Ranking the best pass-rushers in the NFL ahead of the 2025 season

Pressure builders

If Super Bowl LIX taught us anything, it’s that the way to stop an elite quarterback, is to be constantly pressuring him with your defensive line. Pass rushers have become invaluable in the NFL as teams rely more and more on the passing game, but who are the best in the business? All statistics sourced from Pro Football Reference.

12: Josh Hines-Allen

Josh Hines-Allen has emerged as a force in Jacksonville in recent seasons, accounting for 25.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024 combined. New defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanile, is expected to run an, “aggressive defensive mindset and a system that is adaptable to our players and allows them to play fast and physical,” per Liam Coen, via ESPN. That should be music to their star pass-rusher’s ears.

10: Danielle Hunter

Hunter has only failed to reach double-digit sacks in three of his nine NFL seasons, which is incredible production. He forms half of probably the best pass-rushing duo in football in Houston (more on that to come), and is a key part of DeMeco Ryans’ formidable defense.

9: Jared Verse

It shows just how many excellent EDGE defenders there are in the NFL that Jared Verse is eighth on our list. He’s got the potential to be the best pass-rusher in football – showcasing his enormous talent in the playoffs last season, where he nearly ruined the Eagles’ party all by himself. Few players have given Jordan Mailata as many issues as Verse did.

8: Will Anderson Jr.

Alongside Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr. provides the Texans with a formidable pass-rush duo, that so far, has proved near unstoppable. The Texans traded a lot to move up and get Anderson a couple of years ago, which was a move we liked at the time, and has so far worked perfectly. Don’t be surprised if he leads the league in sacks in 2025.

7: Aidan Hutchinson

Without last season’s horrific injury, we would have Aidan Hutchinson much higher on this list. We just need to see how he rebounds from what CBS Sports reported was a broken tibia and fibula. There’s no doubting his talent, and the Lions have bolstered the line around him, which should make his life easier. He’s on his way to being elite, if he's not there already.

6: Maxx Crosby

There’s a good argument that Maxx Crosby is a better all-round player than some on this list, we’re just not sure if he’s as good a pass-rusher, which is what we’re looking at. Still, every team in the NFL would want Crosby on their roster, given his relentless motor and fierce competitiveness.

5: Trey Hendrickson

In a Bengals' defense that mostly struggled last season, Trey Hendrickson was the sole bright spot. In 2023 and 2024, he’s sacked the quarterback 35 times. That’s just ridiculous production, especially given the dearth of talent around him. We hope the Bengals come to their senses and pay him, otherwise they risk losing one of the best players in the NFL.

3: Nick Bosa

There’s an argument we have slightly overrated Nick Bosa here, given his slight slide in production over the past two seasons. However, we are predicting a big 2025 from him, and the entire 49ers defense. If the unit can stay healthy, it has dominant potential with Robert Saleh back in charge.

2: Micah Parsons

The Cowboys are going to need to break the bank to pay Micah Parsons what he deserves, and it still wouldn’t be too much. The work ‘freak’ gets thrown around a lot in the NFL, but we like to reserve it for players like Parsons, who are just simply freaks. When you watch the Cowboys’ defense, Parsons is involved in almost every single play – he’s just that good.

1: Myles Garrett

Obviously. He has a good case to being the best player in football, let alone the best pass-rusher. Garrett got his well-deserved contract extension this offseason, resetting the market for defensive linemen. There’s not a single person out there who would argue he’s overpaid.