The NFL's Top Defensive Units Heading Into the 2025 Offseason

Using Field Vision's Havoc Ratings, let's reflect on who had the best-performing units during the 2024 season.

Defensive Ends/Edges

The Steelers duo of TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith gives Pittsburgh the best Edge room in the NFL. Both finished in the top three behind Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson, who was injured early in the NFL season but was on a pace to have a record year. Though the Steelers didn't have the best pass-rush team metrics, the duo of Watt and Highsmith accounted for much of the team's production. Watt finished the year with 11 sacks, while Highsmith only had 6. Overall, the Steelers finished 14th in Pressure %, 15th in Sack %, and 13th in total sacks (40). Though not in the top 10, the two Edges were a menace for opposing teams.

Pittsburgh's Edge unit sits atop the standings for their effectiveness in rushing the passer and within the run game. The third wheel in the group is Nick Herbig, who finished as the 67th-best defensive end in this year's Havoc Ratings.

Other top units: San Francisco, New York Giants, Las Vegas, Dallas

Interior Defensive Linemen

Seattle's Leonard Williams burst back on the scene this year with an 11.5 sack season. Head Coach Mike Macdonald is quickly becoming known for getting the best out of his defensive line. At the beginning of the year, not many pundits would have had the Seahawks' interior defensive line, headlined by Williams, Jarron Reed, and rookie Byron Murphy as the best interior unit in football. Williams, in particular, has only had one double-digit sack season, which came in 2020 for the Giants. The journeyman D-lineman was a disrupting force for the Seahawks all year.

Seattle finished fourth in Pressure % and eleventh in total EPA. Much of the success on defense came from the constant pressure created upfront. Though there is a need for improvement in the run defense, the trio of Williams, Reed, and Murphy is one to watch for next season. Murphy should be able to grow and push Reed for more playing time. Williams finished as the #1 overall iDL, with Reed finishing in the top 20. If Macdonald can continue to raise the play of Murphy and keep Williams and Reed producing, this is a dangerous unit heading into 2025. Interior line play is the catalyst for elite defenses.

Other top units: Denver, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Miami

Off-Ball Linebackers

This really should be 1a and 1b. Both the linebacker units for the Eagles and Commanders were stellar this year. In fact, according to Havoc Ratings, the Philadelphia linebacking corp got the highest grade overall (91.8). The Commanders were not far behind, with a rating of 89.4.

Zach Baun was a little-known player before coming to the Eagles. In New Orleans, Baun was mainly used as a Ted LB, playing over a TE and typically on run-heavy downs. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio saw something in him, and instantly, Baun became a star, earning All-Pro honors this season. Baun would finish the season with a 99.3 Havoc Rating. To put that in perspective, he had a season above the 99th percentile within our data at Field Vision. Baun's partner, Nakobe Dean, finished twelfth in Havoc, with both primary back-ups finishing in the top 100 for gradable players, enough to push this unit to the top.

Washington's duo of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu deserve credit as well. Both players earned All-Pro honors this year. Neither one came off the field either. Wagner finished third overall in Havoc Ratings, with Luvu coming in 13th.

Other top units: Dallas, New York Giants, Seattle

Safeties

Many were shocked when the Lions shifted Nickel Brian Branch full-time back to Safety. Moving him back in Aaron Glenn's Nickel-based man-centric defense might hinder the whole unit. In reality, Branch got even better. With the ability to play elite man coverage and hold up near the box against the run, playing Branch at Safety allowed Glenn to keep him on the field full-time and in one position. Detroit ended the year as a top-10 defense in EPA/pass.

Branch was a perfect pairing for Kirby Joseph, one of the best Post Safeties in the NFL. Branch could be used as a Swiss Army Knife, moving around to create leverage for the defense while Joseph lurked deep in the field. When Glenn wanted to play split-field coverage (two-high), both Safeties were more than adequate. It also helped that neither one came off the field. Branch finished the year as the #5 overall Safety in Havoc, with Joseph as the top Safety in the league, finishing the year with nine total interceptions.

Other top units: Indianapolis, Arizona, Chicago, Tennessee

Cornerbacks

One of the best passing defenses in 2024 resided in Houston. The team finished fifth in EPA/pass and third in Dropback Success Rate. Production came from the likes of Derek Stingley Jr. and rookie Kamari Lassiter. Since entering the NFL, Stingley has been one of the most highly regarded CBs in the league. Until last year, he hadn't lived up to the billing. Under Head Coach DeMeco Ryans, Stingley has surfaced as one of the best lock-down CBs in the league. He only finished behind Buffalo's Christian Benford in Havoc Ratings.

Houston plays a lot of coverage that isolates the CBs outside on an offense's primary receivers. Stingley is a known commodity, but his partner in Lassiter was a second-round pick from Georgia. Lassiter has quickly ascended into being one of the better CBs in the league and finished seventh in Havoc Ratings.

Other top units: Indianapolis, Chicago, Seattle, Buffalo

Who had the best front seven?

Philadelphia, led by its LB corp, had the best front seven in the league. Though its D-line didn't rate highly because of inconsistent play at times, it showed up when needed, especially in the Super Bowl. Overall, the Eagles' defense was arguably the best all year.

Other top units: San Fransisco, New York Giants, Las Vegas, Dallas

Who has the best secondary?

The Colts are a surprising choice here and barely edge out the Lions. Of Indianapolis' five main secondary players, four are in the top 25 at their position. According to Havoc Ratings, Nickel Kenny Moore is the best at his position and the eighth-best CB overall. Safety Nick Cross finished fourth in Havoc for Safeties. CB Jalen Jones and Safety Julian Blackmon were also highly rated.

There is a slight disconnect here, though. The Colts finished 22nd in EPA/pass and 24th in Dropback Success Rate. Still, with Lou Anarumo heading to Indy, there is a roster that shows promise for a coach who has plenty of skins on the wall.

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