The 2024 NFL season is fully in the rear view after the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl 59 over the Kansas City Chiefs. After their win, the final coaching vacancy for 2025 was filled and teams are now squarely looking forward to next season.
The new league year begins on Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET. But in the 48 hours leading up to that deadline, teams can negotiate with pending free agent players.
There are multiple key signings in free agency every year. Philadelphia’s free agent acquisitions last offseason included Saquon Barkley and Zack Baun and both were first-team All-Pro players on the Eagles’ championship-winning campaign.
There are plenty of talented players in free agency once again this year. Here’s how we ranked the top 15 free agents on defense for 2025.
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2025 NFL free agent rankings: Top 15 defensive players
1. Edge Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles
Sweat led the Eagles in sacks during the regular season (8.0) and backed that up with a standout playoff performance culminating in a 2.5-sack effort against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Sweat has the ideal mix of size at 6-foot-5 and 265 lbs. and athleticism to be a force against the run and the pass. At 28 years old by the start of next season, he’ll be one of the highest-paid free agents in the class.
2. DT Milton Williams, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Carter, Sweat and Jordan Davis all get much of the attention on the Eagles’ defensive line. But Williams is an underrated, athletic force who went off in the Super Bowl after a career year in the regular season. Williams posted career-highs in sacks (5.0) and pressures (35). His pressure rate of 12.5% was second league-wide among defensive tackles, per Next Gen Stats.
Williams is an athletic interior defensive lineman with the resume to command top money at the position considering his age (26 by the start of next season).
3. S Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins
Holland dealt with injuries in 2023 but played pretty well in 2024. He was a typically solid run defender and posted a career-best in stops (tackles that result in a successful play for the defense) per Next Gen Stats.
At 25 years old next season and a track record of success in 2021 and 2022, he’ll be in demand at an undervalued position this offseason.
4. CB D.J. Reed, New York Jets
Reed was targeted in coverage more than teammate Sauce Gardner in 2024 but allowed a lower quarterback rating (80.4 to 83.3) and yards after catch per reception (2.5 to 4.9), per Next Gen Stats.
Reed will turn 29 next season which may see him get a short-term deal but he’s a proven starter at outside cornerback and should be paid accordingly.
5. LB Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Baun started just 14 games over four years with the New Orleans Saints before coming to the Eagles in 2024 and completely turning things around. He was a first-team All-Pro linebacker under Vic Fangio’s tutelage as the Eagles’ defense powered a title.
Baun will turn 29 late next season and will be the top linebacker in free agency. That type of breakout year will be rewarded even if the market is down at the position.
6. CB Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers
Ward had a league-high 23 passes defensed and five interceptions in 2023 and earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for his efforts. Then 2024 happened. Ward missed one game with an ankle injury then took time away from the field after the death of his daughter.
Ward will be 29 next season and is hitting free agency for a second time. He’ll likely sign a shorter deal due to his age for the position but still get near-top money.
7. DT Osa Odighizuwa, Dallas Cowboys
Odighizuwa enjoyed a breakout 2024 season as a pass rusher. The 2021 third-round pick had career-highs in sacks (4.5) and pressures (33). He hasn’t missed a game since his rookie season.
He’ll be 27 by the start of next season. He’s slightly undersized for the position at 6-foot-2 and 280 lbs. but his pass-rushing production will make him the next-best interior defensive lineman after Williams.
8. S Tre’Von Moehrig, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders weren’t contenders in 2024 but Moehrig still had a standout season. He set career-highs in passes defensed (10), fumble recoveries (two) and tackles (104). He also tied for ninth among qualified defensive backs in stops with 43, per Next Gen Stats.
At 26 years old to start next season, Moehrig’s shown up well against the run and pass and should be a target for teams looking for help in the secondary.
9. CB Byron Murphy Jr., Minnesota Vikings
Murphy was the Vikings’ top cornerback in 2024 with a career-high six interceptions. He set a career-best with a 75.6 quarterback rating when targeted, per Next Gen Stats.
He’ll be 27 this upcoming season and that could see him get a longer-term deal than what Reed or Ward receive.
10. CB Carlton Davis III, Detroit Lions
Davis III was traded to Detroit before the season and played very well before a fractured jaw ended his season early. Still, he’s a proven outside corner with experience in both man and zone schemes. He’ll be 28 entering next season and should be right with Murphy Jr. in dollar amount.
11. LB Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers
This is a bit of a gamble but it could pay off. Greenlaw missed most of 2024 after tearing his Achilles in Super Bowl 58 against the Chiefs. In the prior two years, he was one of the top linebackers in the league with the athleticism to cover and the demeanor to be a force in run defense. He’ll be 28 by the start of next season.
12. S Justin Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Reid is hitting free agency once again after winning two Super Bowls with the Chiefs and should be in demand again for a team looking for experience on the back end. He’ll be 28 next season and pairs sure tackling with good coverage skills.
13. LB Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs
Bolton shines against the run and notched 11 tackles for loss and a career-high three sacks in 2024. He’s not the best in coverage but offers enough not to be a liability in zone. On the plus side, he’ll be 25 by the start of next season.
14. S Camryn Bynum, Minnesota Vikings
Bynum offers an ideal mix of tackling against the run and coverage production (three interceptions, 10 passes defensed in 2024). He’ll be 27 by the start of next season, making him an ideal starter for most teams league-wide.
15. CB Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints
Adebo is recovering from a broken femur suffered in Week 7. If he checks out medically, he’ll be one of the top free agents at the position thanks to his skills in press coverage, ball production (10 interceptions in four seasons) and age (26 at the start of next season).