How do the Cardinals stack up on the defensive line this season?
Having taken an in-depth look at the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive line talent and how they compare in 2025 to the other offensive lines in the NFC West, today we take a close look at how the Cardinals’ 2025 defensive line compares (on paper) to the Rams’, 49ers’ and Seahawks”.
We are going to treat this as the top 5 defensive linemen on each squad, and rank them, for discussion points, based on their 2024 PFF grades.
ED:
- SFO: Nick Bosa —- 91.0
- SEA: Boye Mafe —- 75.2
- ARI: Zaven Collins —- 72.0
- LAR: Byron Young —- 6.1.6
DT:
- SEA: Leonard Williams —- 87.1
- LAR: Braden Fiske —- 57.6
- SFO: Yetur Gross-Matos —- 51.5
- ARI: Walter Nolen III —- R
NT:
- LAR: Poona Ford —- 85.3
- ARI: Dalvin Tomlinson —- 67.4 —- UFA CLE
- SEA: Byron Murphy II —- 57.8
- SFO: Alfred Collins —- R
DT:
- ARI: Calais Campbell —- 82.3 —- UFA MIA
- LAR: Kobie Turner —- 75.1
- SEA: Jarran Reed —- 70.6
- SFO: Jordan Elliott —- 47.6
ED:
- LAR: Jared Verse —- 89.3
- ARI: Josh Sweat —- 70.0 —- UFA PHI
- SFO: Bryce Huff —- 69.8 —- Trade PHI
- SEA: DeMarcus Lawrence —- 56.8 —- UFA DAL
PFF’s 2025 Defensive Line rankings:
2025 NFL defensive line rankings: T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward propel Steelers to No. 1 (pff.com)
9. Los Angeles Rams
Many expected the Rams’ defensive line to fall off following Aaron Donald‘s retirement, but the unit has remained above average thanks to its young players, including a pair of impactful rookies. First-year interior defender Braden Fiske generated pressure on 13.2% of pass plays in 2024, which ranked fifth at the position, while fellow rookie Jared Verse’s 89.3 PFF overall grade placed seventh among edge defenders.
Los Angeles added interior defender Poona Ford in the offseason, and he brings an 85.3 PFF overall grade that ranked fifth among interior defenders this past season.
20. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals’ defensive line might be the most improved unit over the past eight months — including the mid-season acquisition of edge defender Baron Browning. Arizona added edge defender Josh Sweat and interior defenders Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell in free agency and selected interior defender Walter Nolen with their first-round pick.
The Cardinals ranked only 26th in the NFL in pressure rate without blitzing last season (28.0%), but that should improve in 2025 with the new pieces along the defensive line.
21. San Francisco 49ers
Once considered to be the best defensive line in football, the 49ers’ unit now relies mainly on star edge rusher Nick Bosa. The Ohio State product earned a 91.0 PFF overall grade in 2024, which ranked fourth among edge defenders. The rest of the group leaves a lot to be desired. The 49ers must hope that Bryce Huff can find his old form as he reunites with Robert Saleh. Huff was among the best situational pass rushers in the league during his time with the Jets.
23. Seattle Seahawks
Despite missing some time with injury in 2024, veteran interior defender Leonard Williams earned the highest PFF overall grade of his career in his 10th NFL season. The USC product’s 87.1 mark ranked fourth among 118 interior defenders.
While there is some potential along the defensive line around Williams, if the Seahawks are to be considered an average unit in 2025, they need 32-year-old Jarran Reed to continue to play at a high level and fourth-year edge defender Boye Mafe to take the next step and become an above-average pass rusher.
Total Points:
- LAR —- 19
- ARI —- 16
- SEA —- 15
- SFO —- 12
Interesting: combined averages of the NFC West teams’ OL (@sdiben90NFL) and DL (@PFF) rankings:
- LAR: 9 (OL-9, DL-9)
- ARI: 14 (OL-8, DL-20)
- SFO: 18.5 (OL-16, DL-21)
- SEA: 26.6 (OL-30, DL-23)
The Cardinals appear to be trending in the right direction in bolstering the talent up front on both sides of the ball. The most curious and rare factor is that both the 2025 Cardinals’ offensive and defensive lines are in the hands of rookie NFL coaches and coordinators who are heading into their third year of creating the game plans and calling the plays.
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