It’s safe to say that stopping the run remains a very important part of defense when it comes to the game of football.
This past season, only two teams allowed fewer rushing yards per game on the ground than the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, the AFC champions New England Patriots were sixth in that same category.
The list includes a great mixture of youth and experience, as well as an all-time great making his return to the NFL.
Power ranking the 5 best offseason moves on the interior defensive line
5. Lee Hunter (Carolina Panthers)
Carolina general manager Dan Morgan moved up a few spots in the second round this April to add the aggressive defensive tackle from Texas Tech. Hunter will pair up front with six-year pro Derrick Brown to not only bolster the run defense, this new-look front should open things up for a Panthers’ pass rush that has struggled in recent seasons. This may be one of the most improved defensive units in the league.
4. Osa Odighizuwa (San Francisco 49ers)
The Niners gave up a third-round pick in April to acquire a performer that Dallas selected in the third round in 2021. The 6’2”, 294-pound defender has missed one game in five seasons, and that was during his rookie campaign. Odighizuwa has totaled 18.0 sacks (including playoffs) during his career, while he’s not known for being a stout run defender. The 49ers totaled an NFL-low 20 sacks this past season.
3. T’Vondre Sweat (New York Jets)
Aaron Glenn’s club added the 6’4”, 366-pound from the Titans and sent former Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II. Only four interior defenders were graded higher by Pro Football Focus than Sweat in 2025, impressive considering that the former University of Texas standout has played a total of 29 games. The imposing presence should upgrade the 29th-ranked run defense from a year ago.
2. Calais Campbell (Baltimore Ravens)
For the second time in as many years, the ageless performer returns a team he played for previously. The six-time Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro (with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017) turns 40 years old today. Campbell, who played for the Ravens from 2020-22, shows no signs of slowing down. He started all 17 games for the struggling Cardinals this past season, totaling 43 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 16 quarterback hits.
1. Dexter Lawrence II (Cincinnati Bengals)
Zac Taylor’s club gave up the 10th overall pick in April’s draft to obtain the three-time Pro Bowler from the Giants. The seven-year pro comes off a career-low (0.5) in terms of sacks, but it is interesting to note that he was ranked seventh in the league this past season by Pro Football Focus in terms of pass-rushing performance as an interior defender. Lawrence hopes to help the worst run defense in the NFL in 2025.
BONUS: Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams)
He’s not a newcomer to the organization, but kudos to the franchise for coaxing the 10-time Pro Bowler and eight-time First Team All-Pro out of retirement. Donald last suited up in 2023, and now joins a front seven that obviously includes newcomer Myles Garrett—the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The 35-year-old pro joins a team that struggled against opponent ground games late last season.
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