Having an elite defense in the NFL can lead to tremendous success. Just ask the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles who played outstanding defense last year, especially in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs. So, with that being said, let’s take a look at the top 10 defenses in the NFL:
10. Green Bay Packers
The Packer defense is just a solid defense all around. They aren’t dominant in any one area but they don’t have any major weaknesses either. They get solid pass rush from edge rusher Rashaan Gary and I think DT Kenny Clark has enough in the tank to be effective. The defense can take step forward if edge rusher Lukas Van Ness improves in his third year.
9. Los Angeles Rams
I have the Rams making a huge jump defensively this season. They were dominant at times in 2024 and they will only get better. DE Jared Verse was a huge dominating force and expect much of the same if not more in 2025. They would get a higher rating but their secondary can be leaky at times. Their front seven is among the youngest in football and I think they will vastly improve making their weakness less noticeable.
8. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs defense starts and ends with DT Chris Jones. He is such a dominant force against the run and at pressuring the quarterback. His presence up the middle makes everyone around him that much better. It also helps to have a mastermind in Defensive Coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo. He seems to dial up the right blitzes and schemes that places his players in the right position.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers defense when healthy, mainly edge rusher T.J. Watt makes my top 10. Watt makes so many plays and forces opposing quarterbacks into timely mistakes. They can be a little leaky vs. the pass but I expect CB Joey Porter Jr. to take a big step forward in his third season. Also, CB Darius Slay Jr. may have lost a step, but he is a knowledgeable and good leader for the entire defense.
6. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings defense dominant at times but fizzled at the end of last season. Their defensive line got punished against the good teams like the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. To combat this, they added Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to beef up against the run and to get after the quarterback. They have a solid linebacker unit led by Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. Look for defensive coordinator, Brian Flores to devise a game plan to get after the quarterback and for the Vikings to be among team leaders in takeaways.
5. Buffalo Bills
The Bills finished 17th in defense last season but I expect a big improvement. They added DE Joey Bosa from the Los Angeles Chargers, which will bolster their ability to get after the quarterback. Not only did they add Bosa, but they spent the majority of their 2025 draft capital on defense. CB Maxwell Hairston and DT T.J. Sanders should make immediate impacts. LB Matt Milano is excellent and is a top coverage back in the league. Look for the Bills to get over the hump and get back to the Super Bowl.
4. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have had a solid defense for what seems like years. They are nearly impossible to run against and have more than adequate ability to rush the passer. Their weakness last season is stopping the pass. They did draft safety Malaki Starks from Georgia and added corner Chidobe Awuze so I do expect their pass defense to improve.
3. Houston Texans
The Texans defense often kept their team in games last season despite the offense being ineffective. They have no major weaknesses and can get after the passer with edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Their linebacking crew is solid all around and the secondary should get a boost after signing CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson. I expect the offense to be better this year, forcing the opposing teams into more passing situations which should lead to more sacks and turnovers.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
We all saw how good the Eagles defense was when they suffocated a Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs offense in Super Bowl LIX. I know they did lose pass rusher Josh Sweat in free agency but this is a team with outstanding depth up front. They shouldn’t miss a beat, and did add a pass rusher in Azeez Ojulari. The secondary is outstanding and is led by corners they drafted a season ago in Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. I do not see a weakness and could very well be the best NFL defense.
1. Denver Broncos
The Broncos were a top-10 defense a season ago. They have a front 7 that is solid against the run and led the league in sacks. The secondary is led by CB Patrick Surtain II who is the best in the game. They drafted CB Jahdae Barron out of Texas with their first-round pick, who should be just fine at the NFL level. Not to mention, they signed LB Dre Greenlaw and are getting back LB Alex Singleton, who missed much of the 2024 season. The Broncos defense could be special, and if healthy, they could lead the team to a deep playoff run this season.
