2025 IDP Redraft Rankings – Defensive Linemen

Tier 1

1. T.J. Watt DE – PIT (5), +0 vs. ECR 
Watt battled through injuries last season, which contributed to the lowest pressure totals of his career. Even so, he still finished as a top-five scorer at his position. That combination of a high floor and clear DL1 upside makes him a strong candidate to be the first IDP off the board again in 2025 drafts.

2. Myles Garrett DE – CLE (9), +0 vs. ECR
Despite rarely having a consistent pass-rush threat opposite him, Garrett continues to fill up the stat sheet and dominate opposing offensive lines. He’s recorded double-digit sacks in seven straight seasons, averaging 13.5 per year over that span. While he doesn’t offer quite the same ancillary stat upside as Watt (forced fumbles, pass deflections, etc.), his elite sack production still makes him a top-tier DL, just a slight step behind Watt in overall rankings.

3. Micah Parsons DE – DAL (10), +2 vs. ECR 
Parsons led all players in pressure rate last season (11.4%) and still racked up 12 sacks despite missing over a month of the regular season. At age 26, he’s entering his prime and is my top candidate to lead the league in sacks in 2025. He’d be in stronger consideration for the overall DL1 spot if his tackle production were more in line with others in this tier.

4. Aidan Hutchinson DE – DET (8), +0 vs. ECR 
Hutchinson was one of my top IDP targets last year, with his 2024 pressure stats pointing to a breakout in 2025. That projection hit early—he was fantasy’s top DL through the first six weeks, posting a ridiculous 16%+ pressure rate during that stretch. Unfortunately, a gruesome leg injury in Week 6 against the Cowboys (fractured tibia and fibula) derailed his season. The good news: he’s been fully cleared and is participating in offseason workouts. While I still see clear DL1 potential, I’m slightly downgrading him due to the uncertainty that often lingers with major lower-leg injuries, based on historical recovery trends.

5. Maxx Crosby DE – LV (8), -2 vs. ECR
After back-to-back All-Pro caliber seasons in which he averaged an impressive 57/33/13 slash line, Crosby’s production dipped in 2025. However, he suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 that lingered all season and ultimately required surgery in December. Now fully healthy, I expect a return to pre-injury form. Crosby plays more snaps per game than any other defensive end, and his relentless motor and deep arsenal of pass-rush moves make him one of the safest high-floor options at the position. That said, like Myles Garrett, he lacks a consistent pass-rush threat opposite him, and playing on a subpar Raiders team could lead to negative game scripts—factors that may cap his sack totals in the 11–12 range.

6. Nick Bosa DE – SF (14), +0 vs. ECR Target
Bosa was a dominant force in 2021 and 2022, averaging 60 total tackles and 16.5 sacks across those two seasons. While his production has since dipped into the 50–55 tackle, 9.5 sack range, the tape shows he’s still playing at an elite level – he’s just been on the wrong side of variance. With some positive regression likely, Bosa is a strong bounce-back candidate and someone I’m targeting as my DL1 anchor if the top-tier guys come off the board a bit too early.

Tier 2

7. Will Anderson Jr. DE – HOU (6), +0 vs. ECR 
The third overall pick in the 2023 draft, Anderson made a solid leap in his second season, posting 11 sacks in just 14 games. As he enters Year 3 and continues to develop his pass-rush arsenal, it’s reasonable to expect another jump in per-game production, and potentially his first true breakout into IDP superstardom.