The legendary Al Davis once said: “The greatness of the Raiders is in their future.” While that statement specifically calls out one team, it can be applied to the league as a whole.
Part of the reason why the NFL draft has become such a popular event during the offseason is it signifies the beginning of a new era. New stars are born as the legends we’ve watched and idolized over the last several years start to step aside, creating a new crop of players who are considered the league’s best.
Here, we’ll peak into a crystal ball and make predictions about who will be the NFL’s Top 10 defensive players five years from now. To qualify, a player can only have participated in three or fewer seasons or will be draft-eligible next spring to incorporate the 2025 rookie class into the exercise.
Michigan has produced some stud defensive tackles over the last couple of years, headlined by 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith and 2024 second-rounder Kris Jenkins Jr. However, Mason Graham might end up being the best of them all.
When watching other Wolverines in preparation for this past April’s draft, it was hard not to notice No. 55. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 318 pounds, he has the strength and power that one would expect from someone of that size. However, his movement skills are eye-popping as Graham’s quickness and agility resemble a defensive end’s more than a defensive tackle’s.
“His first step leaves blockers on their heels, which allows him to take advantage immediately,” Andrew Harbaugh of Vikings Wire said of the former 4-star recruit. “He is also able to get into the backfield more often than not; when he doesn’t, you almost wonder if it’s because the defensive scheme calls for him to be conservative.”
Graham projects to be the top defensive tackle in this upcoming class and likely would have been the first player at the position selected last April had he been eligible.
The Anaheim, CA native is bigger and has more natural gifts than Byron Murphy II, and was one of two defensive tackles to finish in the top ten as a pass-rusher and run defender in Pro Football Focus’ grading system, via PFF’s Max Chadwick.
Look for the Michigan product to continue to wreak havoc against Big 10 offensive lines this fall and carry that over into the NFL.
Since these 2025 draft prospects haven’t proven anything in the NFL yet, obviously, it’s hard to place or project any of them much higher than the ninth spot on this list as James Pearce Jr. will be the second and last college player to appear. However, his performance last fall is more than worthy of a lofty projection.
“Pearce uses athleticism to dominate as a pass-rusher, placing third in both pressure rate (21.3%) and pass-rush grade (92.3) among FBS edge defenders,” Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick wrote.
“The scariest part about those numbers is that he was winning almost exclusively off of his explosiveness and ability to convert speed to power. If Pearce can develop some more moves/counters and get stronger as a run-defender, he can be nearly unblockable. He’s one of the top candidates to be the No. 1 overall pick next April.”
As Chadwick referenced above, what’s scary/impressive about the Volunteer’s game is that he was able to log 10 sacks and dominate in the SEC last year while still learning the nuances of being a pass-rusher. Also, he showed the ability to win with power while weighing just 240 pounds, giving him even more potential after filling out his frame.
The Tennessee product is another player who likely would have been the top prospect at the position had he been eligible this year, so look for him to become a start at the next level.
As a true freshman on LSU’s 2019 Nation Championship team, Derek Stingley Jr. showed the makings of a future All-Pro. Even as a teenager going up against future first-round picks, he was smooth and had the traits of someone who could fit into any system as only injuries held him back in college.
“Stingley has the ideal length teams are looking for in cornerbacks,” B/R’s defensive backs scout Cory Giddings said of the former Tiger ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.
“Paired with his elite athleticism, ball skills and scheme flexibility, he should be an early pick for the cornerback position. A foot injury kept him out of all but three games this season, so he will have to prove to doctors that he is back to 100 percent.”
Staying healthy has held Stingley back so far in the NFL as he’s missed 14 regular-season games over the last two years and got off to a bumpy start as a rookie. However, he was impressive when on the field in year two, racking up five interceptions with 13 passes defended.
Also, the former No. 3 overall pick surrendered just a 71.6 passer rating when targeted and earned an 84.9 coverage grade in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. So, the arrow is pointing up for Stingley, and don’t be surprised if he reaches that All-Pro potential soon.
Aidan Hutchinson has managed to live up to the hype as a No. 2 overall pick in the draft. His 21 career sacks through two seasons rank in the top 25 in NFL history, tied with Jason Piere-Paul and Elvis Dumervil and half a sack behind Bruce Smith, per StatMuse.
Also, Hutchinson logged triple digits in pressures last season with 101, according to Pro Football Focus. That will undoubtedly make head coach Dan Campbell happy after Campbell’s viral emphasis on pressures versus sacks on Friday.
Heading into this fall, the third-year pro seems to think he starting to master his craft after speaking to the media during the Lions OTAs.
“I definitely feel like I’ve reached a new level this year in pass-rush and just body comp in general,” Hutchinson said via All Lions Christian Booher. “I feel like that’s what happens when you stack years in professional sports.
“Your body comp gets better, you get more flexible, you get more bend, it’s just everything that you want. As long as you treat your body and mind and soul right every year, it only compounds.”
Bend was one of the Michigan product’s weaknesses on his B/R scouting report coming out of college, but he’s already shown growth in that area and his pass-rush skills are worth betting on over the next five years.
To put it simply, Kyle Hamilton is an ascending player because he can just about do it all. He lines up in the box, plays as the deep safety and covers the slot all over the Baltimore Ravens defense, and does so at an All-Pro and Pro Bowl level.
Last season, Hamilton allowed a meager 48.4 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus, partially due to racking up four interceptions and 13 passes defended. He also managed to post a 92.7 PFF pass-rush grade with three sacks on only a handful of pass-rush opportunities.
While he may have slipped in the draft due to an underwhelming 40-yard-dash time, the 6-foot-4 and 220-pound special athlete has always had traits worth betting on as the No. 7 player on B/R big board in his class.
“He is a generational talent who gives defensive coordinators endless options,” defensive backs scout Cory Giddings wrote in the Notre Dame product’s scouting report. “Hamilton will be the first safety taken off the board and has the chance to be an early, if not immediate, starter.”
Giddings ended up being prophetic in two areas. The 23-year-old was the first safety taken in 2022 and had the versatility to make an impact in several ways. With his potential and age, Hamilton could easily ascend into being one of the best safeties and defensive players overall in the league, joining the organization’s long list of quality defenders.
Jalen Carter’s potential on the field has never been much of a question mark. He was No. 2 overall on B/R’s 2023 big board and earned the scouting department’s eighth-highest grade (9.5 Top-Five Prospect) over the last five years heading into the draft while drawing comparisons to Warren Sapp.
“Unlike a lot of defensive tackles who have a specialty, the Florida native is about as versatile as they come,” the Carter’s scouting report read.
“He’s quick and athletic to make offensive linemen miss as a run defender and has plenty of strength to hold up against and shed one-on-one blocks. As a pass-rusher, he can win with power using a bull rush or push-pull move or around the edges with finesse moves.”
The Georgia product didn’t disappoint as a rookie either, accumulating six sacks and 49 pressures on 407 opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus, That led to a second-place finish for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. More impressively, he did that while only making one start last year which should change now that Fletcher Cox has retired.
In other words, expect an even better performance from the second-year pro this fall as he has the potential to become a well-rounded and top-tier defender with a bigger role on the Philadephia Eagles’ defense.
To some, Patrick Surtain II is already in the upper echelon of defenders in the NFL. With seven interceptions, 36 passes defended, one first-team All-Pro selection and two trips to the Pro Bowl in three years, he’s earned that distinction.
Granted, Surtain is coming off a “down” year in 2023 where he allowed a 93.9 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus, but he still earned an All-Star bid and came in at No. 14 on PFF’s top 25 players under 25 entering this season.
“Surtain was higher on this list one year ago,” PFF’s Zoltan Buday wrote,” but he was unable to follow up his breakout 2022 campaign with a stronger 2023.
“Admittedly, the Broncos’ defense largely struggled last season, and while Surtain gave up the most receptions and the highest passer rating in his young career, he has every chance to bounce back in 2024 and show again that he is one of the best young defenders in the NFL.”
Two years ago, the Alabama product gave up just an 84.0 passer rating and earned an 86.7 PPF coverage grade which, combined with a 9.96 RAS coming out of college, gives plenty of reason to believe the 24-year-old will continue to ascend in the next five years.
Will Anderson Jr. was widely considered an elite draft prospect coming out of Alabama, consistently ranked as a top prospect throughout the process as he dominated competition in the SEC.
“The best way to describe Will Anderson Jr.’s college tape is that everything just looked easy for him,” the edge defender’s scouting report said.
“From his movement skills to how effortlessly he took on blocks, it almost looked like he was getting bored out there. That’s part of the reason why he’s been considered the top player in this year’s draft class since last January.”
Anderson ended up with the fifth-high draft grade (9.6 Top 5 Prospect) from B/R’s scouting department in the last five years heading into the 2023 draft.
Not only were those traits enough to convince the Houston Texans to use the third overall pick on him, but were also so special that the front office was willing to trade up for him and the Defensive Rookie of the Year did not disappoint.
Anderson racked up seven sacks and 59 pressures according to Pro Football Focus, and the site had him down for the highest pressure rate (16.7 percent) among rookie edges over the past four seasons. He was also a factor against the run with a 77.2 PFF grade as a run defender and 30 defensive stops or tackles that resulted in a ‘failure’ for the offense.
Essentially, the 22-year-old is a star in the making.
Sauce Gardner’s ability to bat passes out of the air is unmatched as he’s logged 31 passes defended in two years, including a league-leading 20 as a rookie in 2022. That earned him the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and immediately launched him into one of the top corners of the league category.
The back-to-back first-team All-Pro’s 33.5-inch arms help give him unique ball skills, but he also has always had a knack for that part of his game. B/R’s defensive backs scout Cory Giddings noted in the Cincinnati product’s scouting report that he “stays calm with the ball in the air and attacks the ball through the reception point.”
That combination of natural ability and long limbs suggests we can expect Gardner to continue to put up numbers over the next several years, similar to the ones below from Pro Football Focus.
“Gardner, 23, already has a case as the best cornerback in the NFL,” PFF’s Zoltán Buday wrote while ranking the corner second overall on a Top 25 under 25 list. “His 91.2 PFF overall grade over the past two seasons leads all players at the position, while his 2,163 regular-season snaps rank third among cornerbacks.
“Gardner’s 0.52 receiving yards allowed per coverage snap figure not only leads the position, but the gap between him and second place is the same size as the gap between second and 15th.”
So, it’s hard to argue against the 2022 No. 4 overall pick’s résumé.
A strong argument could be made that Micah Parsons is already the best defensive player in the NFL. He’s put up double-digit sacks every year of his career to compile 40.5 in three seasons, the fifth-most in NFL history, according to StatMuse.
Additionally, he’s logged 260 pressures during the regular season, per Pro Football Focus, and was recently ranked as the second-best pass rusher in the league by the site.
“[Myles] Garrett was the top dog in pass rushing for 2023, but Parsons was right on his heels with a 93.7 pass-rush grade and a 24.2% pass-rush win rate,” PFF’s Trevor Sikkema wrote. “2023 was the third straight season of Parsons earning an elite pass-rush grade. He has been consistently unblockable since coming to the NFL.”
Those numbers have led to Parsons earning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and two top-three Defensive Player of the Year finishes to go along with three All-Pro and Pro Bowl appearances. Not a bad start for someone who just turned 25 years old.
The Dallas Cowboys recently picked up his $21.3 million option for 2025 and a new even more lucrative contract will be coming in the future. Over The Cap’s valuation model slates the pass-rusher at about $33.3 million per year, so the Cowboys are getting a bargain right now.
Who knows how much of a future Parsons has in Dallas, but between his skill set and production, it’s hard to argue that he won’t be among one of the top defenders in the league five years from now.