2025 NFL Secondary 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 secondary rankings.

2025 NFL Secondary 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 secondary in the NFL?

32. Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas secondary allowed a 53.9 % completion rate on throws 10 or more yards downfield, ranked 31st. The additions of Jeremy Chinn and Eric Stokes are probably not enough to drastically turn things around. 

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

The addition of Jourdan Lewis at nickel corner will help, but the Jaguars need a lot more. The Jaguars allowed 20 or more yards on 11.4% of opponent dropbacks, ranked 32nd. Travis Hunter playing meaningful snaps at corner would go a long way.

30. Carolina Panthers

Carolina’s secondary was the team’s biggest faller this year as they dropped from 21st to 30th. Cornerback Jaycee Horn played a career high 15 games in 2024 and allowed a completion percentage of just 53.2% when targeted. 

29. Miami Dolphins

Jalen Ramsey was finally traded, and the Dolphins filled a need in return, acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick. The corner depth chart is still a major question mark, with Kader Kohou, Storm Duck, Artie Burns, and Cam Smith the top names as things stand in July. 

27. New Orleans Saints

The secondary was New Orleans' biggest faller this year, tumbling down 20 spots from their position a year ago. Marshon Lattimore was traded to Washington during the 2024 season, and Paulson Adebo left in free agency.

27. Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati inexplicably made no changes to the secondary other than letting valued nickel corner Mike Hilton walk in free agency. The Bengals allowed 7.6 yards per attempt on third downs last year, ranked 27th. 

26. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams finish up at 26th in our secondary voting, the lowest unit ranking on their roster. Los Angeles allowed 29 passing touchdowns in 2024, the fifth most in the NFL.

25. Tennessee Titans

The Titans secondary struggled last year, but the unit has some promise if L’Jarius Sneed returns to full strength. Tennessee allowed 5.5 yards per attempt when Sneed was on the field last year, compared to 7.3 without him. 

24. Dallas Cowboys

Our panel was high on Dallas' secondary last year, placing them in the top five, but they’ve tumbled down to 24 this season. Trevon Diggs has played just 13 games over the past two seasons due to knee injuries and has just 6 interceptions since recording 11 of them back in 2021. 

23. New York Giants

New York's secondary got out of the 32nd spot this year, climbing up to 23rd. Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo were two veteran free agents added in the offseason. 

22. Washington Commanders

Washington is hoping Marshon Lattimore can stay healthy after he played only two games following a midseason trade from the Saints.

20. Indianapolis Colts

Indy lacks a difference-maker in the secondary, and it showed in man coverage, where the Colts allowed 7.7 yards per attempt, ranked 25th. The addition of Charvarius Ward could help if he’s able to benefit from a fresh start following a tough year. 

20. Buffalo Bills

Votes for the Bills’ secondary ranged from 13th to 25th, potentially a reflection of the uncertainty around one of the key outside cornerback jobs. First-round pick Maxwell Hairston has the athleticism to set a high ceiling for production, but his inconsistent play at Kentucky last year was an indication that he might not be ready for the spotlight. 

19. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons ranked 19th in our 2025 voting, five spots ahead of where they were a year ago. Jessie Bates remains one of the most impactful safeties in the league.

18. San Francisco 49ers

As with a lot of units on the roster, the 49ers secondary suffered a pretty big fall this year, tumbling down to 18 after cracking the top 10 last year. 

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers return all their starters from a year ago, and they added Jacob Parris and Benjamin Morrison on the second day of this year’s draft. 

16. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland's secondary returns almost fully intact, but that’s not necessarily a good thing after the unit underperformed last season. When the pass rush failed to generate pressure, the Browns allowed 8.0 yards per attempt, ranked 27th. 

15. New England Patriots

New England’s secondary is loaded with talent, but it needs to take the next step as a unit. When the pass rush failed to generate pressure, the Patriots ranked 16th in yards per attempt allowed (7.4). Christian Gonzalez will be expected to elevate his play in his second full year as a starter. 

14. Chicago Bears

The Bears return every starter from last year’s secondary, but the panel isn’t as high on them as they were a year ago, dropping them nine spots. Chicago was burned by big plays last season, allowing 12.2 yards per completion, which was only ahead of the Cleveland Browns. 

12. Los Angeles Chargers

Derwin James can’t do it all for the Chargers. Despite James’ production, the secondary allowed a 45% completion rate on throws of 15 or more yards last year, ranked 22nd. Donte Jackson will try to help, but he’s coming off an ineffective season in Pittsburgh. 

12. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona secondary finished 12th in our rankings this season, up 16 spots from a year ago and occupying the highest point of any Cardinals unit. Budda Baker was named to his seventh Pro Bowl last season.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey join the secondary this season, which should give a nice boost to a unit that was solid but inconsistent last season. On throws 10 or more yards downfield, Pittsburgh allowed a 49% completion rate, ranked 19th.

10. New York Jets

Sauce Gardner anchors a secondary that allowed just 6 touchdown passes on throws 10 or more yards downfield last year, tied for the second fewest in the league. The loss of D.J. Reed hurts, however, and Brandon Stephens is likely a downgrade at the spot opposite Gardner. 

8. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks boast a top 10 secondary according to our rankings, a seven spot improvement over a year ago. Only seven teams allowed fewer yards per pass attempt than the Seahawks last year.

8. Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota's secondary finished eighth in our rankings, one spot above last season. Harrison Smith and Byron Murphy are both back for another season.

7. Kansas City Chiefs

Trent McDuffie anchors the Chiefs secondary, and the addition of Kristian Fulton should help. The Chiefs allowed just 79 completions on throws of 10 or more yards last year, the eighth fewest 一 a particularly impressive feat considering how often they were playing with a lead. 

6. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay's secondary did jump 10 spots in our rankings this year, but the recent release of Jaire Alexander will be a tough loss. Xavier McKinney had a great year in his first season in Green Bay, finishing eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. 

5. Baltimore Ravens

There’s a disconnect between the talent and the performance of the Ravens unit as a whole. No one was scared of Baltimore’s secondary last year, as opponents averaged 7.9 throws per game at 15 or more yards downfield (fourth most) while completing 47% of those throws (seventh highest rate). 

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia has a lot of young talent, but they moved on from veteran starters Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean will step into bigger roles after impressive rookie campaigns. 

3. Detroit Lions

The Lions secondary finished third in our rankings, trailing only Denver and Houston. Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch might be the top safety tandem in the NFL, and Detroit added veteran cornerback D.J. Reed to play opposite 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold.

2. Houston Texans

Houston’s secondary narrowly missed the top spot in our rankings and actually received more first place votes than the Broncos. Keeping the unit healthy will be key. When Derek Stingley Jr, Jalen Pitre, and Kamari Lassiter were all on the field 一 which only happened in nine games 一 Houston allowed a 53% completion rate. When any one of them was off the field, that rate jumped to 63%. 

1. Denver Broncos

Denver’s secondary ranked in the top four on every ballot and has the potential to improve this year if rookie Jahdae Barron makes a smooth transition to the league, likely in the nickel corner role.