The 2025 NFL Draft’s most intriguing defensive players at every position

Just like we did for the offensive side of the ball, the All-JP team is back for the defensive side of the ball. This class actually was really fun to scout, especially up front. Despite not having many absolute superstars, I think there are a lot of guys who will be contributors on NFL teams that you can get on days two and three.

You can find my offensive All-JP team here, but for now, let’s dig into my favorite defensive players in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Defensive Tackle: CJ West, Indiana

CJ West was the heartbeat of an Indiana defense that helped guide the Hoosiers to their best season in program history, and West enters the draft as one of my favorite glass eaters against the run. He’s sawed off at 6’1 and 31 ¹⁄₂ inch arms, but he’s one of the most productive run defenders in this draft class.

His ability to work to the backside on run plays with his quickness but also hold his own weight against double teams is really impressive, and could help him find a role as a run-stopping nose tackle or 1-technique. His pass rush is still a bit lacking, but he can come in and fill a specific role immediately.

Defensive Tackle: Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum from West lies Omarr Norman-Lott, who is not a run defender by any means, but what he can do is get after the passer. He’s undersized at 6’1 and 291 pounds, but his burst and quickness off the ball is mind-blowing for a guy his size. He wins by crossing the face of guards and works his hands really well, using his 10 ³⁄₄ inch hands to displace linemen before hitting your QB. Again, he’s a bit limited by his size, but as an interior designated pass rusher he can be extremely valuable.

Defensive Tackle: Darius Alexander, Toledo

I first got introduced to Alexander at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, where he was the best defensive linemen there for three days straight. He was giving linemen the blues from various alignments with speed, fast hands and then power to supplant as well. He’s an older prospect, but man he just knows how to ball. An incredibly productive player at Toledo, Alexander constantly got better during his time at Toledo and now enters the draft as another very good 3-technique. His pad level can cause him some problems in the run game, but the dude can get after the passer and has some nice flashes in the run game. Sign me up.

Defensive Tackle: Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon

If you thought I could just have three DTs from this sick class on here, you thought wrong! Caldwell was on my initial top 50 big board after the NFL Combine, and although he’s dropped a bit, I’m still a big fan of the player. He transferred over from Houston where he spent time rushing on the edge, but he’s got a lot of juice as a nose tackle. He can chase down plays on the backside, drop his weight in the run game and has shown that he has some upside as a pass rusher. Whether that upside gets realized or not depends on where he goes, but for a team that needs a nose tackle Caldwell is going to be a really nice option on Day 2 or 3.

EDGE: David Walker, Central Arkansas

Another one of those positional outliers at 6’0 and just under 32 inch arms, Walker doesn’t play like an undersized EDGE defender at all. Really, what he wants to do is run through a MFers face like Marshawn Lynch. Walker is an explosive player through the opponent’s chest, getting underneath linemen and blowing by them with a bullrush. He does have some pretty sick counters to that power, though. At the Senior Bowl he was able to show some nice bend around the corner and use rip throughs to help counter his power. His ceiling is limited because of that lack of size, but I can see a team finding a nice role for Walker in the NFL.

EDGE: Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA

For a guy that was playing MIKE linebacker until the third game of 2024 at UCLA, Oladejo has some really impressive tools to work with as a developmental pass rusher. At 6’3 and 259 pounds, Oladejo also has a massive wingspan (76th percentile among EDGES according to Mockdraftable) and the explosiveness to elevate his ceiling (36 inch vertical jump is 82nd percentile among EDGES). What actually stands out about Oladejo is that he’s more impressive right now as a run defender than a pass rusher. You can’t leave him unblocked on the backside because he’ll track down the ballcarrier, and can use speed and power to displace edge defenders. Being a new player to the position comes with some growing pains (he’ll run himself out of plays and still has a ways to go when it comes to hand usage as a pass rusher), but he reminds me a lot of Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie EDGE Jalyx Hunt, who was taken in Round 3 and that’s where I expect Oladejo to go.

EDGE: Josaiah Stewart, Michigan

You’re not going to find many edge defenders who are undersized like Stewart (6’1 and 249 pounds, under 32 inch arms) and my first comment on the scouting report is “beast against the run”, but here we are! Stewart is a strong run defender who can drop his weight in the run game and really thud up pullers coming his way. He’ll get swallowed up sometimes at the point of attack, but that’ll happen when you’re 6’1. Stewart is explosive, but not bendy as a pass rusher, winning within the first 3 steps against overmatched tackles. Despite his size, I think he could carve out a role potentially as a starting SAM linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He can drop into coverage at times and does a little bit of everything.

Linebacker: Chris Paul Jr, Ole Miss

The thing I love the most about Chris Paul Jr. is his instincts. He’s quick to trigger downhill in the run game, and his experience has shown him a lot of different route combinations so he can drop right into throwing windows in the middle of the field. Despite having only middling athleticism, Paul’s eyes lead him to the ball a large majority of the time. While that lack of overwhelming athleticism will show up at times, Paul’s instincts are among the best in the class.

Linebacker: Carson Schwesinger, UCLA

While I’m not buying the dip on Schwesinger being a first rounder, I’m a big fan of his game. He’s got insane range and instincts as a pass defender, wearing multiple hats in man coverage and can also be the pole runner in various Tampa 2 coverages (what Brian Urlacher made famous). Schwesinger looks like a blur out there on the field, filling lanes in a hurry with his speed and sure tackling ability. He weighed in at 242 pounds at the Combine, but his playing weight was more around 220, which gives me some concern because his play strength isn’t there to take on blocks. However, as a WILL LB and sub package pass defender, he offers a lot of upside.

Linebacker: Demetrius Knight Jr, South Carolina

Big, fast and mean as hell. That’s the elevator pitch for Knight Jr, who started his career at Charlotte before ending up with the Gamecocks. He’s lightning quick to the ball and can close ground as a run defender and a blitzer really quickly, giving him some value on early downs. He kinda guesses in coverage and his best bet is to stay out of those situations, but Knight is going to be really useful for teams that lack physicality in the middle and want an explosive element from their off ball linebackers.

Cornerback: Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State

Look, I know he didn’t run the fastest 40 time at his pro day, but when you watch Thomas’ tape, you see a guy who has some of the best traits for man coverage in the draft. He’s tall (6’1 1/2), long (78 inch wingspan), young (20 years old) and physical at the line of scrimmage which gives him a lot of advantages over guys on the outside. He can panic sometimes vertically and the ball production is a bit of an issue, but he’s got a lot of tools and should be on a lot of teams’ boards that need a man coverage cornerback.

Cornerback: Trey Amos, Ole Miss

I came around to Amos a bit later in this draft, but I really like his fit in quarters and Tampa 2 heavy teams. He’s got great instincts working downhill, being able to drive on the ball and create PBUs in the flat. He’s physical enough to get involved in the run game, and is a willing tackler as well. He ran a 4.43 at the combine, but I sometimes worry about his long speed and ball skills on vertical targets. Despite that, as the NFL turns to more two-high shells, Amos fits what a lot of teams need.

Cornerback: Quincy Riley, Louisville

There’s no quantifiable metric that measures DAWG in him, but if there were, Riley would be near the top of the list for this draft class. He’s undersized at 5’10, which makes me think he would be better off on the inside, but he lived on the outside at Louisville and gave a lot of receivers fits. He’s feisty at the catch point and can mirror really well. The long speed might be a bit of a question mark and his age will knock him down some draft boards, but someone will get a steal in Riley.

Safety: Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma

When you look up the definition of playing with your hair on fire, a photo of Billy Bowman Jr. comes up. He wore a lot of hats for a Brent Venables defense that really came around towards the end of last season, but what stands out are his instincts and closing speed. You can play him at nickel, you can play him on the roof of your defense or you can have him blitz and he’s going to make a play. For teams that just want a safety who can go out and just do shit (complimentary) Bowman Jr. is the perfect pick on Day 2.

Safety: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

Watts is another guy who is similar to Paul Jr. in the fact that they’re both probably middling athletes for their respective position, but win with instincts and are just guys you absolutely want on your team. You can’t fake production, and Watts has been one of the most productive safeties in college football, coming up with nine tackles for loss, 13 interceptions and 188 tackles in three years at safety for the Irish. He’s at his best in Cover 2 or quarters defenses, where he can come off the roof and break on the ball quickly or make tackles from depth. His lack of athleticism will show up at times, but he can create chaotic plays for the defense, something that’s incredibly valuable.