2025 NFL Front Seven Rankings, All 32 Teams

As a feature in the 2025 Sharp Football Preview Book, the Sharp Football Analysis team ranked positional units across the league for the 2025 season.

The ranking guidelines were specific to the voter, with the only requirement that the focus be on the upcoming season only, not the future outlook.

With a combination of numbers, film, and projections, the rankings were averaged for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers/tight ends, offensive line, defensive front seven, defensive secondary, and head coach.

Next up: 2025 NFL front seven rankings.

2025 NFL Front Seven Rankings

Score based on average ranks of positional unit (on a 100-point scale) for all 32 teams, from Sharp Football staff voters. If all voters had a team at #1, that score would be 100. 

What team has the best defensive front seven in the NFL?

32. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons made several moves along their defensive front this offseason, but they weren’t enough to move them above the 32nd spot in our voting. They will rely on first-round picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce to help their pass rush. 

31. Tennessee Titans

Who is going to generate pressure in Tennessee's front seven? Last year’s unit generated pressure on 33% of snaps with a blitz, ranked 30th. The only notable additions were Dre’Mont Jones and second-round pick Femi Oladejo. 

30. New Orleans Saints

New Orleans dropped 12 spots in this year’s rankings, falling all the way down to 30. The Saints were 19th in pressure rate last year and allowed 4.9 yards per carry to opposing running backs. 

29. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers front seven fell into the bottom five of this year’s voting after sitting at 23 last year. Carolina drafted Nic Scourton in the second round and added Patrick Jones in free agency.

28. Arizona Cardinals

Despite spending a first-round pick on Walter Nolan and signing multiple veteran free agents, the defensive front is the weakest point on the Cardinals according to our rankings, sitting at 28th. 

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

There’s talent in the front seven, most notably Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. However, the unit was not the sum of its parts last year. Jacksonville generated pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 15.5% of opponent dropbacks, ranked 31st.

25. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay’s front seven was one of our biggest fallers this year, dropping from eighth in 2024 to 25th this season. The Packers return every starter from last year’s defensive front that finished 16th in the NFL in pressure rate.

25. Cincinnati Bengals

The front seven production will depend largely on the status of Trey Hendrickson, who accounted for 31% of the team’s pressures last year. The run defense was also an issue at times last season, and it isn’t going to get any better after the loss of Sheldon Rankins. 

23. Washington Commanders

Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu combine to make one of the more formidable linebacker duos in the NFL, but last year’s sack leader, Dante Fowler, left for Dallas in free agency. As a result, the Commanders dropped one spot in our rankings from last year.

23. New England Patriots

There could be as many as five new starters in the Patriots' front seven, and upgrades were certainly needed. Opposing running backs gained three or more yards before contact on 27% of carries last year, the league’s sixth highest rate. 

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The defensive front was Tampa Bay’s lowest-ranked group, finishing 22nd in our voting. Haason Reddick was added in free agency to help the pass rush. Reddick had four straight 10-sack seasons before recording just one in last year’s tumultuous season with the Jets. 

21. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers front seven has potential, but Tuli Tuipulotu needs to take the next step in his development. He only ranked 78th out of 179 qualified pass rushers in pressure rate generated last year (10.8%), leaving too much on the shoulders of Khalil Mack (ranked 30th) and Joey Bosa (ranked 64th), who is no longer on the team. 

20. Chicago Bears

The Bears finished 20th in our voting, one spot up from a year ago. Grady Jarrett was added in free agency to give a veteran presence to the middle of the defensive line.

19. Miami Dolphins

Miami ranked 15th in pressure rate generated last year, but only 60% of the team’s pressures returned to the roster. First-round pick Kenneth Grant should help the run game, but the Dolphins will miss the pass rush contributions of Calais Campbell, who ranked third on the team in pressures. 

17. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams move up three spots thanks in part to Jared Verse’s stellar rookie season. Verse’s 89 total pressures led the NFL, but the Rams had a pressure rate of just 34.5%. 

17. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts generated pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 16.7% of opponent dropbacks, ranked 30th. However, Kwity Paye, Laiatu Latu, and rookie JT Tuimoloau provide plenty of talent in the front seven, and a significant leap in production is possible this year. 

16. Kansas City Chiefs

On plays with a dropback probability of 80% or higher, the Chiefs generated a 42% pressure rate, ranked third. However, the front seven occasionally had some issues against the run, only generating contact at or behind the line of scrimmage on 45% of carries by running backs, ranked 19th. 

15. Baltimore Ravens

The front seven narrowly cracked the top half of the league. Although their run defense is strong, the pass rush is lacking an elite weapon. Baltimore generated pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 22% of dropbacks last year, ranked 17th. Perhaps rookie Mike Green can develop into the difference maker the unit needs. 

14. San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco's front seven fell 12 spots to 14 this year after losing Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd in free agency. Nick Bosa is the only player returning who recorded more than four sacks last season. 

13. Las Vegas Raiders

There’s plenty of talent in the Las Vegas front seven, but the unit just needs to stay healthy. Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins only shared the field for 17% of the team’s defensive snaps last year. As a result, the team’s 26th rank in pressure rate was not a true reflection of the unit's potential. 

12. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas front seven ranked 12th this year, up one spot from 2024. The pass rush was ninth in pressure rate last season, but the Cowboys allowed 4.8 yards per carry and an NFL worst 25 rushing touchdowns.

11. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle added DeMarcus Lawrence to its defensive front and earned the 11th spot in our rankings as a result. Leonard Williams had 11 sacks in his first full season with the Seahawks.

10. Detroit Lions

The Lions finished 10th in our front seven rankings, a drop of five spots from a year ago. The big question for Detroit will be Aidan Hutchinson’s health after he missed almost all of last season with a broken leg, though they also have some injury and contract questions at linebacker.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

The front seven was the Eagles’ lowest-ranked group, still finishing in our top 10 but coming in at eight. Philadelphia retained All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun and added Jihaad Campbell in the first round of the draft, but they lost Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency. 

8. Buffalo Bills

The Bills contacted opposing running backs at or behind the line of scrimmage at the league’s second best rate last year (53%), and the front seven may be stronger in 2025. Few teams can match Buffalo’s depth on the defensive line after the additions of Joey Bosa in free agency and draft picks T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson, and Deone Walker. 

7. New York Jets

New York’s front seven is its highest-ranked unit and was in the top 10 on every ballot. The Jets generated pressure in 2.5 seconds or less at the league’s third highest rate last year (27%). The unit has the potential to improve further if Jermaine Johnson returns to form after an Achilles injury. 

6. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland generated pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 31% of dropbacks last year, the league’s best rate. Even after the Za'Darius Smith trade, they ranked fourth (27%). The unit should get a boost from rookie Mason Graham. 

5. Houston Texans

Houston’s front seven was one of four teams to receive a first place vote. If Will Anderson Jr. can stay healthy, the unit should thrive. Houston generated a 35% pressure rate when he was on the field last year. It was 31% when Anderson was sidelined. 

4. New York Giants

The front seven is by far the Giants' best unit, settling in at No. 4 in our rankings. Led by Dexter Lawrence in the middle, they now have a dynamic edge rusher group that includes Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and first-round pick Abdul Carter.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

T.J. Watt anchors a strong front seven, which received votes ranging from second to 12th. To live up to this ranking, the pass rush needs to improve. On passing downs (dropback probably of 80% or higher), Pittsburgh only ranked 26th in pressure rate a season ago. 

2. Denver Broncos

Denver's front seven lacks a brand name pass rusher, but it’s one of the deepest units in the league. Nik Bonitto and John Franklin-Myers were two of just 12 pass rushers (out of 138 qualifiers) to generate a 15% pressure rate or higher. The addition of Dre Greenlaw should elevate an already strong unit, assuming he is healthy. 

1. Minnesota Vikings

The biggest mover across our entire rankings was the Minnesota front seven, which jumped 24 spots to No. 1 this year. The Vikings added both Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to a defensive front that finished sixth in pressure rate and fourth in sacks last season.