Ranking the Top NFL Defenses After the Micah Parsons Trade

After acquiring Micah Parsons in one of the most shocking trades in NFL history, the Green Bay Packers have put the league on notice. But where does their revamped defense rank among the league's best?

Based on recent team rankings, player accolades and production and projection for the 2025 season, we slotted the top five defenses. Expect these defensive groups to finish within the top five in key categories.

How much does Parsons move the needle for the Packers? Let's break it down, starting with a few honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Jalen Carter

Kansas City Chiefs

Steve Spagnuolo's defense has finished within the top four in scoring and ninth or better in total yards in consecutive terms. He'll get the best out of his unit, which hasn't dramatically changed over the offseason.

Cornerback Kristian Fulton is a questionable signing, having allowed a career-worst five touchdowns and a 103.6 passer rating last season. However, the secondary is bolstered by All-Pro Trent McDuffie, who excels in coverage, while Chris Jones and George Karlaftis bring significant pressure up front.

Los Angeles Chargers 

In 2024, the Chargers allowed the fewest points and had the seventh-ranked pass defense. However, they struggled against the run, surrendering 4.7 yards per carry—ranked 27th in the league.

Newcomer Da'Shawn Hand can help Los Angeles stuff the run after he logged five tackles for loss last season. Donte Jackson, who recorded a career-high five interceptions in the previous campaign, and Tarheeb Still are an underrated cornerback duo. If Khalil Mack stays healthy and Tuli Tuipulotu takes another significant leap in his third year, the Chargers unit should be top 10 in key defensive categories.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles had arguably the best defense last season. They gave up the fewest yards and ranked second in scoring. The unit lost some key players, though. Edge-rusher Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Milton Williams signed elsewhere in free agency. The team released cornerback Darius Slay.

Although Philadelphia may not be as dominant defensively as it was in the previous season, it has a young core that includes Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio helped turn linebacker Zack Baun into an All-Pro. He could optimize Jihaad Campbell's versatile skill set, using him in pass-rushing and coverage situations.

5. Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Morry Gash

Micah Parsons

General manager Brian Gutekunst pulled off the blockbuster deal for Micah Parsons in a move that pushed the Green Bay Packers defense into the top five.

In all four of his seasons, Parsons has been a deserved Pro Bowler with at least 12 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 41 pressures. He'll immediately elevate Green Bay's pass rush that tied for eighth in sacks but finished 16th in pressure rate last year.

Furthermore, Parsons and Rashan Gary will be one of the league's top edge-rushing duos. As the former takes on double teams, the latter could see open pass-rushing lanes on the opposite side. Gary is coming off a Pro Bowl year and may log his first double-digit sack season.

At linebacker, Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper are tackling machines. Walker has recorded at least 102 tackles in all three of his seasons. Last year, Cooper logged 87 and showed the ability to cover on passing downs, logging four pass breakups and an interception while allowing a 78.8 passer rating in coverage.

Xavier McKinney is one of the top ball-hawking defensive backs in the league, and he can line up at both safety spots and in the slot. After dealing with injuries early in his career, he hasn't missed a game since the 2022 campaign.

This offseason, Green Bay signed cornerback Nate Hobbs, who underwent knee surgery in August, which creates a potential issue in the secondary. In nickel formation, the Packers need someone other than McKinney to make impact plays with consistency.

4. Denver Broncos

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Nik Bonitto

After a career-best season in which the Broncos defense ranked top seven in both points and yards allowed, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is looking to build further success.

The Broncos have the high-level talent to build on their progress from last year. They will field a collective group of disruptors up front who collapse the pocket and stifle ground attacks.

Last year, Pro Bowler Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper logged double-digit sacks, while Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers provided an interior pass rush. Bonitto, Cooper and Allen all logged at least 11 tackles for loss.

On the back end, cornerback Patrick Surtain II is a two-time All-Pro. Safety Brandon Jones isn't a household name, but he's coming off his best season with career highs in tackles (115), pass breakups (10) and interceptions (three) while allowing a 79 passer rating in coverage. Rookie first-rounder Jahdae Barron can bring more toughness and ball production to the secondary.

The biggest question for Denver's defense is whether its new acquisitions can stay healthy.

Over the last two years, All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga has missed 17 games. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw missed all but two contests in 2024. If they're able to stay on the field, Denver will rarely give up 20-plus points in a game this year.

With Surtain, Jones and a healthy Hufanga, the Broncos secondary is more trustworthy than the Green Bay Packers' group of defensive backs. So, Denver's unit gets the No. 4 spot.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Freed

T.J. Watt

This offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded safety Minkah Fitzpatrick but still bolstered their secondary with proven talent, signing Juan Thornhill and Darius Slay and acquiring Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins.

Thornhill isn't a headliner, but he can be solid if healthy for most of the season. Slay and Ramsey are in their 30s, but they're still performing at a high level.

In 2024, Slay and Ramsey allowed passer ratings below 84 in coverage and logged double-digit pass breakups. With the former on the boundary opposite Joey Porter Jr. and the latter's ability to line up in the slot, the Steelers will roll out one of the league's best cornerback groups in nickel formation.

In recent years, Pittsburgh has been one of the top pass-rushing teams because of star edge-rusher T.J. Watt and four-time All-Pro defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, who's still one of the top interior pass-rushers at 36 years old.

Last season, Patrick Queen allowed a 114 passer rating. The Steelers need him to be more consistent in coverage, while fellow linebacker Payton Wilson takes on a bigger role. Keeanu Benton must show more as a playmaker alongside Heyward while rookie first-rounder Derrick Harmon recovers from an MCL sprain.

The Steelers' defensive star power vaults them ahead of the Denver Broncos unit for the No. 3 slot.

2. Houston Texans

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Danielle Hunter

The Houston Texans have already demonstrated they can field a defensive group that generates constant pocket pressure and forces turnovers at a high rate.

In 2024, the Texans tied for fourth in sacks with 49 and finished second in takeaways (19). They have a pair of Pro Bowl edge-rushers in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., who logged double-digit sacks last season.

All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and safety Calen Bullock recorded five interceptions apiece. As a rookie, Kamari Lassiter registered three interceptions while allowing a 64 passer rating in coverage.

By the way, the Texans acquired C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who snagged six interceptions in the previous season. Despite a knee injury, he could suit up for Week 1. When the seventh-year pro steps on the field, you can make the case that Houston's secondary has more ball hawks than any other group of defensive backs in the league.

The Texans have a solid linebacker corps, but it's nothing special, which keeps them out of the top spot.

1. Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Marlon Humphrey

The Baltimore Ravens defense features three All-Pros and a double-digit pass-rushing duo from the previous season, which is why this is the best unit entering the 2025 season.

The Ravens' secondary features a mix of established veterans and emerging talent.

Baltimore signed Jaire Alexander, who can perform at a Pro Bowl level if he stays healthy. Without him, the Ravens can still stifle aerial attacks with their top two cornerbacks and two physical safeties with coverage skills.

All-Pro Marlon Humphrey can line up on the boundary and in the slot. As a rookie last year, Nate Wiggins logged 13 pass breakups and an interception while allowing a 66.7 passer rating in coverage. Rookie first-rounder Malaki Starks and All-Pro Kyle Hamilton could be a dynamic safety duo. The former recorded six interceptions in three collegiate terms at Georgia.

All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith is the centerpiece of the unit and a big reason why the Ravens gave up the fewest rushing yards last year.

Kyle Van Noy has aged well in Baltimore. Since signing with the team's practice squad in 2023, he's recorded 21.5 sacks and 37 pressures. Last year, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod.

In 2024, Odafe Oweh made significant strides, logging career highs in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (nine). He hasn't played more than 65 percent of the defensive snaps in a season and could see more time on the field this year.

With proven veterans and emerging stars at every level, the Ravens possess an elite defense that's poised to shut down offenses throughout 2025.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.