With a few defensive tackles projected to be taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft and several plug-and-go starters available in free agency, the DT positions are sure to see some overhaul this offseason.
We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the players.
We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.
Free agent defensive tackles heading into 2025
Receiving votes
Taven Bryan
Greg Gaines
Javon Kinlaw
Jarran Reed
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Morgan Fox
Tershawn Wharton
Derrick Nnadi
Bobby Brown
Tedarrell Slaton
Poona Ford
Khyiris Tonga
8. Leki Fotu, New York Jets
After signing a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Jets last offseason, Fotu only managed to play in two games following a training camp hamstring injury and an in-season knee injury. He was designated to return late in the season, but with the Jets out of the playoff picture, he stayed on injured reserve. That being said, it shouldn’t linger too far into the offseason. At 334 pounds, he’s the big man in the middle of your line. UPDATE: Fotu took a few visits before signing with the Raiders.
7. Calais Campbell, Miami Dolphins
Campbell turns 39 just before the start of the 2025 season and hasn’t made a decision if he’ll play this season or not, so you can understand why there is some variance in his ranking. Campbell received one first-place vote but was also left completely out of a different voter’s top ten. He played in at least 12 games every season for 17 years and started 17 games in both 2024 with Miami and 2023 with Atlanta. He’s still playing at a high level, delivering five sacks, 52 tackles, and 12 QB hits this year. He made just $2 million in 2024 coming off a $7 million contract in 2023. UPDATE: The ageless wonder Campbell signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
6. Adam Butler, Las Vegas Raiders
If you’re looking for value, Butler might be your best bet. He made just $1.8 million for the Raiders in 2024 and he turns 31 this offseason. He finished the year with five sacks, 10 QB hits, and 65 tackles as a primary starter for the first time in his career. He played nearly 77% of the defensive snaps for Vegas, far and away the most on the team. After a good year, he should definitely be chasing the first really rich contract of his career. UPDATE: Butler signed a three-year deal in Vegas
4T. Milton Williams, Philadelphia Eagles
Williams was ranked as high as third on one of our ballots, and he recorded five sacks and 10 QB hits in 2024 as the number two DT for the Eagles. He’s only going to be 26 in April, and has a lot of room for further growth. The former third-round pick has an elite pass-rush grade from PFF, but struggles against the run. UPDATE: After flirting with the Carolina Panthers, the New England Patriots agreed to a deal with Williams.
4T. Levi Onwuzurike, Detroit Lions
A former second-round pick in 2021, Onwuzurike missed his sophomore season after back surgery. He’s only started 10 NFL games and played 42 as a result. In 2024, he has his best season with 13 QB hits and 1.5 sacks, while logging the most snaps of any lineman in Detroit at nearly 58%. UPDATE: Onwuzurike re-upped with the Lions on a one-year deal.
3. Osa Odighizuwa, Dallas Cowboys
Odighizuwa was a four-year starter for the Cowboys averaging 44 tackles and 3.4 sacks per season. He really got after the passer in 2024, setting a career-high in sacks and exploding for 23 QB hits. The former third-rounder turns 27 just before the season starts, and is definitely in line for a longer-term deal. UPDATE: Odighizuwa signed a four-year deal with the Cowboys.
2. D.J. Jones, Denver Broncos
Coming off a three-year, $30 million contract with Denver, Jones has been a seven-year starter for the 49ers and Broncos. A durable defender, he played the second-most snaps at DT for the Broncos in 2024. PFF has him rated above-average as a pass rusher and average as a run defender. UPDATE: Jones signed a massive three-year deal in Denver.
1. B.J. Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
Our clear top choice, Hill has recorded 50+ tackles in each of the last four seasons with the Bengals and averaged four sacks per season. The former third-round pick is coming off a three-year, $30 million contract. He turns 30 this offseason, so he has good years left in the tank, and he’s a disruptive instant starter for any team that signs him to shore up their interior. UPDATE: Hill re-upped with the Bengals.
Recently released defensive tackles
These defensive tackles were released after our rankings were put together in the lead up to the 2025 league year.
Sheldon Rankins
The former Saints, Jets, and Texans DT will be looking for his fourth team in four years after being released by the Bengals. He signed a two-year, $24.5 million deal a year ago but he only played in seven games in 2024 after missing three with a hamstring injury and the final seven games with a viral illness. He immediately becomes a top option on the market if he’s healthy. UPDATE: Rankings signed a one-year deal in Houston.
Roy Robertson-Harris
Harris was due $6.6 million in 2025, but the Seahawks didn’t want to pay him that. Seattle traded for him midseason in 2024. The 31-year-old only started two games this past season and his snaps dwindled from 40+% with the Jags to the single digits by the time the season was over. He’s a depth piece at this point in his career. UPDATE: Robertson-Harris signed with the New York Giants.
Raekwon Davis
The Colts opted not to pay $6.5 million for Davis in 2025, and for good reason. When Davis signed in Indy a year ago, he has been the primary starter at 1-tech DT for Miami for four seasons after being a second-round pick. But with the Colts, he was a depth player and saw the field on only 30% of the defensive snaps. He’s already limited as a bigger DT, so he’ll have to find the right fit to reset his career.
Jonathan Allen
Allen spent eight years with the Washington franchise, but injuries hampered his 2024 season where he only played eight games. He hasn’t made the Pro Bowl since 2022 and the former first-rounder just turned 30. He was set to make $16 million in 2025, and he’s likely to sign a pretty nice deal in free agency. UPDATE: Allen found a new home quickly, signing with the Minnesota Vikings on a huge deal.
Grady Jarrett
Jarrett returned to the lineup in 2024 after playing eight games in 2023. He had another solid season for Atlanta, where he played 10 seasons. They didn’t want to pay him $16.25 million. He turns 32 in April, but he should be able to find a solid role somewhere after playing 67% of Atlanta’s snaps. UPDATE: On the same day he was released, he signed a nice contrat in Chicago.
Javon Hargrave
After paying him $40 million over the past two seasons, the 49ers didn’t want to commit more money to the 32-year-old Hargrave. He only played in three games last year but has been consistently healthy before that, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023. UPDATE: The Vikings scooped up Hargrave.
Larry Ogunjobi
Ogunjobi turns 31 this June and has played in the NFL for eight years, starting 124 games for the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has averaged four sacks and 50 tackles per season and been a solid piece up front in a black and blue division. He was released by Pittsburgh and due $10.5 million in 2025.
Maliek Collins
Collins was released by the 49ers who didn’t want to pay him $10 million in 2025. He was traded to San Fran for a seventh-round pick in March 2024. He’ll be looking for his third team in three years despite a strong performance in 2024 with 17 starts, five sacks, and 33 tackles. UPDATE: On the same day he was released, he signed with the Browns.
Dalvin Tomlinson
Tomlinson started 16 games and finished 2024 with three sacks and 26 tackles and the Browns had him under contract for $14.5 million for 2025, but that was too steep. The 31-year-old former second-round pick will have an aggressive market. UPDATE: Tomlinson quickly found a home with the Cardinals on a $14.5 million-per-year deal.
Other free agent defensive tackles
Linval Joseph
Kurt Hinish
Austin Johnson
John Jenkins
Maurice Hurst
Johnathan Hankins
Benito Jones
Khalil Davis
Chauncey Golston
Mike Pennel
Kyle Peko
Quinton Jefferson
Jordan Phillips
Teair Tart
Marlon Davidson
James Lynch
Tomari Fox
Ta’Quon Graham
Camron Preston
Daniel Ekuale
Marlon Tuipulotu
Zach Carter
Eddie Goldman
Roy Lopez
Sheldon Day
Mario Edwards
Larrell Murchison
Naquan Jones
Nathan Shepherd
Jerry Tillery
Chris Williams
Kevin Givens
Jeremiah Ledbetter
Byron Cowart
Jay Tufele
Free agent defensive tackles who were signed to new deals
Osa Odighizuwa signed a contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys
Chris Williams re-upped with the Bears for one year
Jarran Reed was extended by the Seahawks for three years
Adam Butler re-signed in Las Vegas for three years
Sheldon Rankins signed a one-year deal in Houston
D.J. Jones reset the market with a three-year deal in Denver
B.J. Hill signed a multi-year deal with the Bengals
Javon Kinlaw went to the Commanders for a big number
Milton Williams heads to the New England Patriots
Poona Ford agreed to head across the hallway from the Chargers to the Rams
Grady Jarrett quickly found a new home in Chicago with the Bears
Sebastian Joseph-Day agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans
Roy Robertson-Harris agreed to terms with the Giants
Tedarrell Slaton agreed to a two-year deal with the Bengals
Nathan Shepherd re-signed with the Saints
Khyiris Tonga signed a one-year deal with the Patriots
Tershawn Wharton signed a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers
Bobby Brown agreed to terms with the Panthers
Jonathan Allen signed a big contract with the Minnesota Vikings
Javon Hargrave signed a deal with the Minnesota Vikings
The Texans re-signed Mario Edwards
Larry Ogunjobi signed a one-year deal with the Bills
Kevin Givens signed a one-year deal with the 49ers
Roy Lopex and the Lions agreed to a one-year deal
Greg Gaines since a one-year deal with the Buccaneers
Eddie Goldman signed a one-year deal with Washington
Maliek Collins was on the market for literal hours, signing a deal with the Browns
Levi Onwuzurike re-upped in Detroit
Dalvin Tomlinson was released and signed on the same day, landing with the Cardinals
Sheldon Day re-upped with the Commanders
Jeremiah Ledbetter signed a one-year deal with the Giants
Morgan Fox signed a new two-year deal with the Falcons
Naquan Jones signed with the Chargers
Jerry Tillery inked a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs
Derrick Nnadi signed with the Jets
Byron Cowart also signed with the Jets
Daniel Ekuale signed with the Patriots
Jay Tufele signed a deal with the Jets
Zach Carter signed with the Raiders
The Chiefs signed Marlon Tuipulotu
Mike Pennel signed with the Chiefs
Leki Fotu took a deal with the Raiders
Calais Campbell signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals
