Pro Football Focus ranks Giants among league's top defensive lines
Pro Football Focus recently released their ranking of the NFL's top defensive lines heading into the 2025 campaign.
Following the addition of Abdul Carter on the edge, the Giants landed all the way up at No. 3.
"Arguably no team has done more in the NFL to strengthen its defensive line and pass rush over the past couple of seasons than the Giants," wrote PFF's Zoltan Buday. "They drafted Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter with top-five picks in 2022 and 2025, respectively, and also traded for former first-rounder Brian Burns.
"The team's edge defender trio is complemented by perhaps the best nose tackle in the league, Dexter Lawrence. Although Lawrence's 2024 season was cut short due to an injury, his 89.9 PFF overall grade still ranked third among interior defenders."
Lawrence was in the midst of a career-year before an elbow injury forced him to miss the final month of the season. The 6-foot-4, 340-pound lineman registered a career-high nine sacks across his first 12 games before the injury, while also adding 16 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pass defensed.
Meanwhile, Burns picked up 8.5 sacks and 61 total pressures, according to PFF, while Thibodeaux finished with 5.5 sacks and 38 total pressures, despite missing five games with a wrist injury. Thibodeaux's pressures were just five fewer than his 2023 total (in 17 games), while his 17 quarterback hits actually topped his previous high mark of 16.
Then there's the 6-foot-3, 252-pound rookie linebacker, who in addition to recording double-digit sacks last year, also picked up a nation-high 23.5 tackles for loss, along with two forced fumbles and four passes defensed, on his way to being named Unanimous All-American and first-team All-Big Ten.
Carter was also selected as the Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, all in his first season lining up on the edge.
Here are PFF's top 5 defensive lines going into the 2025 season:
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- New York Giants
- Houston Texans
- Buffalo Bills
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WR Malik Nabers (1) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Darius Slayton (18) and WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
ILB Darius Muasau (53), CB Dru Phillips (22) and S Tyler Nubin (27)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
CB Korie Black (25)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
G Greg Van Roten (74)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
T James Hudson III (55)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Russell Wilson (3) and CB Art Green (35)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
CB Art Green (35)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
S Dane Belton (24)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Dane Belton (24)
S Dane Belton (24)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
ILB Ty Summers (47)
ILB Ty Summers (47)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (96)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
CB Korie Black (25)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
T Evan Neal (73)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
T Evan Neal (73)
S Dane Belton (24)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
TE Greg Dulcich (89)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
DT Kyler Baugh (99)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
DT Kyler Baugh (99)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
DL Elijah Garcia (90)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
K Graham Gano (9)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
CB Korie Black (25)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Malik Nabers (1) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Darius Slayton (18) and WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
S Dane Belton (24)
S JevĂłn Holland (8)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
Currently on Giants.com
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2025 cycle.
Trade (July 7): Giants receive 2026 sixth-round draft pick from Dolphins in exchange for conditional 2027 seventh-round selection and TE Darren Waller
RB Cam Skattebo - Selection List Signing (June 18)
DL Darius Alexander - Selection List Signing (June 2)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selection List Signing (May 30)
OLB Abdul Carter - Selection List Signing (May 22)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
CB T.J. Moore - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
DB R.J. Delancy III - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
DB Tommy McCormick - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selection List Signing (May 9)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selection List Signing (May 9)
CB Korie Black - Selection List Signing (May 9)
RB Rushawn Baker, WR Jordan Bly, WR Dalen Cambre, WR Beaux Collins, DB R.J. Delancey, WR Da'Quan Felton, OLB Trace Ford, DB O'Donnell Fortune, DB Tommy McCormick, DB Makari Paige, TE Jermaine Terry, WR Antwane Wells, OL Jaison Williams - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 9)
DL Casey Rogers - Waived, No Recall (May 8)
CB Korie Black - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 246 overall) (April 26)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 219 overall) (April 26)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selected in the 5th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 154 overall) (April 26)
RB Cam Skattebo - Selected in the 4th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 105 overall) (April 26)
DL Darius Alexander - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 65 overall) (April 25)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 25 overall) (April 24)
LB Abdul Carter - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 3 overall) (April 24)
DT Ross Blacklock - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 15)
QB Jameis Winston - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
LB Ty Summers - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
QB Russell Wilson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 26)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Exclusive Rights Signing (March 26)
WR Zach Pascal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
OL Greg Van Roten - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 19)
DL Jeremiah Ledbetter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
CB Paulson Adebo - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
S JevĂłn Holland - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
DL Chauncey Golston - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL James Hudson III - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
LB Chris Board - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Stone Forsythe - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Re-signed (March 12)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris - Free Agent Signing (March 10)
P Jamie Gillan - Re-signed (March 8)
TE Chris Manhertz - Re-signed (March 8)
QB Tommy DeVito - Re-signed (March 8)
OLB Tomon Fox - Re-signed (March 7)
LS Casey Kreiter - Re-signed (March 5)
WR Montrell Washington - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
CB Nic Jones - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
DT Ross Blacklock - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Reserve/Future (January 6)
K Jude McAtamney - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future (January 6)
DT Casey Rogers - Reserve/Future (January 6)
