Ranking the NFL's top 10 defenses heading into 2025

Defense still wins championships.

While games in the modern era have often been billed as head-to-head matchups between quarterbacks, this year's Super Bowl was an important reminder that the other side of the ball can have a pretty significant say in outcomes, too.

There's only so much a superstar quarterback can do if his opponents are owning the line of scrimmage and putting the clamps on his receivers.

Here are my top 10 defenses heading into 2025.

The Eagles' defense finished the 2024 season ranked second behind the Broncos in EPA/play allowed, according to Next Gen Stats. So what makes them tops on this list? An all-time great playoff run is probably a logical place to start.

Philly's young group got better as the year went on, taking things to another level in January before eventually peaking with a beatdown of the dynasty-seeking Chiefs in New Orleans. In total, the Eagles set a new playoff record by recording an incredible 13 takeaways across four games. They're dealing with some turnover heading into 2025, as free-agent departures Josh Sweat and Milton Williams leave some big shoes to fill up front. But Jalyx Hunt and Moro Ojomo both appear ready to step up. And the back seven could be in for yet another big leap with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean heading into Year 2 and rookies Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba adding some intriguing talent in the middle of the field. With this Vic Fangio-led defense complementing a star-studded offense, the Eagles should be a clear favorite to defend their Super Bowl title.

Defensive turnarounds don't get much more impressive than what the Broncos did last season. After a bottom-eight finish in EPA/play in 2023 - a season that included allowing 70 points in a single game - Denver was first in that metric last year. The surprise breakout was no less impressive when adjusting for quality of opponents, as the Broncos finished the year ranked fourth in defensive DVOA.

Sustaining defensive success in the NFL is far easier said than done. Had the Broncos sat back this offseason, it would have been easy to identify this group as a likely regression candidate. Fortunately, Sean Payton would never. Stealing both Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga from the 49ers in free agency added a pair of potential game-changers in the middle of the field. And first-round rookie Jahdae Barron sliding in alongside Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss could soon give Denver the NFL's premier cornerback trio. The Eagles get the nod for the No. 1 spot after a spectacular playoff run, but this unit could be every bit as special in 2025. The Broncos are for real.

It really is a shame that Houston's offense took such a big step back in 2024. Had that unit looked a little more like it did during C.J. Stroud's rookie campaign, we could have been talking about the Texans as a legitimate threat to the Chiefs' crown in the AFC. That's how good this defense was.

Adding Danielle Hunter opposite Will Anderson Jr. had the intended effect up front, as Houston finished the 2025 season ranked second in pressure rate. Combine that with a superstar breakout from Derek Stingley Jr. and rookie Kamari Lassiter joining him to form an excellent young cornerback tandem, and the result was a top-five defense by EPA/play. Trading for C.J. Gardner-Johnson and potentially getting a healthy bounce-back season from Christian Harris could help this group take another step forward in Year 3 under DeMeco Ryans. There's potential for some real fireworks if changes on the offensive line and at offensive coordinator can shore up the Texans' issues on the other side of the ball.

The Ravens were a deserving No. 1 in our offensive rankings after a historic 2024 campaign. Is it crazy to say they they might be just as good on defense?

That's certainly what it looked like over the second half of last season. From Week 11 on, after moving Kyle Hamilton back to safety, this was the best defense in football. Nobody gave up fewer points, and nobody allowed fewer yards. Nearly every advanced data metric put the Ravens in a class of their own. On paper, they look even better in 2025. Adding Jaire Alexander as a free agent and Malaki Starks in the first round probably gives Baltimore the most talented secondary in football. The pass rush also gets a much-needed boost with second-round rookie Mike Green bringing some explosiveness off the edge. It's no sure thing: Alexander has dealt with injuries of late, and it's tough to know what to expect from first-year players. But the Ravens' defense has all the pieces it needs to turn last year's second-half masterclass into a full season of dominance.

Brian Flores is a mad scientist. The Vikings probably would have earned a top-10 spot on this list no matter their personnel, solely because their defensive coordinator makes life so difficult for opposing quarterbacks. His pressure schemes and coverage disguises truly are a thing of beauty, and they should be even more fun to watch after such a productive offseason.

Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen finally give Flores a pair of interior rushers capable of exploiting the one-on-one matchups that his play designs can create. The veteran tandem joining Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and 2024 first-rounder Dallas Turner off the edge will be a problem for opposing offensive lines. While the cornerback room may leave something to be desired, the improved pass rush and elite coaching should help elevate that group and keep Minnesota's defense near the top of the league.

The Steelers have always been good on defense - it's in their DNA. There's no reason that can't be the case once again this season.

Landing Derrick Harmon in the first round of April's draft fills a massive need next to Cameron Heyward on the interior. That tandem working with nose tackle Keeanu Benton could go a long way toward shoring up Pittsburgh's recent run-game issues. And while Minkah Fitzpatrick's leadership will be missed on the back end, it's been a few years since he was at peak All-Pro form. Jalen Ramsey is the more valuable player right now. He and Darius Slay slotting in alongside Joey Porter Jr. should give Steelers the best cornerback room they've had in a long time. Add in a potential bounce-back season for T.J. Watt, and this is the kind of defense that could compensate for any issues the offense may face with a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers.

It didn't take long for Mike Macdonald to make his presence felt in Seattle. The first-time head coach immediately backed up his reputation as a defensive mastermind, overseeing a unit that jumped from a bottom-four standing in EPA/play allowed to a top-11 finish in 2024. Crucially, this group only got better as the year progressed. After adding Ernest Jones IV to the linebacker corps in a Week 7 trade, Seattle was one of just seven teams to give up fewer than 20 points per game.

In terms of personnel, Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon are a high-end cornerback tandem. Coby Bryant's emergence as a playmaker alongside Julian Love rounds out an exciting secondary overall. I'm not entirely sure where second-rounder Nick Emmanwori fits as a rookie, but his combination of size and athleticism could make him a fascinating chess piece in sub packages. Byron Murphy II is a supremely gifted interior rusher who's poised to break out after a solid debut season that didn't necessarily show up on the stat sheet. Don't sleep on the addition of a savvy veteran like DeMarcus Lawrence, either. This is a plenty talented defense that could ascend to yet another level in the second full season under a premier defensive mind like Macdonald.

The Lions weathered a storm of injuries to finish last season as a top-seven defense by EPA/play allowed. Some better luck on that front should land them in at least the same ballpark, right?

Aidan Hutchinson, one of the brightest young pass-rushers in the game, is set to make his healthy return after last year's gruesome leg injury. DJ Reader, Alim McNeill, and first-round rookie Tyleik Williams are a formidable interior trio that should be particularly strong against the run. Jack Campbell and Terrion Arnold could both be in for breakout seasons, Reed is a nice fit to replace the departed Carlton Davis, and Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph form one of the league's most dynamic safety duos. While the Lions will likely feel the loss of Aaron Glenn at coordinator, Kelvin Sheppard has been on staff for the entire Dan Campbell era. Promoting him to defensive coordinator should give the Lions the continuity to keep things headed in the right direction.

Jeff Hafley didn't have much trouble translating his college success to the pro level in his first year as the Packers' defensive coordinator. Green Bay quietly finished the 2024 campaign as a top-four team in EPA/play allowed.

I'm admittedly a little unsure how this cornerback room is going to look on the field, as Nate Hobbs and Keisean Nixon are probably both better suited for the slot. The loss of Jaire Alexander hurts the Packers' outlook despite his sporadic availability over the last two years. But the safety tandem is outstanding, Edgerrin Cooper is a star in the making at linebacker, and there's plenty of upside with this defensive front. A Year 3 breakout from Lukas Van Ness plus a bounce-back season from Rashan Gary could easily make this a top-10 defense again in 2025.

Derwin James and Khalil Mack are still superstars, and Daiyan Henley may be on his way to similar status. That trio aside, however, this group as a whole probably doesn't scream top-10 defense on paper. Los Angeles holds this No. 10 spot more because of what Jesse Minter is building.

The former Ravens assistant and Michigan DC made Jim Harbaugh look like a genius for bringing him to Los Angeles last year. Expectations were probably on the low end after a first offseason geared toward getting the cap in order, but Minter delivered with a defense tying for seventh in EPA/play allowed. Getting immediate, starting-caliber contributions from a pair of fifth-round rookies in Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still speaks to the quality of the program Minter's established. Jamaree Caldwell, a third-round pick in this year's draft, has the skill set to immediately upgrade the interior run defense. Junior Colson and Tuli Tuipulotu are good bets to emerge given their opportunities to start. This defense should continue to rise in 2025, putting Minter in the mix for head coaching jobs next offseason.