft picks over the past few seasons on the defensive line but have yet to yield results. Kris Jenkins logged a 45.4 PFF grade in 496 snaps as a rookie. 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy has yet to play more than 353 snaps in a season or generate more than 20 pressures.

Cincinnati took another shot at an edge-rusher in this class, selecting Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart in the first round of the draft. Stewart is an athletic marvel who has every tool to be a stud edge-rusher but never parlayed it into college production (4.5 sacks in three seasons). 

Hendrickson makes this whole group better just by being on the field. But if he goes, then this unit will go careening down the ranks. 

12. Las Vegas Raiders (4-3)

LE: Maxx Crosby, 1T: Christian Wilkins, 3T: Adam Butler, RE: Malcolm Koonce
Key Depth: Tyree Wilson, Charles Snowden, Tonka Hemingway, JJ Pegues

Things went south in a hurry for Las Vegas in 2024. Promising young edge-rusher Malcolm Koonce missed the entire season after tearing his ACL before the season. Highly paid free agent acquisition Christian Wilkins played just 246 snaps before sustaining a foot injury. The usually reliable Maxx Crosby played just 12 games and had his fewest sacks (7.5) and pressures (54) since the 2020 season. 

Those three are expected to return and be healthy in 2025, which is huge for this unit. The Raiders also got a productive season from Tyree Wilson (66.7 PFF grade with 37 pressures and 4.5 sacks) as edge depth. The team used two Day 3 draft picks to bolster their interior line with South Carolina’s Tonka Hemingway (fourth round) and Ole Miss’s JJ Pegues (sixth round). 

The Raiders defensive line has plenty of talent and will enter 2025 with adequate depth. If their studs can stay on the field they have a chance to shoot up these rankings as the season goes on. 

13. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)

LE: Moro Ojomo, NT: Jordan Davis, RE: Jalen Carter
Key Depth: Byron Young, Ty Robinson, Thomas Booker IV

The quality of the Eagles starters and their defensive line depth took a significant hit with Milton Williams (40 pressures and 5.0 sacks) departing in free agency. Thankfully, this group should be able to survive his departure thanks to a young core headlined by Jalen Carter.

Carter struggled to match the level of play he had in a limited role as a rookie but still posted a 74.1 PFF grade despite logging over 300 more snaps in his second season. Unfortunately, the expanded role didn’t result in a noticeable jump in pressures (53) or sacks (4.5).

Jordan Davis has also been effective but continued to function as a rotational player (387 snaps in his third year). The team desperately needs Moro Ojomo to build upon his strong showing in the defensive line rotation (31 pressures on 388 snaps) in 2024.

The Eagles added a veteran to their defensive line (Byron Young) and drafted a solid young defensive lineman with a high motor in the fourth round (Nebraska’s Ty Robinson) to try to maintain depth, but they need their starting group to give more now that their most productive player (Williams) is no longer with the team. 

14. Detroit Lions (4-3)

LE: Aidan Hutchinson, 1-Tech: DJ Reader, 3-Tech: Alim McNeill, RE: Marcus Davenport
Key Depth: Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal 

This lofty ranking is contingent on Aidan Hutchinson’s availability in 2025. If he can return from his season-ending ankle injury with minimal dropoff, then this ranking is probably too low. 

Hutchinson was in the middle of a third-year leap when he got hurt, logging a 94.9 PFF grade in 280 snaps. Despite the limited playing time, he led the team in both pressures (45) and sacks (9.5) in 198 pass-rush snaps. 

The rest of the Lions defensive line is talented but lacked the ability to convert pressures to sacks without Hutchinson. Both Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike logged over 600 snaps in 2024 and tied Hutchinson in pressures. Reader was a steady veteran at nose tackle.

Detroit also invested their 2025 first-round pick to add to their interior presence with Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams. He was a stellar run defender (88.6 PFF grade) and posted three straight seasons with a 77.0-plus PFF grade in college. There is untapped pass-rushing potential, but it never quite happened at Ohio State.

15. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)

LE: Dante Fowler Jr., 1T: Mazi Smith, 3T: Osa Odighizuwa, RE: Micah Parsons
Key Depth: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Marshawn Kneeland, Payton Turner, Solomon Thomas

There isn’t much to be said about Micah Parson’s dominance after he posted a fourth straight season with at least an 89 PFF grade, 67 pressures and 12.0 sacks. The Cowboys also made a wise move by re-signing Osa Odighizuwa to a free-agent contract after he had his best year as an interior pass rusher (60 pressures and 4.5 sacks).

Unfortunately, 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith regressed in a bigger role in 2024, posting a 34.8 PFF grade, 35.9 run defense grade and 49.6 pass-rush grade in his second year. The Cowboys can throw plenty of bodies at their other defensive end spot with veteran options like Dante Fowler Jr. and Payton Turner as well as young players like Marshawn Kneeland and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. 

The presence of Odighizuwa and Parsons automatically elevates this group, but the Cowboys need to see some semblance of growth from Smith or consistent production from their stable of edge talent to climb these ranks. 

16. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)

LE: George Karlaftis, LDT: Chris Jones, RDT: Mike Pennel, RE: Mike Danna
Key Depth: Charles Omenihu, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Jerry Tillery, Omarr Norman-Lott

Chris Jones remains a dominant force as an interior defensive lineman. 2024 was his eighth straight season with a PFF grade above 82.0 and his seventh straight year with a pass-rush grade above 89.0. He’s had at least 60 pressures in five straight seasons, but 2024 was the first time he failed to hit 7.0 sacks since 2020.

George Karlaftis has also developed into a dependable edge presence after posting a second straight season with a PFF grade above 64.0, 60+ pressures and 8.0+ sacks. 

The rest of this group is uncertain but has interesting pieces. Ideally, the Chiefs will get more production from young upside players like 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah (14 pressures in 2024) and 2025 second-round defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (18.9% pass rush win rate in 2024).

If either player struggles, the team has a deep cast of veteran players who can provide stable but unremarkable stretches of play.

Jones is still a gamewrecker and Karlaftis is at worst an above-average edge-rusher, but the Chiefs need some of their other highly drafted talent to emerge.  

17. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)

LE: Travon Walker, 1T: DaVon Hamilton, 3T: Maason Smith, RE: Josh Hines-Allen
Key Depth: Arik Armstead, Emmanuel Ogbah, Jordan Jefferson

The Jaguars had one of the most productive edge-rushing duos in the NFL in 2024 with Travon Walker (56 pressures and 10.5 sacks) and Josh Hines-Allen (63 pressures and 8.0 sacks). Unfortunately, the team had some glaring issues on the interior defensive line.

The combination of DaVon Hamilton, Maason Smith and Arik Armstead combined to generate 66 pressures and 5.0 sacks on the season. More importantly, Jacksonville struggled to get any traction against the run, allowing the seventh-most yards before contact in the league (2.2).

That entire cast of players returns in 2025 along with depth edge-rusher Emmanuel Ogbah. It is fair to assume that Walker and Hines-Allen will once again set the tone on the edge, but the interior defensive line may still be a weakness unless new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile can scheme up ways to get them in the backfield. 

18. Chicago Bears (4-3)

LE: Montez Sweat, LDT: Grady Jarrett, RDT: Gervon Dexter Sr., RE: Dayo Odeyingbo
Key Depth: Andrew Billings, Austin Booker, Shemar Turner

The Bears desperately needed to add talent to their defensive line after having just one player generate more than 39 pressures (Montez Sweat, 49) and two players log more than 4.0 sacks (Sweat, 5.5 and Gervon Dexter Sr., 5.0). 

The team invested significant cap space and draft capital to try to get it done. 

Chicago signed veterans Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo to add experience to their group. Jarrett’s best football is behind him (career-low 62.1 PFF grade in 2024), but he does still offer the ability to collapse the pocket (34-plus pressures in eight of his last nine years). Odeyingbo posted career-highs in PFF grade (66.1) and pressures (42) as a rotational piece in Indianapolis. 

The Bears also drafted Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner in the second round of the draft. Turner was stellar during the 2023 season (76.6 PFF grade) before struggling through 2024. The medical check at the combine revealed a stress fracture in his leg that explained the regression.

Chicago will be more talented in 2025, but time will tell if the Bears can get the best outcome from all of their new pieces to push this group to the next level. 

19. New England Patriots (4-3)

LE: Keion White, LDT: Christian Barmore, RDE: Milton Williams, RE: Harold Landry III
Key Depth: Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer

The Patriots used free agency to add talent to their defense and the draft to bolster their offense in Mike Vrabel’s first year as head coach.

Keion White took a major step as a pass-rusher in his second season on the edge, increasing his PFF grade (68.5), pass-rush grade (76.7), pressures (45) and sacks (5.0). The team is certainly hoping that the blood clot issues that limited Christian Barmore to just 123 snaps in 2024 are in the rear-view mirror.

New England got arguably the most impactful defensive line free agent, Milton Williams, to join its team to boost the defensive line. Williams played just 500 snaps last season in the Eagles defensive line rotation but finished third on the team in pressures (50) and sacks (5.0). They also added Harold Landry III as an edge-rusher. The veteran missed the 2022 season with an ACL tear but has shown little signs of slowing down, logging 77 pressures and 19.5 sacks in the last two seasons.

The Patriots have very little depth, but this group has the players to put pressure on quarterbacks on the edge and the interior, especially if Barmore is fully healthy. 

20. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)

LE: Walter Nolen III, NT: Dalvin Tomlinson, RE: Darius Robinson
Key Depth: Calais Campbell, Bilal Nichols, Justin Jones

The Cardinals used free agency and the draft to add to a defense that was lacking talent.

First, the team invested in veterans Dalvin Tomlinson (67.4 PFF grade) and Calais Campbell (82.3 PFF grade) to add talent and bolster their depth. The team also used their first-round pick on Ole Miss’s Walter Nolen III at defensive end. Nolen was a top recruit in the country, but his production never met up with his traits. He did post a career-high in sacks (6.5) with a 91.6 run defense grade in his final season.

The team will also hope that Darius Robinson can hit the ground running after being limited to just 184 snaps as a rookie due to injury. If he can show he is healthy, this group has a chance to be very formidable next season. 

21. Baltimore Ravens (3-4)

LE: Broderick Jones, NT: Travis Jones, RE: Nnamdi Madubuike
Key Depth: John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles

The Ravens defensive line does their job well, eating up blocks to allow their edge talent and off-ball linebackers the freedom to make plays. One player who can provide more than just eating space is veteran defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike, who is coming off his second straight season with at least a 68.0 PFF grade, 55 pressures and 6.5 sacks.

Travis Jones has also shown the ability to consistently provide strong run defense in an expanded role. He has two straight years of a 70.0-plus PFF grade and a 69.0-plus run defense grade.

If this was a ranking of top defensive fronts, the Ravens would certainly rank higher. As it stands, it is a very solid group that isn’t asked to do more than their jobs.  

22. Green Bay Packers (4-3)

LE: Rashan Gary, 1T: Kenny Clark, 3T: Devonte Wyatt, RE: Lukas Van Ness
Key Depth: Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Kingsley Enagbare

The Packers transition to a 4-3 defensive front in 2024 yielded mixed results. Six different Packers (all returning) had at least 20 pressures. However, only four players generated 4.0-plus sacks, with Rashan Gary (7.5) producing the high mark of the group. 

Green Bay has invested heavily in this group over the years but it hasn’t gotten the necessary results. Only Gary (73.8) and 2023 UDFA Brenton Cox Jr. (72.2) finished with a PFF grade above 62.0 among players with at least 150 snaps played. 

A big step for this group would be growth from 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness. Van Ness has generated just 38 pressures and 7.0 sacks in 793 snaps through his first two seasons. His PFF grade (53.8) and run defense grade (45.2) dipped significantly in his sophomore season. 

There is a ton of draft capital in this group, but to this point, none of them (outside of Gary) have played up to their potential. 

23. New York Giants (3-4)

LE: Rakeem Nunez-Roches, NT: Dexter Lawrence II, RE: Roy Robertson-Harris
Key Depth: Jeremiah Ledbetter, D.J. Davidson, Darius Alexander

The presence of Dexter Lawrence II is enough to vault the Giants up this list. Lawrence was limited to just 551 snaps in 2024, but he still finished third on the team in pressures (36) and led the team in sacks (9.0). The Giants brought on veteran defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris to find some talent. He struggled in 2024 but had three straight seasons of 32-plus pressures from 2021 to 2023.

A wild card for this group is 2025 third-round pick Darius Alexander. Alexander dominated during his final season at Toledo, posting a 90.3-run defense grade and a 12.9% pass-rush win rate. He may need time to acclimate to the jump from the MAC to the NFL, but he has the traits to develop into a force on the defensive line in time. 

24. New York Jets (4-3)

LE: Will McDonald IV, LDT: Derrick Nnadi, RDT: Quinnen Williams, RE: Jermaine Johnson
Key Depth: Micheal Clemons, Byron Cowart, Jay Tufele

The Jets got impressive pass-rushing performances from Will McDonald IV (61 pressures and 10.5 sacks) and Quinnen Williams (54 pressures and 6.0 sacks) in 2024. However, this group was abysmal against the run.

The Jets didn’t have a single defensive lineman register a PFF run defense grade above 58.0. They also had the third-worst EPA against rushers in 2024 (22.5) and the seventh-worst success rate against the run (44.0%).

New York added Derrick Nnadi on the interior defensive line in free agency, but he won’t do much to improve the team’s performance against the run in 2025 (40.3 run defense grade in 2024). There is also hope that Jermaine Johnson can return to form after suffering an Achilles injury in Week 2. 

25. Minnesota Vikings (3-4)

LE: Jonathan Allen, NT: Harrison Phillips, RE: Javon Hargrave
Key Depth: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Taki Taimani

The Vikings worked hard to rebuild their offensive and defensive lines this offseason. Harrison Phillips (58.8 PFF grade) is the lone returning starter from their 2024 group. Instead, he will be flanked by two veterans who missed significant time with injuries in 2024.

Jonathan Allen logged just 300 snaps for Washington last season. Before that, he had four straight seasons with at least 47 pressures and three straight years with at least 5.5 sacks. The team also signed veteran Javon Hargrave. Hargrave lasted just 104 plays with the 49ers in 2024 but had three seasons with at least 52-plus pressures and 7.0 sacks prior to that.

Minnesota used the draft to add depth and injury insurance, selecting Georgia’s Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins in the third round. He has excellent traits but very little college production, which could be a problem given this team’s injury woes.

In terms of pure talent, this could be a very disruptive group. However, the injury risks are too great to ignore among the new faces on the unit. 

26. Miami Dolphins (3-4)

LE: Kenneth Grant, NT: Benito Jones, RE: Zach Sieler
Key Depth: Jordan Phillips, Matt Dickerson

The Dolphins needed to add talent to this group after an underwhelming 2024 season, even with another underrated season from Zach Sieler. The veteran has posted back-to-back seasons with at least 46 pressures and 10.0 sacks. He’s had six straight seasons with a 68.0-plus PFF grade.

Miami also invested its first-round pick in Michigan’s Kenneth Grant. Grant is extremely athletic for his size and posted two straight seasons with an 80.0-plus PFF grade at Michigan. He had an 87.5-run defense grade and a 9.4% pass-rush win rate as an interior lineman in his final season.

The Dolphins also invested a fifth-round pick in Maryland defensive lineman Jordan Phillips. He should immediately push Benito Jones for snaps at nose tackle and could add some pass-rushing juice on the interior after posting an 11.0% pass-rush win rate in his final collegiate season. 

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)

LE: Logan Hall, NT: Vita Vea, RE: Calijah Kancey
Key Depth: Greg Gaines, C.J. Brewer, Adam Gotsis, Elijah Roberts

Vita Vea remains a force at nose tackle (75.7 PFF grade in 2024), but the team has not gotten the needed production out of Calijah Kancey (50.4) and Logan Hall (58.1) despite investing first- and second-round picks in them over the last three seasons.

Thankfully for the Buccaneers, Kancey has at least shown the ability to provide production as a pass-rusher (39 pressures and 7.5 sacks). Unfortunately, he remains one of the worst run defenders in the NFL (36.2 run defense grade). 

The Buccaneers do have a cast of experienced depth pieces on the defensive line (Greg Gaines and Adam Gotsis) and used a fifth-round pick on SMU’s Elijah Roberts in 2025. Hopefully, this group can generate some resistance against opposing running backs next season. 

28. Washington Commanders (4-3)

LE: Dorance Armstrong, LDT: Daron Payne, RDT: Javon Kinlaw, RE: Deatrich Wise
Key Depth: Jer’Zhan Newton, Clelin Ferrell, Jacob Martin, Eddie Goldman

Washington returns two starters (Dorance Armstrong and Daron Payne) and two key contributors (Jer’Zhan Newton and Clelin Ferrell) from a 2024 group that provided solid play. The team also supplemented their free-agent losses with two veterans in need of bounce-back years after uneven seasons in their previous stops (Javon Kinlaw and Deatrich Wise). 

The ideal situation for Washington would be Newton coming into the 2025 season fully healed from the foot injury that caused his draft stock to drop. He still played 515 snaps in his rookie season but was lacking the explosiveness that had him in the conversation for a first-round pick in 2024. 

As it stands, this group will be solid again in 2025, but it is hard to see them consistently performing at a top-20 level. 

29. New Orleans Saints (4-3)

LE: Chase Young, 1T: Davon Godchaux, 3T: Bryan Bresee, RE: Carl Granderson
Key Depth: Cameron Jordan, Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shepherd, Vernon Broughton

New Orleans is returning the core of a defensive line that performed well on the edges and struggled on the interior. The combination of Chase Young (66.8 PFF grade) and Carl Granderson (79.7 PFF grade) generated 127 pressures and 11.0 sacks on the edge. 

While the team saw growth out of second-year defensive tackle Brian Bresee as a pass-rusher with career-highs in pressures (38) and sacks (7.5), his general play has been underwhelming. Both his PFF grade (36.5) and run defense grade (28.0) fell in his second season. New Orleans added nose tackle Davon Godchaux to try to elevate that deficiency.

The Saints do have experienced depth in Cameron Jordan, Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd and added Texas’s Vernon Broughton (13.0% pass-rush win rate in 2024) in the third round of the draft. This is a deep group, but the holes on the interior defensive line are still quite glaring in 2025. 

30. Los Angeles Chargers (3-4)

LE: Da’Shawn Hand, NT: Teair Tart, RE: Otito Ogbonnia 
Key Depth: Jamaree Caldwell, Naquan Jones

The Chargers don’t have a very talented group on their defensive line, but they do have players who are good at fulfilling their assignments. Teair Tart is the most notable returning player in this group after posting career-high marks in PFF grade (76.9) and run defense (70.9) as a rotational player (349 snaps played in 17 games). 

The Chargers did try to bolster this group in free agency by adding Da’Shawn Hand. Hand is coming off his best season as a pass-rusher since 2018 (15 pressures) and has five straight seasons with a 60-plus PFF grade. He is an all-around solid player but lacks any real upside at this point in his career. 

31. Atlanta Falcons (3-4)

LE: Morgan Fox, NT: Ruke Orhorhoro, RE: David Onyemata
Key Depth: Zach Harrison, Kentavius Street

The Falcons invested premium draft capital into improving their defensive front in 2025. Unfortunately, those investments won’t appear on this list. 

Atlanta’s defensive line returns four players who logged between 180 and 567 snaps and combined to generate 41 pressures and 5.0 sacks. The only returning player who logged more than 300 snaps and a PFF grade above 60.0 was David Onyemata. 

Morgan Fox joins this unit after three seasons with the Chargers. He lacks impact in the run game, but his high motor as a pass-rusher has resulted in three straight seasons with 29-plus pressures and 3.5 sacks. 

This group will be a success if they can occupy offensive linemen to keep the team’s new edge-rushing talent in advantageous one-on-one matchups. Unfortunately, that doesn’t do much in terms of talent rankings. 

32. Carolina Panthers (3-4)

LE: Derrick Brown, NT: Bobby Brown III, RE: Tershawn Wharton
Key Depth: Shy Tuttle, A’Shawn Robinson

The Panthers defensive line was destined to fail in 2024 after losing Derrick Brown just 60 snaps into the season. Brown had posted back-to-back seasons with at least an 84.0 PFF grade and 40 pressures before that. 

Brown will hopefully be back at full strength in 2025 and will be joined by two veterans on the defensive line with Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton. Brown never played more than 475 snaps in his four seasons with the Rams but has four straight years with a 62.0-plus PFF grade and run defense grade. Wharton was a rotational player for his entire tenure with Kansas City but is coming off a season where he logged career-highs in snaps (667), pressures (33) and sacks (6.5). 

The talent level of this group has undoubtedly improved, but they still lack an impact player outside of Brown. There seems to be a lot of hope that Brown and Wharton are primed to take developmental steps in new surroundings, which is a dangerous bet to make.