As training camps start kicking off, it’s time to set our pre-season DST rankings based on off-season activity.
Once the season starts, I’ll provide weekly updates based on matchups but for now, these are the overall rankings.
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
| Rank | DST | Up/Down | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DENVER BRONCOS | The top rated fantasy DST in 2024 starts at the top in 2025. | |
| 2 | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | SB-winning DEF off-season highlights include re-signing LB Zack Baun and added DEF with first five draft picks. | |
| 3 | BALTIMORE RAVENS | Perrenial DST powerhouse will once again be a cream of the crop unit in 2025. Ravens will look toward first-round pick Malaki Starks and 2024 first-round pick, Nate Wiggins, to play prominent roles. | |
| 4 | PITTSBURGH STEELERS | T.J. Watt is signed, that’s really all you need to know…although the trade for Jalen Ramsey and signing of Darius Slay are notable too. | |
| 5 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS | The Vikings shelled out over $170M on just 5 DEF players this offseason. Will it pay off? | |
| 6 | HOUSTON TEXANS | Texans locked up Danielle Hunter to a big contract and signed/resigned 13 other on the DST side. | |
| 7 | BUFFALO BILLS | BUF drafted 3 for the D-Line, so new veteran players like Joey Bosa and Tre’Davious White will need to steup up for the Bills to keep this ranking. | |
| 8 | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | ⬆️ | CB Kristian Fulton comes over from the division-rival Chargers on a 2-year deal, adding to a strong DEF core which also drafted a trio of Day 2 defensive players. |
| 8 | DETROIT LIONS | ⬆️ | A healthy Aidan Hutchinson is the big prize but re-signing five, adding eight free agents (including S Kerby Joseph), and drafting three more give the Lions hope for a big DEF turnaround. |
| 10 | LOS ANGELES RAMS | The DL remains the strength for the Rams. DL Poona Ford was the “BIG” free agent signing and they added Michigan EDGE Josaiah Stewart in the draft. | |
| 11 | LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | A lot of new faces joining Khalil Mack who re-signed an $18M deal for the season. | |
| 12 | SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | ⬆️ | Robert Saleh takes the helm of this DEF, which ranks as arguably the easiest strength of schedule in the league. |
| 13 | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | EDGE Demarcus Lawrence is the new kid in town for a DEF that didn’t change much else. Should be a solid DST to target late in drafts. | |
| 14 | DALLAS COWBOYS | Biggest move was re-signing DL Osa Odighizuwa to a 4-year deal. Adding EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku in the draft should make an impact too. | |
| 15 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | ⬇️ | The Pack may have a hard time matching 2024’s #3 ranked scoring DST. CB Nate Hobbs is the big free agent pickup, bringing his 64+ avg tackles from LV. They also drafted a pair of EDGE rushers as well to provide a much-needed punch to the DL. |
| 16 | NEW YORK JETS | Jets locked up Sauce Gardner to a 4-year extension then added new CB partner, Brandon Stephens on a 3-year deal. | |
| 17 | TAMPA BAY BUCANNEERS | This DEF screams “mid-pack” with solid signings/draftees but no real big additions. Adding three new EDGE (plus re-signing Anthony Nelson) and three new CBs (plus re-signing Bryce Hall) should provide needed depth to keep them in this neighborhood. | |
| 17 | CHICAGO BEARS | This may not be your Dad’s Monsters of the Midway, but they did sign four DEF to multi-year deals, including $48M to EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, $43.5M to DT Grady Jarrett and $40M to Kyler Gordon. They also added DT Shemar Turner (Texas A&M) in R2, regarded as a top 10 DT prospect in his class. | |
| 19 | ARIZONA CARDINALS | ⬆️ | Free agent DE Josh Sweat and 2nd-year player Darius Robinson will look to boost a DST that managed just 14 takeaways and 39 sacks in 2024. ARI DST has one of the friendliest schedules early in the season so this one should be a target late in drafts. |
| 20 | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Another DST with a super-friendly early schedule, with NYG, GB, LV and ATL on the books. WAS was very active in free agency, signing 14 players, including LB Bobby Wagner and EDGE Von Miller. | |
| 21 | CLEVELAND BROWNS | Myles Garrett is back on a 4-yr extension to mentor newcombers DL Maliek Collins and rookie 1st round pick, Mason Graham. | |
| 22 | MIAMI DOLPHINS | Nine DEF free agent signings and that trade with PIT for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Time will tell if it translates to fantasy gold. | |
| 23 | NEW YORK GIANTS | The strength of this DST is clearly in the box, drafting EDGE Abdul Carter 3rd overall to add to players like DL Dexter Lawrence, LB Brian Burns and LB Micah McFadden. | |
| 24 | ATLANTA FALCONS | LB Kaden Elliss is a star on a squad that is short on stars. Drafting two EDGE rushers in the 1st round may change that. | |
| 25 | CINCINNATI BENGALS | Re-signed four from the 2024 squad but the most pressing question is the status of rookie EDGE Shemar Stewart. | |
| 26 | NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Five new D-Line signed during free agency, headlined by DL Milton Williams and EDGE Harold Landry. | |
| 27 | INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | ⬇️ | The Colts roster the NFL’s leading tackler in 2024, Zaire Franklin, but he’s also coming off ankle surgery. |
| 28 | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Maxx Crosby is back on a 3-year extension and brings a whole new set of mates to join him in Sin City. | |
| 29 | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | ⬇️ | The Saints will rely on veterans Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu to lead the way in new DC Brandon Staley’s 3-4 scheme. |
| 30 | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | ⬇️ | Drafting Travis Hunter should make an immediate impact. After that, there are still big question marks. |
| 31 | CAROLINA PANTHERS | A lot of new faces will need to gel on the field quickly if CAR is going to move up these rankings. | |
| 32 | TENNESSEE TITANS | ⬇️ | Cut and paste the CAR narrative here. |
