NFL Secondary Rankings 2025: Ravens Are the Best in Football
With so many talented quarterbacks and wide receivers in the NFL, secondary play is essential to defensive success. These rankings factor in teams’ talent at cornerback and safety judged by last season’s metrics and projections for future upside. I also factored in the coaching staff in place for each team. Let’s get to work.
#1: Philadelphia Eagles
Starters: CB Quinyon Mitchell, CB Adoree’ Jackson, NB Cooper DeJean, FS Sydney Brown, SS Reed Blankenship
Even though the Eagles lost Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, this is a stacked group with premium young talent, led by Mitchell and DeJean.
#2: Denver Broncos
Starters: CB Patrick Surtain II, CB Riley Moss, NB Ja’Quan McMillian, FS Brandon Jones, SS Talanoa Hufanga
Surtain is one of the best cornerbacks in football. Now, the Broncos added a stud prospect in Jahdae Barron, who isn’t listed here because he’s behind McMillan on the depth chart for now, but expect that to change quickly.
#3: Houston Texans
Starters: CB Derek Stingley Jr., CB Kamari Lassiter, NB Jalen Pitre, FS C.J. Gardner-Johnson, SS Calen Bullock
Love the addition of C.J. Gardner-Johnson to join a loaded group headlined by Stingley. DeMeco Ryans is going to have a field day with this defense.
#4: Kansas City Chiefs
Starters: CB Trent McDuffie, CB Kristian Fulton, NB Jaylen Watson, FS Bryan Cook, SS Chamarri Conner
McDuffie has developed into one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, anchoring a strong group for Steve Spagnuolo’s perennial top defense.
#5: Detroit Lions
Starters: CB Terrion Arnold, CB D.J. Reed, NB Amik Robertson, FS Kerby Joseph, SS Brian Branch
Don’t sleep on the Lions defense just because they were injury-riddled down the stretch last year. Branch and Joseph make a lethal combo, while Arnold is a good young player.
#6: Los Angeles Chargers
Starters: CB Donte Jackson, CB Cam Hart, NB Tarheeb Still, FS Alohi Gilman, SS Derwin James Jr.
The Chargers secondary is led by one of the best defensive backs in the NFL in Derwin James.
#7: Seattle Seahawks
Starters: CB Riq Woolen, CB Josh Jobe, NB Devon Witherspoon, FS Julian Love, SS Coby Bryant
The Seahawks could fly up these ranks due to their mix of young and talented players with a brilliant defensive mind in Mike Macdonald.
#8: New England Patriots
Starters: CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Carlton Davis III, NB Marcus Jones, FS Dell Pettus, SS Jaylinn Hawkins
Gonzalez and Davis form a nice duo at cornerback. Expect this defense to take strides now that Mike Vrabel is the head coach.
#9: Buffalo Bills
Starters: CB Tre’Davious White, CB Christian Benford, NB Taron Johnson, FS Cole Bishop, SS Taylor Rapp
Talented secondary highlighted by Christian Benford and Taron Johnson. Hopefully, they can finally stay healthy for the full season, since they’ve been plagued by injury in recent years.
#10: Green Bay Packers
Starters: CB Keisean Nixon, CB Nate Hobbs, NB Javon Bullard, FS Xavier McKinney, SS Evan Williams
Xavier McKinney was a tremendous addition to the Packers’ secondary. They just need their young cornerbacks to take the next step in their development.
#11: Jacksonville Jaguars
Starters: CB Jarrian Jones, CB Tyson Campbell, NB Jourdan Lewis, FS Andrew Wingard, SS Eric Murray
Cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Jourdan Lewis have some upside, but this is a mid-level group. However, they got off to a good start so far this year.
#12: Arizona Cardinals
Starters: CB Will Johnson, CB Max Melton, NB Garrett Williams, FS Budda Baker, SS Jalen Thompson
The Cardinals are going to move up these ranks in short order, as rookie cornerback Will Johnson has been impressive so far.
#13: San Francisco 49ers
Starters: CB Renaldo Green, CB Deommodore Lenoir, NB Upton Stout, FS Jason Pinnock, SS Ji’Ayir Brown
The 49ers are likely to move up this list because it looks like an improved secondary with Robert Saleh coaching the defense.
#14: Baltimore Ravens
Starters: CB Nate Wiggins, CB Jaire Alexander, NB Marlon Humphrey, FS Malaki Starks, SS Kyle Hamilton
The Ravens have been one of the most disappointing defenses in the NFL, so they’re major fallers here.
#15: Chicago Bears
Starters: CB Jaylon Johnson, CB Tyrique Stevenson, NB Kyler Gordon, FS Kevin Byard III, SS Jaquan Brisker
The Bears defense is off to a poor start, but they’ve dealt with injuries, so we could see them get back on track sooner than later.
#16: Cleveland Browns
Starters: CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, NB Cameron Mitchell, FS Ronnie Hickman, SS Grant Delpit
The Browns have some high-end talent in this secondary, including Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit. They just need more consistency from players like Greg Newsome.
#17: Atlanta Falcons
Starters: CB A.J. Terrell, CB Mike Hughes, NB Billy Bowman Jr., FS Xavier Watts, SS Jessie Bates III
The Falcons have one of the most improved defenses in the NFL. They could be moving up these ranks soon.
#18: New York Jets
Starters: CB Sauce Gardner, CB Brandon Stephens, NB Michael Carter II, FS Andre Cisco, SS Tony Adams
I thought that the Jets defense should get back on track now that Aaron Glenn is the head coach, as he was a solid defensive coach with the Lions, but it’s been a slow start.
#19: Indianapolis Colts
Starters: CB Charvarius Ward, CB Xavien Howard, NB Kenny Moore II, FS Cam Bynum, SS Nick Cross
The Colts bolstered their secondary when they brought in Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum.
#20: Pittsburgh Steelers
Starters: CB Darius Slay, CB Joey Porter Jr., NB Jalen Ramsey, FS Juan Thornhill, SS DeShon Elliott
Underwhelming start to the 2025 season, but there’s a lot of talent here, including Darius Slay, Joey Porter Jr, and Jalen Ramsey.
#21: Los Angeles Rams
Starters: CB Darious Williams, CB Akhello Witherspoon, NB Cobie Durant, FS Quentin Lake, SS Kam Curl
The Rams need a bounce-back season from Darious Williams to get back on track. However, with an imposing pass rush, this unit could benefit and move up this list.
#22: Washington Commanders
Starters: CB Trey Amos, CB Marshon Lattimore, NB Mike Sainristil, FS Quan Martin, SS Will Harris
Don’t be surprised if the Commanders fly up these ranks. Mike Sainristil was terrific as a rookie, while Marshon Lattimore can still be a top corner.
#23: New Orleans Saints
Starters: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB Alontae Taylor, NB Isaac Yiadom, FS Julian Blackmon, SS Justin Reid
The Saints have some talented young players like Kool-Aid McKinstry, but this group is still a work in progress for a defensive team.
#24: Tennessee Titans
Starters: CB L’Jarious Sneed, CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr., NB Roger McCreary, FS Xavier Woods, SS Amani Hooker
We just saw the Titans get shredded by Matthew Stafford in Week 2, so they’ll try to bounce back against Daniel Jones and company.
#25: New York Giants
Starters: CB Paulson Adebo, CB Deonte Banks, NB Dru Phillips, FS Jevon Holland, SS Tyler Nubin
We just saw the Giants give up a lot of big plays against Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. This group still needs work.
#26: Minnesota Vikings
Starters: CB Isaiah Rodgers, CB Byron Murphy Jr., NB Tavierre Thomas, FS Harrison Smith, SS Joshua Metellus
The Vikings are a well-coached group by Brian Flores, but there are a lot of question marks in this secondary.
#27: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Starters: CB Jamel Dean, CB Zyon McCollum, NB Jacob Parrish, FS Tykee Smith, SS Antoine Winfield Jr.
The Bucs gave up big plays to Tyrod Taylor and Garrett Wilson in Week 3, so this secondary continues to show that it’s a work in progress.
#28: Carolina Panthers
Starters: CB Mike Jackson, Jaycee Horn, NB Chau Smith-Wade, Nick Scott, Tre’von Moehrig
The Panthers could quickly rise in these ranks following a shutout against the Falcons. If they can build off that against the Patriots, they will move up.
#29: Cincinnati Bengals
Starters: CB DJ Turner II, CB Cam Taylor-Britt, NB Dax Hill, FS Geno Stone, SS Jordan Battle
The Bengals have given up big plays through the air all year long, justifying their low position on these rankings. They badly need a bounce-back against the Broncos.
#30: Las Vegas Raiders
Starters: CB Darien Porter, CB Eric Stokes, NB Darnay Holmes, FS Isaiah Pola-Mao, SS Jeremy Chinn
We just saw the Raiders allow Marcus Mariota to pick them apart through the air, so they’re entrenched at the bottom of this list for the time being.
#31: Miami Dolphins
Starters: CB Jack Jones, CB Storm Duck, NB Jason Marshall Jr., FS Minkah Fitzpatrick, SS Ashtyn Davis
The Dolphins have been one of the worst secondaries in the NFL so far. It will be interesting to see if they can show some improvement against the Jets in Week 4.
#32: Dallas Cowboys
Starters: CB Kaiir Elam, CB Trevon Diggs, NB DaRon Bland, Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson
The Cowboys have been absolutely shredded through the air so far this season, with Caleb Williams being the most recent quarterback to pick them apart.
