There are a ton of great defensive players in todays game, and we power ranked NFL teams for 2025 by their best player on defense.
The NFL power rankings honestly look a little bit different when you rank them this way. In 2024, Patrick Surtain of the Denver Broncos won the Defensive Player of the Year award, which is quite hard for a cornerback.
And you won't be surprised to see certain players ranked where they are.
NFL Power Rankings: Teams ranked by their best defensive player for 2025
32. New Orleans Saints - Demario Davis, ILB
Demario Davis has been a good player for a long time, but he's well into his 30s and just isn't the same player he was at his peak, but career-wise, he's been one of the more successful inside linebackers of the 21st century.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars - Josh Hines-Allen, EDGE
Josh Hines-Allen kind of just, exists...
He's a two-time Pro Bowler and had a career-high 17.5 sacks in 2023.
30. Miami Dolphins - Jalen Ramsey, CB
Jalen Ramsey probably isn't going to be suiting up for the Miami Dolphins in the 2025 NFL Season, so who would take his place here in these power rankings?
29. Tennessee Titans - Jeffery Simmons, DT
It would have been nice if the Tennessee Titans best defensive player was L'Jarius Sneed, but that trade just has not gone well thus far. However, Jeffery Simmons is quite good.
28. Chicago Bears - Montez Sweat, EDGE
A major trade by GM Ryan Poles, Montez Sweat is a good player and is a main piece in the Chicago Bears defense that did see some new DL additions in the 2025 offseason.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Antoine Winfield Jr, SAF
Not someone who is going to excel in coverage, Antoine Winfield Jr of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can do just about everything else at a high level.
26. Indianapolis Colts - Zaire Franklin, ILB
Zaire Franklin led the NFL with 173 total tackles in the 2024 NFL Season, and he's had at least 167 tackles in each of the last three seasons.
25. Seattle Seahawks - Leonard Williams, DT
Leonard Williams has been very good for a long time. In 2024 for the Seattle Seahawks, he had 11 sacks in 16 games.
24. Washington Commanders - Daron Payne, DT
Daron Payne has been a steady force for the Washington Commanders for years and has 73 QB hits in his first seven years in the NFL.
23. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Brown, DT
I think we forget how good Derrick Brown is. He played in just one game in the 2024 NFL Season, but did amass 103 total tackles for the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 NFL Season.
22. Atlanta Falcons - Jessie Bates III, SAF
Jessie Bates III may actually be a bit underrated? If the Atlanta Falcons can finally figure out something on defense in 2025, Bates may finally get the attention he deserves.
21. Los Angeles Chargers - Derwin James, SAF
A four-time Pro Bowler, Derwin James has played in 32 regular season games over the last two seasons and has figured out how to stay on the field after playing in just five games across the 2019 and 2020 NFL Seasons.
20. Los Angeles Rams - Jared Verse, EDGE
Jared Verse is someone to keep an eye on as a potential sack leader in the 2025 NFL Season. He was all over the place for the Los Angeles Rams in 2024.
19. New England Patriots - Christian Gonzalez, CB
Christian Gonzalez allowed a 71.7 passer rating when in coverage and gave up just two touchdowns. He could become more of a household name in 2025.
18. Buffalo Bills - Christian Benford, CB
A sixth-round pick, Christian Benford has turned into one of the best CBs in the NFL. He's got 20 passes defended and four interceptions over his last two seasons.
17. New York Jets - Sauce Gardner, CB
Sauce Gardner is likely signing a massive contract extension with the New York Jets before the 2025 NFL Season begins. He's been one of the top CBs in the game since entering the league.
16. Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE
Aidan Hutchinson had 17 QB hits and 7.5 sacks in just five games for the Detroit Lions in the 2024 NFL Season. He was on pace to shatter some all-time records.
15. Minnesota Vikings - Jonathan Greenard, EDGE
With 24.5 sacks and 44 QB hits over the last two seasons, Jonathan Greenard has found his footing after a so-so start to begin his career. He's 15th in our power rankings.
14. Arizona Cardinals - Budda Baker, SAF
Budda Baker has been a top safety for years now, and with the Arizona Cardinals investing big-time into their defensive line, Baker could have a great season in 2025.
13. Baltimore Ravens - Kyle Hamilton, SAF
Kyle Hamilton is a huge piece of the Baltimore Ravens backend, and he now gets to play with the recently signed Jaire Alexander.
12. New York Giants - Dexter Lawrence, DT
Dexter Lawrence is probably the best player on that New York Giants offensive line, but Abdul Carter might take that honor from "Sexy Dexy."
11. Houston Texans - Danielle Hunter, EDGE
Danielle Hunter has been a premier pass rusher for years with the Minnesota Vikings, and I believe he's got a few more high-end years left in the tank.
10. Green Bay Packers - Xavier McKinney, SAF
Xavier McKinney left the New York Giants and had the best season of his career with the Green Bay Packers. Saquon Barkley did the same thing on the Eagles in 2024! Anyway, McKinney and the Packers are 10th in these power rankings.
9. San Francisco 49ers - Nick Bosa, EDGE
Nick Bosa is a Defensive Player of the Year and is the younger brother of Joey Bosa. The younger Bosa brother has 62.5 sacks in his first six years in the NFL and has made five Pro Bowls.
8. Las Vegas Raiders - Maxx Crosby, EDGE
Maxx Crosby is a four-time Pro Bowler and missed games for the first time in his career in 2024. He still managed 7.5 sacks in 12 games. Crosby has 59.5 sacks in 95 career games since it began back in 2019.
7. Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Jones, DT
Chris Jones is a borderline Hall of Famer, but is a three-time Super Bowl champion and has been a stalwart along the Chiefs defensive line for years now.
6. Philadelphia Eagles - Zack Baun, ILB
Getting an extension from the Eagles this offseason, Zack Baun burst onto the scene in 2024 and got to experience what it's like to play in an elite Vic Fangio defense.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers - TJ Watt, EDGE
Fifth in our NFL defense power rankings is TJ Watt, a future Hall of Famer and Defensive Player of the Year. Watt had another insane season in 2024 and is one of a few players on this slide who needs a contract extension.
4. Dallas Cowboys - Micah Parsons, EDGE
Micah Parsons doesn't have a contract extension from the Dallas Cowboys as he enters his fifth year in the NFL. Is Jerry Jones going to find a way to pay his best player? Parsons can do it all.
3. Cincinnati Bengals - Trey Hendrickson, EDGE
Trey Hendrickson has turned into a sack master for the Cincinnati Bengals, but he's without a contract extension and could holdout in the 2025 season if he doesn't get an offer he likes.
2. Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett, EDGE
The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett is on a Hall of Fame track and is one of the lone bright spots of the Cleveland Browns franchise.
1. Denver Broncos - Patrick Surtain II, CB
The winner of the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, Patrick Surtain II is the best defensive player in the NFL and just saw the Broncos defense find a way to get better in the 2025 offseason.