2025 NFL defensive rookies: Best and worst case for 17 players 

Drafted: Round 1, No. 3 overall

Best-case scenario: Carter lives up to the hype -- and then some -- becoming the first rookie to post double-digit sacks since his fellow former Penn State star, Micah Parsons. Comps to Parsons appear to be legit, as Carter proves he’s one of the most talented and tenacious defensive players in the league.

Worst-case scenario: The Giants never figure out how to maximize Carter’s abilities with former first-round picks Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux also demanding snaps off the edge. A punchless New York offense puts the team’s defense in bad spots and allows the opposition to control the clock, snatching precious playmaking opportunities away from Carter.

Projected stats: 61 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 9 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 11 overall

Best-case scenario: Williams alleviates concerns about his ability to stay healthy, turning in a full and highly productive campaign. He establishes himself as the best option to play opposite Nick Bosa and injects a level of toughness to the run defense that was missing in San Francisco last season.

Worst-case scenario: The injury bug bites Williams again and keeps him from building any momentum. It ends up looking like he will need a longer runway to develop his pass-rushing acumen than the team had hoped, leaving open questions about whether he’ll be able to put it all together.

Projected stats: 45 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 15 overall

Best-case scenario: Walker emerges as the bedrock of Atlanta’s long-sputtering pass rush, providing a burst of energy off the edge. He becomes a leader in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation and supplies the leadership the Falcons could use after the departure of Grady Jarrett.

Worst-case scenario: The injuries that have sidelined Walker in camp and the preseason linger into the regular season and keep his rookie year from ever truly lifting off. His lack of ideal size as a full-time edge defender proves problematic and prevents him from shaking the tweener label.

Projected stats: 53 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 17 overall

Best-case scenario: The lengthy contract squabble between Stewart and the Bengals fades from memory, as he gets off to a fast start. Talk of his relatively meager college production similarly vanishes, with Stewart wreaking havoc in the backfield and posting the best sack total of any rookie this year.

Worst-case scenario: While there are moments when Stewart’s potential shines, they are few and far between. The struggle to get home in pass-rushing situations follows him into the league and he’s unable to spark a Cincinnati defense that once again holds the team back from achieving its goals.

Projected stats: 38 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 26 overall

Best-case scenario: The Falcons’ long pass-rush nightmare is over. Pearce wins with quick twitch and a relentless motor. He silences his doubters, pairing with fellow first-round pick Jalon Walker to give Atlanta an electric edge-defender duo.

Worst-case scenario: Pearce has a hard time countering the power of NFL blockers, too often getting washed out of plays. He fails to earn starting snaps and looks to be more of a project than an instant-impact difference-maker, leading to questions about whether the team whiffed by giving up next year's first-round pick for him.

Projected stats: 36 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 44 overall

Best-case scenario: The Cowboys settle their differences with Micah Parsons, which sets up Ezeiruaku to see favorable matchups all year long as a designated pass rusher. His strong camp carries over into the season, giving the defense the complement it needs opposite a perennial DPOY candidate in Parsons.

Worst-case scenario: If Parsons isn’t on the field, the whole defense suffers and it could thrust Ezeiruaku into a role he isn’t quite ready to succeed in. The opposition takes advantage of his vulnerability against size and power.

Projected stats: 29 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 59 overall

Best-case scenario: Baltimore allows Green to focus on getting after quarterbacks and he stars as a designated pass rusher. After finishing atop the FBS in sacks last season (17), Green leads the Ravens in the category as a rookie with a relentless playing style.

Worst-case scenario: A lack of ideal size and length hinders Green, who doesn’t earn consistent playing time in the rotation. Offenses minimize his impact as an edge rusher by running the ball directly at him with success.

Projected stats: 27 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 5 overall

Best-case scenario: Graham wrecks shop from the interior of the defensive line, granting any Browns fans carrying bad feelings about the team’s decision to pass on Travis Hunter an opportunity to let go of their angst. The rookie fuels a bounce-back year for the Cleveland defense.

Worst-case scenario: Fears about Graham lacking the elite physical tools to be a consistent disruptor at the next level are realized. Things go poorly on offense for the Browns, placing the defense in unfavorable circumstances.

Projected stats: 35 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 13 overall

Best-case scenario: The move to the pros brings out the best in Grant, who becomes the tone-setter for a much grittier Dolphins defense in 2025. He puts his collection of tools together faster than some expected, giving Miami a building block to pair with Zach Sieler on the front line.

Worst-case scenario: The ups and downs that defined Grant’s 2024 season continue in 2025. The flashes are special, but he can’t shake inconsistency, leading to questions about whether he’ll be able to play to his immense potential.

Projected stats: 30 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 16 overall

Best-case scenario: The calf injury that has sidelined Nolen for all of camp heals in time for him to play in Week 1. He makes up for lost time, earning a starter’s share of snaps and realizing some previously untapped potential.

Worst-case scenario: For the second year in a row, a defensive lineman drafted in the first round by the Cardinals can’t get his rookie year off the ground because of a calf injury, with Nolen joining Darius Robinson in that club. Even after he returns, Nolen doesn’t have the twitch or explosiveness Arizona expected to see from him, and the team remains mired in mediocrity.

Projected stats: 26 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 21 overall

Best-case scenario: The coaching staff set a high bar for Harmon -- announcing he would start all the way back in June -- but he continues to deliver when the real games begin, adding an extra dose of juice and toughness to the Steelers’ defensive line. Pittsburgh has a bigger version of seven-time Pro Bowler Cam Heyward on its hands.

Worst-case scenario: Heyward’s contract dispute with the Steelers drags into the season, and his absence pushes Harmon into a role he’s not completely ready for yet. He fails to stand out in any one area and seems to be missing an elite trait needed to cause chaos up the middle.

Projected stats: 40 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 31 overall

Best-case scenario: Campbell’s strong camp and preseason translates into the regular season. He becomes a versatile piece for Vic Fangio to utilize at off-ball linebacker and as an edge rusher in some situations. The wise defensive coordinator gets the most out of him, adding yet another playmaker to the Philly D.

Worst-case scenario: Campbell’s instincts for the position are not quite where they need to be when he’s thrown into the fire and he struggles to earn Fangio’s trust. Campbell has a limited role on defense after Nakobe Dean returns from injury.

Projected stats: 81 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 pass breakups.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 33 overall

Best-case scenario: Schwesinger shows the same drive and nose for the ball that helped him go from a walk-on to an All-American at UCLA. He helps to fill the void left by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s injury and Jordan Hicks’ retirement, becoming a four-down staple for an improved Browns team.

Worst-case scenario: Teams build early leads against the Browns, who don’t have enough firepower on offense to keep the squad in games. A steady diet of run plays takes its toll on Schwesinger. The production is there, but it’s not as impactful as anyone hoped.

Projected stats: 123 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 pass breakups.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 2 overall

Best-case scenario: Hunter quiets the skeptics, thriving as a two-way player in his debut season. While wide receiver might be his primary position, he shows a knack for getting his hands on the ball as a cornerback and has plenty of gas in the tank to make his presence felt on defense.

Worst-case scenario: The skeptics are proven right. While the Jaguars attempt to play Hunter on both sides of the ball, his overall performance suffers under the weight of an overwhelming workload. His defensive duties are cut back early in the season and he rarely sees two-way duty by the end of the year.

Projected stats: 32 tackles, 3 INTs, 9 pass breakups.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 20 overall

Best-case scenario: Despite a tough fight from Ja'Quan McMillian for the job, Barron earns starting snaps at the nickel spot. His instincts shine right away, with the former Longhorn quickly establishing a reputation as a ballhawk and sound tackler for one of the league’s best defenses.

Worst-case scenario: The coaching staff ultimately shows more trust in McMillian than the first-round pick, with Barron relegated to a minor role. He doesn’t show the speed to recover when he’s beaten on deep routes, making him a target for offenses.

Projected stats: 67 tackles, 5 INTs, 12 pass breakups.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 27 overall

Best-case scenario: Baltimore finds a perfect fit for the safety spot opposite Kyle Hamilton. Starks’ outstanding intangibles, range and ball skills put him in position to make plays for one of the league’s most suffocating defenses.

Worst-case scenario: Starks sticks out as the weak link in a talented secondary; offenses have success when they make targeting him their focus. He’s not consistent in coverage or against physical rushing attacks.

Projected stats: 77 tackles, 4 INTs, 10 pass breakups.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 47 overall

Best-case scenario: Biggest steal of the draft? Johnson makes his case for that label, holding down a starting job all year and thriving as a playmaker for a blossoming Arizona defense. He answers all the questions about his aggressiveness against the run and doesn’t show any signs of the health concerns that contributed to his draft slide.

Worst-case scenario: Johnson misses time due to injury for the third year in a row. When he plays, he shows a lack of deep speed and is not physical enough against the ground game, leading to questions about his ability to start in the league. 

Projected stats: 38 tackles, 2 INTs, 9 pass breakups.