Minnesota Vikings secondary earns poor ranking from PFF ahead of 2025
Last week, PFF ranked all 32 secondaries in the league. They ranked the Vikings 27th, citing talented yet aging players and unproven younger additions as concerns.
This is an aging secondary that benefits from a defensive scheme designed to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Safety Harrison Smith still plays quality football, though his prime years are behind him. Josh Metellus is an average safety but reliable against the run. Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is coming off a career year, but it's unclear whether he's finally hitting his stride or if it was a one-year spike in performance. The Vikings added several defensive backs in free agency — Isaiah Rodgers, Tavierre Thomas and Jeff Okudah — but they will likely need the front seven to continue generating heavy pressure for the secondary to succeed.
It's hard to argue the assessment of Smith, who is 36. But Metellus is a Swiss Army Knife, a leader on the defense who plays all over the defense. Calling him "average" is one thing, but pigeon-holing him as a traditional safety further diminishes his actual impact.
There is no mention of fourth-year safety Theo Jackson, who has played sparingly through three seasons. Yet teammates and coaches rave about him when he's mentioned. Could he be the latest safety to break through in Flores' defense?
If Rodgers can meet his potential and Murphy can repeat his Pro Bowl season, the Vikings could have a solid cornerback tandem. Questions remain about the CB3 spot, as Mekhi Blackmon returns from injury, and Okudah probably isn't being counted on to start.
27th feels harsh, but it's hard to give any definitive reasons why the Vikings should be higher on the list outside of "trust Brian Flores". At worst, the secondary isn't very good, but the improved pass rush helps mitigate this. At best, the pieces in the secondary come together and solidify this defense as one of the league's best.
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Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
2025 NFL Predictions, Best Bet: Back Cardinals To Win NFC West
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USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Every NFL team's non-QB MVP heading into 2025 (including the Jets)
When it comes to Most Valuable Player, it's a discussion dominated by quarterbacks. And for good reason. After all, quarterback is the most important position in football. In fact, the last 12 NFL MVPs have been quarterbacks. The last non-QB to win the award was Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in 2012. But there are other players on the field also deserving of recognition, which makes for an interesting discussion about the most important player on each team (outside of QB). From Myles Garrett to Ja'Marr Chase to Micah Parsons, our NFL Wire editors identified every team's non-quarterback MVP heading into the 2025 season. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. It was tight end Trey McBride who had the monster year in 2024, and his play was critical, but most expect Harrison to have a big jump on production in 2025. His 62 receptions for 885 yards made for a fine rookie year but paled in comparison to some of the other rookies and their production last year. Previous first-round receivers this century for the Cardinals have all increased their reception output by at least 44% and a yardage increase of at least 80% from Year 1 to Year 2 in the NFL. A 40% increase in catches and 50% increase in yards would give Harrison 87 catches for over 1,300 yards in 2025, which would be huge. – Jess Root, Cards Wire Atlanta Falcons: RB Bijan Robinson Robinson is the heartbeat of the Falcons offense and one of the most productive running backs in the league. Last season, the former top-10 pick finished third in the NFL with 1,456 rushing yards. Robinson's dual-threat ability (119 career catches) and nose for the end zone (23 career touchdowns) make him Atlanta's most valuable non-quarterback heading into 2025. We also considered safety Jessie Bates III for this spot but felt Robinson would have a greater impact on the team's success in 2025. With Michael Penix Jr. pushing the ball down the field, Robinson should have even more room to work with this season. – Matt Urben, Falcons Wire Baltimore Ravens: RB Derrick Henry Baltimore had one of the top rushing attacks before the arrival of Henry. Still, the NFL's second-leading rusher in 2024 helped open up the passing for Lamar Jackson who led the NFL in passer rating (119.6) while becoming the first quarterback in league history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards after he posted 4,172 yards through the air and 915 yards on the ground. In his first season with the Ravens, Henry ran for 1,921 yards in 17 regular-season games and scored 16 touchdowns. He also added two scores through the air. Baltimore's success percentage last season, according to Next Gen Stats, was even better when eight or more defenders were near the line of scrimmage (50.9%), compared to a neutral defensive approach (43.4%). Of Henry's 16 rushing touchdowns last season, 14 came against a stacked box. – Glenn Erby, Ravens Wire Buffalo Bills: WR Khalil Shakir It's simple and just like last season. Shakir was Buffalo's top receiver in 2024 and there are a slew of new wideouts around him. The Dalton Kincaid draft pick has always been curious because quarterback Josh Allen does not appear to look toward his tight ends as much as his receivers… and that showed last season when Shakir was the team's leading receiver. Expect that to remain the same. – Nick Wojton, Bills Wire Carolina Panthers: DL Derrick Brown The Panthers fielded one of the worst defenses of all-time in 2024, setting a new NFL record for points allowed (534). 16 of their 17 games in that 'historic' run did not feature Brown, who sustained a season-ending knee injury during the team's Week 1 loss in New Orleans. By year's end, Carolina ended up relinquishing a whopping 179.8 rushing yards per contest—nearly 40 more yards than the next closest unit. Even with their promising defensive additions from this offseason, the Panthers will still need their Pro Bowl wrecking ball to be the centerpiece of the group. – Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers Wire Chicago Bears: CB Jaylon Johnson After signing a well-deserved contract extension last offseason, Jaylon Johnson once again proved that he's one of the most important players on the Bears roster -- and one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. Johnson had his second consecutive Pro Bowl season, where he forced three turnovers and recorded a career-high in tackles (53) and tackles for loss (7) all with teams electing to steer clear of him when they could. He'll be a cornerstone of new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's defense. – Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire Cincinnati Bengals: WR Ja'Marr Chase It doesn't get much easier than this, right? Chase, still just 25 years old, just reeled in a historic Triple Crown feat on the back of 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. There's reason to believe he hasn't hit his peak, either. He's still developed his game in recent years, including working from the slot. And the surrounding offense (ahem, offensive line) could always improve, helping free him up more. The Bengals simply don't have any other options for non-quarterback MVP, either, with Trey Hendrickson's 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons going overlooked in the face of the explosive offensive fireworks. – Chris Roling, Bengals Wire Cleveland Browns: DE Myles Garrett I mean, is this one even a question? Outside of Aaron Donald, there has not been a more terrifying defensive lineman for opposing teams to gameplan around than Myles Garrett. He is the first player in NFL history to record four consecutive seasons with at least 14 sacks, and coming off of a mega-contract, there is no reason to think Garrett will slow down. Especially in what looks to be a down year in Cleveland as they try to spin the wheel once again on finding a quarterback of the future, there is not a more valuable player on their roster than Garrett. – Cory Kinnan, Browns Wire Dallas Cowboys: DE Micah Parsons This one's a bit of a no brainer. Parsons is the most impactful non-QB in the league, so of course he's the most impactful non-QB on the team. While he hasn't won a Defensive Player of the Year award yet, his finishes in the top three his first three years in the league speak for themselves. The first NFL player to have over 50 sacks in his first four years out of college is a demon to pass protectors, and if the Cowboys force him to play on a contract year, he might break every record imaginable just to force them to shatter contract records. – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire Denver Broncos: CB Pat Surtain PS2 is an obvious choice for the Broncos. He is the best cornerback in the NFL and the best overall player on Denver's roster. After winning the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, Surtain returns as the most important player on the Broncos' defense. The NFL is a quarterback-dominated league, so Bo Nix is the team's most important overall player, but Surtain is an easy choice as Denver's non-QB MVP going into 2025. – Jon Heath, Broncos Wire Detroit Lions: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown There are a lot of worthy candidates here: Aidan Hutchinson, Penei Sewell, Jahmyr Gibbs, Kerby Joseph. But the Lions offense works so well in no small part because of everything St. Brown provides. He's an always-open target with great hands and YAC ability. He's Jared Goff's security blanket, but also so much more than that. On the rare occasions the Lions offense has struggled lately, it's almost always tied to St. Brown being limited or having an exceedingly rare bad game. – Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire Green Bay Packers: RB Josh Jacobs By the end of the 2025 season, it won't be surprising if a player like Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft or even Edgerrin Cooper has made a legitimate run at this title. But for now, Jacobs is the obvious pick. A Pro Bowler in 2024, Jacobs produced almost 1,700 total yards and 16 total touchdowns during his first season in Green Bay. He was the engine of the offense at times, especially during Jordan Love's injury issues early, and he consistently converted red zone opportunities into touchdowns. He also created missed tackles at an elite rate and was a highly efficient receiver out of the backfield. The Packers could have one of the NFL's best offenses in 2025 if Love is healthy and Jacobs remains a dominant dual-threat back. – Zach Kruse, Packers Wire Houston Texans: WR Nico Collins It would be easy to go with Derek Stingley Jr., Will Anderson Jr. or even Danielle Hunter, but for C.J. Stroud to reach his 2023 form once more, he'll need a healthy Collins. Over the first five games, Collins averaged 113.4 yards per game and was a security blanket for Houston's 4-1 hot start. Once he left with a hamstring strain, the Texans' scoring dropped by near 7.1 points per contest. As the veteran, Collins must set the tone. When he's on point, there's maybe three or four pass-catchers teams would covet more. After coming off a second 1,000-yard season, Collins has proven 2023 wasn't a fluke. He's been worth every cent of what continues to look like the best contract in the NFL entering training camp. – Cole Thompson, Texans Wire Indianapolis Colts: RB Jonathan Taylor Taylor gets the nod here for two reasons: his overall production and the massive impact he can have on the Colts' offense. Taylor rushed for 1,431 yards last season, the fourth-most among running backs, and he was lights out during the final month of the year. But going beyond the numbers, Taylor's success will be vital to the success of the Colts' quarterback–whoever that is–and the overall offense. When there is a strong running game to lean on, it keeps the offense ahead of the sticks, out of predictable passing situations, and can open up opportunities through the air. On the flip side, without a steady run game, offenses find themselves in predictable passing situations, where the defense then has the advantage. If Taylor isn't producing, then the jobs of the quarterback and everyone else on the offense becomes much more difficult. – Paul Bretl, Colts Wire Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas Jr. As a rookie in 2024, Thomas was already one of the most productive receivers in the NFL, totaling the third-most receiving yards during the regular season. This year, under Liam Coen, it looks like Thomas' role is going to expand, and that doesn't only refer to potential targets and yards, but more so it's about how he's utilized. In this new offense, Thomas will be moved around the formation more, including more snaps from the slot, and he will attack each level of the field with more regularity and do so in a variety of ways with his speed and route running abilities. An already difficult matchup, this multiplicity element that comes with Coen's offense can make Thomas even more difficult to defend with his ability to go after defenses in a number of different ways. The trickle-down effect of this is that not only does this help create additional opportunities for Thomas, but also for those around him as well. – Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire Kansas City Chiefs: OC Creed Humphrey While left tackles are usually considered to be the most valuable players on a team's offensive line, Humphrey is the rare type of interior lineman who deserves recognition in a 'non-quarterback MVP' discussion. His savvy leadership has helped star quarterback Patrick Mahomes lead Kansas City to two of its three Super Bowl titles in the Andy Reid era. The former Oklahoma Sooner has yet to miss a start in his career. Entering his fifth season in the NFL, Humphrey is consistently ranked as one of the league's top centers. Given that he just turned 26 years old on June 28 and is under contract with the Chiefs through the 2029 season, it might not be an exaggeration to say that Kansas City's front office has built its offense around Humphrey as much as it has Mahomes. – John Dillon, Chiefs Wire Las Vegas Raiders: DE Maxx Crosby Crosby has been the MVP of the Raiders for most of his career even if you include the QBs in the conversation. A season after the Raiders had by far the worst sack total in the league, Crosby came in as a fourth round rookie and put up 10 sacks his first season and hasn't looked back. His energy and work ethic sets the standard for the team. The latter half of the 2023 season, he led the rally from the defensive side of the ball to finish strong after the firing of Josh McDaniels. Last season he was fighting through a high ankle sprain most of the year and the impact it had on the Raiders as a team was obvious. He was injured in week three and the Raiders immediately lost 11 of their next 12 games. The only 'win' was the one Deshaun Watson gift wrapped for them in week four. That being said, I'm sure Crosby and the rest of the team is hoping Geno Smith can be the first QB in a while to make a strong case for being Raiders team MVP. – Levi Damien, Raiders Wire Los Angeles Chargers: EDGE Khalil Mack Mack contemplated retirement following the 2024 season, but decided not to hang up the cleats and stay with the team that traded for him in 2022. The 34-year-old Mack has been vocal about wanting to win and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, which was the primary reason he stayed in Los Angeles, calling it a "no-brainer' of a decision. Mack is coming off another productive season, even while dealing with multiple groin strains. He finished first among the team in quarterback pressures (54) and second in sacks (6). Mack also had the second-highest Pro Football Focus run defense grade among all edge rushers in the NFL (88.0). Mack's presence off the edge is the most vital out of any other player on the team, not named Justin Herbert, if the Chargers want to have success in 2025. – Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire Los Angeles Rams: WR Puka Nacua Aaron Donald was always the easy choice for this exercise, as was Cooper Kupp. But now that both players are gone, the decision is a little harder. Thinking of the player the Rams can least afford to lose, I think it's Nacua. He just does everything well, from turning screens into big gains to running dig routes over the middle for large chunks of yards. He's a good blocker in the run game, too, which adds even more value in a scheme like the Rams'. There's a reason the offense took off last season after Nacua returned from injury, showing just how valuable he is as a receiver. As long as he can stay healthy and available, he'll go for at least 1,200 yards in his sleep – even with Davante Adams now in the mix at receiver. – Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire Miami Dolphins: DL Zach Sieler De'Von Achane jumps out as an obvious choice and he'll likely have the gaudy stats to justify that, but there's a reason Dolphins players voted Sieler their team MVP at the end of the 2024 season. The unheralded former undrafted defensive lineman finished each of the last two seasons with 10 sacks, no small feat for a 300-pound defensive tackle. Following the departure of Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, and Jevón Holland on the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins will be looking to Sieler more than ever to be a leader, anchor, and cornerstone up front. – Adam Stites, Dolphins Wire Minnesota Vikings: LB Blake Cashman Not likely to be the pick that many people will expect to read here, but his impact can be summed up not by any fancy metric or box score number. Instead, look at the games he missed in 2024 in the regular season. He missed three games, two of which were Vikings losses, and they exposed the team's lack of run defense in the process. In his three games he missed, the Vikings gave up 105 rushing yards per game compared to their usual 95 they did the rest of the year. It may not seem like much, but time of possession means a lot, and those ten yards extend drives, and in those games, it came down to the wire. – Andrew Harbaugh, Vikings Wire New England Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez The best player currently on the Patriots' roster is All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez. He looked like one of the best defensive backs in the league as a rookie in 2023, despite playing in only four games. Last year, he took things to another level and earned his first All-Pro nod in his first full NFL season. A day is coming when Gonzalez will be widely recognized as the best cornerback in the league. He will do wonders in Mike Vrabel's reconstructed defense and help make the Patriots a formidable out against every opponent they face. – Jordy McElroy, Patriots Wire New Orleans Saints: C Erik McCoy Here's a stat for you. When McCoy was available last year (logged at least 68% of snaps in five games), the Saints went 4-1, losing to the Washington Commanders by a single point. When they had to work without him after he exited two games early and missed ten more, New Orleans went 1-11, beating the Atlanta Falcons by three points. They badly missed the Pro Bowler in the middle of the line, and he'll be even more important in 2025 with an inexperienced starter next to him after Trevor Penning moved to left guard. The offensive line goes as far as McCoy take them, and the offense goes with them. Whether it's Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler starting under center, having McCoy snapping the ball to them makes a difference. – John Sigler, Saints Wire New York Giants: NT Dexter Lawrence Even when factoring in the quarterbacks, there is no better player on the New York Giants' roster than nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. He has established himself as the premier interior defensive lineman in football and has dominated at a level unheard of. In 2024, Lawrence faced a double-team rate of 74.5%, more than any other iDL in football by a country mile, but still generated 36 QB pressures over 13 games. That has been a theme for the past three seasons, with Sexy Dexy recording 103 total QB pressures. The next closest iDL? Vita Vea with 23 – Dan Benton, Giants Wire New York Jets: LB Jamien Sherwood Sherwood started to make a name for himself in 2024 once CJ Mosley went down with an injury again. That's why Mosley was expendable as a cap casualty this offseason as well. It was surprising to see how seamlessly Sherwood stepped into Mosley's shoes, but new head coach Aaron Glenn will lean on Sherwood after his breakout season and he'll only improve, potentially as the Jets' best defender in a unit that includes cornerback Sauce Gardner. – Nick Wojton, Jets Wire Philadelphia Eagles: OL Lane Johnson The Eagles have the NFL's best offensive line, and everything starts with the All-World right tackle. Philadelphia is nearly unbeatable with Johnson in the lineup. Since he was drafted to the team in 2013, the Eagles have a 102-55-1 record with Johnson on the field. They are just 15-23 without him. That discrepancy is one of the largest for any offensive lineman in the league. Last season, Johnson ranked 1st among NFL right tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade (88.1), pressure percentage (2.2%), and knockdown percentage (0.2%). Johnson allowed zero sacks and 1 QB hit in 451 pass-blocking snaps. – Glenn Erby, Eagles Wire Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Broderick Jones It would be easy to point to a guy like edge defender or wide receiver DK Metcalf when it comes to a non-quarterback MVP but we are going a a different direction. After a very strong rookie season, Jones didn't show much growth in 2024. But if the Steelers are going to contend in 2025, Jones, the new starting left tackle needs to have an All-Pro caliber season. – Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire San Francisco 49ers: RB Christian McCaffrey It sure feels like the 49ers' offensive success this season relies heavily on McCaffrey's availability. Last year he played in only four games and the 49ers offense spent the season fighting uphill. With Jauan Jennings dissatisfied by his contract situation and a shaky wide receiver depth chart behind him, the run game will be imperative for San Francisco this season. If McCaffrey is on the field, the 49ers offense should once again be one of the more formidable outfits in the NFL. If his health is a problem again, it's hard to see the 49ers making any serious run at a postseason berth. – Kyle Madson, Niners Wire Seattle Seahawks: LB Ernest Jones IV Seattle's defense, especially against the run, went from being abysmal once more to a stone wall seemingly overnight. This was thanks to the midseason acquisition of linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was traded by the Rams and Titans last year before finally finding a permanent home in the Emerald City. Jones immediately proved himself to be a difference maker and a leader, as Seattle entrusted him with playcalling responsibilities despite coming in halfway through the year. The Seahawks once again have linebacker to terrorize opposing offenses and generate crucial plays when needed. – Kole Musgrove, Seahawks Wire Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Antoine Winfield Jr. The Bucs' All-Pro safety was not himself during the 2024 season, and as a result, the entire defense suffered. Winfield Jr. was coming off a big contract extension, and expectations were high, but injuries held him back from ever truly getting momentum going. If he is healthy, like everyone expects him to be, he should be on a revenge tour that would make everyone blush by the end of it. Not only does he need it, but the Bucs' secondary needs it because the group as a whole remains unchanged, and they were less than impressive last season. – Andrew Harbaugh, Bucs Wire Tennessee Titans: DT Jeffery Simmons We considered going with new LT Dan Moore and RB Tony Pollard here. However, DT Jeffery Simmons remains Tennessee's best player. The combination of Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat gives the Titans one of the best defensive tackle duos in the NFL. While so much focus is on the offense, Tennessee's defense was good for a portion of last season. Simmons is an interior disruptor, and he can make up for the Titans' concerns on the edge. If Tennessee is to surprise this year and compete in the AFC South, its defense needs to rise to the occasion. It all starts up front with Simmons. – Bryan Manning Titans Wire Washington Commanders: LB Frankie Luvu It was tempting to go with WR Terry McLaurin here. He will be excellent again. But Washington needs more from its defense in 2025. Enter Frankie Luvu. Luvu was excellent last season, finishing second on the team with eight sacks and earning second-team All-Pro honors. The Commanders didn't bring in a ton of help on the edge because they know Luvu can help there. Von Miller's signing will not impact Luvu's usage as a pass rusher. Luvu was all over Washington's defense last season and established himself as a villain to Philly fans. That's how you know you've arrived. Expect Luvu to hit the double-digit mark in sacks in 2025. – Bryan Manning, Commanders Wire
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Every NFL team's non-QB MVP heading into 2025 (including the Bills)
When it comes to Most Valuable Player, it's a discussion dominated by quarterbacks. And for good reason. After all, quarterback is the most important position in football. In fact, the last 12 NFL MVPs have been quarterbacks. The last non-QB to win the award was Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in 2012. But there are other players on the field also deserving of recognition, which makes for an interesting discussion about the most important player on each team (outside of QB). From Myles Garrett to Ja'Marr Chase to Micah Parsons, our NFL Wire editors identified every team's non-quarterback MVP heading into the 2025 season. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. It was tight end Trey McBride who had the monster year in 2024, and his play was critical, but most expect Harrison to have a big jump on production in 2025. His 62 receptions for 885 yards made for a fine rookie year but paled in comparison to some of the other rookies and their production last year. Previous first-round receivers this century for the Cardinals have all increased their reception output by at least 44% and a yardage increase of at least 80% from Year 1 to Year 2 in the NFL. A 40% increase in catches and 50% increase in yards would give Harrison 87 catches for over 1,300 yards in 2025, which would be huge. – Jess Root, Cards Wire Atlanta Falcons: RB Bijan Robinson Robinson is the heartbeat of the Falcons offense and one of the most productive running backs in the league. Last season, the former top-10 pick finished third in the NFL with 1,456 rushing yards. Robinson's dual-threat ability (119 career catches) and nose for the end zone (23 career touchdowns) make him Atlanta's most valuable non-quarterback heading into 2025. We also considered safety Jessie Bates III for this spot but felt Robinson would have a greater impact on the team's success in 2025. With Michael Penix Jr. pushing the ball down the field, Robinson should have even more room to work with this season. – Matt Urben, Falcons Wire Baltimore Ravens: RB Derrick Henry Baltimore had one of the top rushing attacks before the arrival of Henry. Still, the NFL's second-leading rusher in 2024 helped open up the passing for Lamar Jackson who led the NFL in passer rating (119.6) while becoming the first quarterback in league history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards after he posted 4,172 yards through the air and 915 yards on the ground. In his first season with the Ravens, Henry ran for 1,921 yards in 17 regular-season games and scored 16 touchdowns. He also added two scores through the air. Baltimore's success percentage last season, according to Next Gen Stats, was even better when eight or more defenders were near the line of scrimmage (50.9%), compared to a neutral defensive approach (43.4%). Of Henry's 16 rushing touchdowns last season, 14 came against a stacked box. – Glenn Erby, Ravens Wire Buffalo Bills: WR Khalil Shakir It's simple and just like last season. Shakir was Buffalo's top receiver in 2024 and there are a slew of new wideouts around him. The Dalton Kincaid draft pick has always been curious because quarterback Josh Allen does not appear to look toward his tight ends as much as his receivers… and that showed last season when Shakir was the team's leading receiver. Expect that to remain the same. – Nick Wojton, Bills Wire Carolina Panthers: DL Derrick Brown The Panthers fielded one of the worst defenses of all-time in 2024, setting a new NFL record for points allowed (534). 16 of their 17 games in that 'historic' run did not feature Brown, who sustained a season-ending knee injury during the team's Week 1 loss in New Orleans. By year's end, Carolina ended up relinquishing a whopping 179.8 rushing yards per contest—nearly 40 more yards than the next closest unit. Even with their promising defensive additions from this offseason, the Panthers will still need their Pro Bowl wrecking ball to be the centerpiece of the group. – Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers Wire Chicago Bears: CB Jaylon Johnson After signing a well-deserved contract extension last offseason, Jaylon Johnson once again proved that he's one of the most important players on the Bears roster -- and one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. Johnson had his second consecutive Pro Bowl season, where he forced three turnovers and recorded a career-high in tackles (53) and tackles for loss (7) all with teams electing to steer clear of him when they could. He'll be a cornerstone of new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's defense. – Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire Cincinnati Bengals: WR Ja'Marr Chase It doesn't get much easier than this, right? Chase, still just 25 years old, just reeled in a historic Triple Crown feat on the back of 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. There's reason to believe he hasn't hit his peak, either. He's still developed his game in recent years, including working from the slot. And the surrounding offense (ahem, offensive line) could always improve, helping free him up more. The Bengals simply don't have any other options for non-quarterback MVP, either, with Trey Hendrickson's 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons going overlooked in the face of the explosive offensive fireworks. – Chris Roling, Bengals Wire Cleveland Browns: DE Myles Garrett I mean, is this one even a question? Outside of Aaron Donald, there has not been a more terrifying defensive lineman for opposing teams to gameplan around than Myles Garrett. He is the first player in NFL history to record four consecutive seasons with at least 14 sacks, and coming off of a mega-contract, there is no reason to think Garrett will slow down. Especially in what looks to be a down year in Cleveland as they try to spin the wheel once again on finding a quarterback of the future, there is not a more valuable player on their roster than Garrett. – Cory Kinnan, Browns Wire Dallas Cowboys: DE Micah Parsons This one's a bit of a no brainer. Parsons is the most impactful non-QB in the league, so of course he's the most impactful non-QB on the team. While he hasn't won a Defensive Player of the Year award yet, his finishes in the top three his first three years in the league speak for themselves. The first NFL player to have over 50 sacks in his first four years out of college is a demon to pass protectors, and if the Cowboys force him to play on a contract year, he might break every record imaginable just to force them to shatter contract records. – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire Denver Broncos: CB Pat Surtain PS2 is an obvious choice for the Broncos. He is the best cornerback in the NFL and the best overall player on Denver's roster. After winning the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, Surtain returns as the most important player on the Broncos' defense. The NFL is a quarterback-dominated league, so Bo Nix is the team's most important overall player, but Surtain is an easy choice as Denver's non-QB MVP going into 2025. – Jon Heath, Broncos Wire Detroit Lions: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown There are a lot of worthy candidates here: Aidan Hutchinson, Penei Sewell, Jahmyr Gibbs, Kerby Joseph. But the Lions offense works so well in no small part because of everything St. Brown provides. He's an always-open target with great hands and YAC ability. He's Jared Goff's security blanket, but also so much more than that. On the rare occasions the Lions offense has struggled lately, it's almost always tied to St. Brown being limited or having an exceedingly rare bad game. – Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire Green Bay Packers: RB Josh Jacobs By the end of the 2025 season, it won't be surprising if a player like Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft or even Edgerrin Cooper has made a legitimate run at this title. But for now, Jacobs is the obvious pick. A Pro Bowler in 2024, Jacobs produced almost 1,700 total yards and 16 total touchdowns during his first season in Green Bay. He was the engine of the offense at times, especially during Jordan Love's injury issues early, and he consistently converted red zone opportunities into touchdowns. He also created missed tackles at an elite rate and was a highly efficient receiver out of the backfield. The Packers could have one of the NFL's best offenses in 2025 if Love is healthy and Jacobs remains a dominant dual-threat back. – Zach Kruse, Packers Wire Houston Texans: WR Nico Collins It would be easy to go with Derek Stingley Jr., Will Anderson Jr. or even Danielle Hunter, but for C.J. Stroud to reach his 2023 form once more, he'll need a healthy Collins. Over the first five games, Collins averaged 113.4 yards per game and was a security blanket for Houston's 4-1 hot start. Once he left with a hamstring strain, the Texans' scoring dropped by near 7.1 points per contest. As the veteran, Collins must set the tone. When he's on point, there's maybe three or four pass-catchers teams would covet more. After coming off a second 1,000-yard season, Collins has proven 2023 wasn't a fluke. He's been worth every cent of what continues to look like the best contract in the NFL entering training camp. – Cole Thompson, Texans Wire Indianapolis Colts: RB Jonathan Taylor Taylor gets the nod here for two reasons: his overall production and the massive impact he can have on the Colts' offense. Taylor rushed for 1,431 yards last season, the fourth-most among running backs, and he was lights out during the final month of the year. But going beyond the numbers, Taylor's success will be vital to the success of the Colts' quarterback–whoever that is–and the overall offense. When there is a strong running game to lean on, it keeps the offense ahead of the sticks, out of predictable passing situations, and can open up opportunities through the air. On the flip side, without a steady run game, offenses find themselves in predictable passing situations, where the defense then has the advantage. If Taylor isn't producing, then the jobs of the quarterback and everyone else on the offense becomes much more difficult. – Paul Bretl, Colts Wire Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas Jr. As a rookie in 2024, Thomas was already one of the most productive receivers in the NFL, totaling the third-most receiving yards during the regular season. This year, under Liam Coen, it looks like Thomas' role is going to expand, and that doesn't only refer to potential targets and yards, but more so it's about how he's utilized. In this new offense, Thomas will be moved around the formation more, including more snaps from the slot, and he will attack each level of the field with more regularity and do so in a variety of ways with his speed and route running abilities. An already difficult matchup, this multiplicity element that comes with Coen's offense can make Thomas even more difficult to defend with his ability to go after defenses in a number of different ways. The trickle-down effect of this is that not only does this help create additional opportunities for Thomas, but also for those around him as well. – Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire Kansas City Chiefs: OC Creed Humphrey While left tackles are usually considered to be the most valuable players on a team's offensive line, Humphrey is the rare type of interior lineman who deserves recognition in a 'non-quarterback MVP' discussion. His savvy leadership has helped star quarterback Patrick Mahomes lead Kansas City to two of its three Super Bowl titles in the Andy Reid era. The former Oklahoma Sooner has yet to miss a start in his career. Entering his fifth season in the NFL, Humphrey is consistently ranked as one of the league's top centers. Given that he just turned 26 years old on June 28 and is under contract with the Chiefs through the 2029 season, it might not be an exaggeration to say that Kansas City's front office has built its offense around Humphrey as much as it has Mahomes. – John Dillon, Chiefs Wire Las Vegas Raiders: DE Maxx Crosby Crosby has been the MVP of the Raiders for most of his career even if you include the QBs in the conversation. A season after the Raiders had by far the worst sack total in the league, Crosby came in as a fourth round rookie and put up 10 sacks his first season and hasn't looked back. His energy and work ethic sets the standard for the team. The latter half of the 2023 season, he led the rally from the defensive side of the ball to finish strong after the firing of Josh McDaniels. Last season he was fighting through a high ankle sprain most of the year and the impact it had on the Raiders as a team was obvious. He was injured in week three and the Raiders immediately lost 11 of their next 12 games. The only 'win' was the one Deshaun Watson gift wrapped for them in week four. That being said, I'm sure Crosby and the rest of the team is hoping Geno Smith can be the first QB in a while to make a strong case for being Raiders team MVP. – Levi Damien, Raiders Wire Los Angeles Chargers: EDGE Khalil Mack Mack contemplated retirement following the 2024 season, but decided not to hang up the cleats and stay with the team that traded for him in 2022. The 34-year-old Mack has been vocal about wanting to win and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, which was the primary reason he stayed in Los Angeles, calling it a "no-brainer' of a decision. Mack is coming off another productive season, even while dealing with multiple groin strains. He finished first among the team in quarterback pressures (54) and second in sacks (6). Mack also had the second-highest Pro Football Focus run defense grade among all edge rushers in the NFL (88.0). Mack's presence off the edge is the most vital out of any other player on the team, not named Justin Herbert, if the Chargers want to have success in 2025. – Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire Los Angeles Rams: WR Puka Nacua Aaron Donald was always the easy choice for this exercise, as was Cooper Kupp. But now that both players are gone, the decision is a little harder. Thinking of the player the Rams can least afford to lose, I think it's Nacua. He just does everything well, from turning screens into big gains to running dig routes over the middle for large chunks of yards. He's a good blocker in the run game, too, which adds even more value in a scheme like the Rams'. There's a reason the offense took off last season after Nacua returned from injury, showing just how valuable he is as a receiver. As long as he can stay healthy and available, he'll go for at least 1,200 yards in his sleep – even with Davante Adams now in the mix at receiver. – Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire Miami Dolphins: DL Zach Sieler De'Von Achane jumps out as an obvious choice and he'll likely have the gaudy stats to justify that, but there's a reason Dolphins players voted Sieler their team MVP at the end of the 2024 season. The unheralded former undrafted defensive lineman finished each of the last two seasons with 10 sacks, no small feat for a 300-pound defensive tackle. Following the departure of Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, and Jevón Holland on the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins will be looking to Sieler more than ever to be a leader, anchor, and cornerstone up front. – Adam Stites, Dolphins Wire Minnesota Vikings: LB Blake Cashman Not likely to be the pick that many people will expect to read here, but his impact can be summed up not by any fancy metric or box score number. Instead, look at the games he missed in 2024 in the regular season. He missed three games, two of which were Vikings losses, and they exposed the team's lack of run defense in the process. In his three games he missed, the Vikings gave up 105 rushing yards per game compared to their usual 95 they did the rest of the year. It may not seem like much, but time of possession means a lot, and those ten yards extend drives, and in those games, it came down to the wire. – Andrew Harbaugh, Vikings Wire New England Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez The best player currently on the Patriots' roster is All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez. He looked like one of the best defensive backs in the league as a rookie in 2023, despite playing in only four games. Last year, he took things to another level and earned his first All-Pro nod in his first full NFL season. A day is coming when Gonzalez will be widely recognized as the best cornerback in the league. He will do wonders in Mike Vrabel's reconstructed defense and help make the Patriots a formidable out against every opponent they face. – Jordy McElroy, Patriots Wire New Orleans Saints: C Erik McCoy Here's a stat for you. When McCoy was available last year (logged at least 68% of snaps in five games), the Saints went 4-1, losing to the Washington Commanders by a single point. When they had to work without him after he exited two games early and missed ten more, New Orleans went 1-11, beating the Atlanta Falcons by three points. They badly missed the Pro Bowler in the middle of the line, and he'll be even more important in 2025 with an inexperienced starter next to him after Trevor Penning moved to left guard. The offensive line goes as far as McCoy take them, and the offense goes with them. Whether it's Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler starting under center, having McCoy snapping the ball to them makes a difference. – John Sigler, Saints Wire New York Giants: NT Dexter Lawrence Even when factoring in the quarterbacks, there is no better player on the New York Giants' roster than nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. He has established himself as the premier interior defensive lineman in football and has dominated at a level unheard of. In 2024, Lawrence faced a double-team rate of 74.5%, more than any other iDL in football by a country mile, but still generated 36 QB pressures over 13 games. That has been a theme for the past three seasons, with Sexy Dexy recording 103 total QB pressures. The next closest iDL? Vita Vea with 23 – Dan Benton, Giants Wire New York Jets: LB Jamien Sherwood Sherwood started to make a name for himself in 2024 once CJ Mosley went down with an injury again. That's why Mosley was expendable as a cap casualty this offseason as well. It was surprising to see how seamlessly Sherwood stepped into Mosley's shoes, but new head coach Aaron Glenn will lean on Sherwood after his breakout season and he'll only improve, potentially as the Jets' best defender in a unit that includes cornerback Sauce Gardner. – Nick Wojton, Jets Wire Philadelphia Eagles: OL Lane Johnson The Eagles have the NFL's best offensive line, and everything starts with the All-World right tackle. Philadelphia is nearly unbeatable with Johnson in the lineup. Since he was drafted to the team in 2013, the Eagles have a 102-55-1 record with Johnson on the field. They are just 15-23 without him. That discrepancy is one of the largest for any offensive lineman in the league. Last season, Johnson ranked 1st among NFL right tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade (88.1), pressure percentage (2.2%), and knockdown percentage (0.2%). Johnson allowed zero sacks and 1 QB hit in 451 pass-blocking snaps. – Glenn Erby, Eagles Wire Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Broderick Jones It would be easy to point to a guy like edge defender or wide receiver DK Metcalf when it comes to a non-quarterback MVP but we are going a a different direction. After a very strong rookie season, Jones didn't show much growth in 2024. But if the Steelers are going to contend in 2025, Jones, the new starting left tackle needs to have an All-Pro caliber season. – Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire San Francisco 49ers: RB Christian McCaffrey It sure feels like the 49ers' offensive success this season relies heavily on McCaffrey's availability. Last year he played in only four games and the 49ers offense spent the season fighting uphill. With Jauan Jennings dissatisfied by his contract situation and a shaky wide receiver depth chart behind him, the run game will be imperative for San Francisco this season. If McCaffrey is on the field, the 49ers offense should once again be one of the more formidable outfits in the NFL. If his health is a problem again, it's hard to see the 49ers making any serious run at a postseason berth. – Kyle Madson, Niners Wire Seattle Seahawks: LB Ernest Jones IV Seattle's defense, especially against the run, went from being abysmal once more to a stone wall seemingly overnight. This was thanks to the midseason acquisition of linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was traded by the Rams and Titans last year before finally finding a permanent home in the Emerald City. Jones immediately proved himself to be a difference maker and a leader, as Seattle entrusted him with playcalling responsibilities despite coming in halfway through the year. The Seahawks once again have linebacker to terrorize opposing offenses and generate crucial plays when needed. – Kole Musgrove, Seahawks Wire Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Antoine Winfield Jr. The Bucs' All-Pro safety was not himself during the 2024 season, and as a result, the entire defense suffered. Winfield Jr. was coming off a big contract extension, and expectations were high, but injuries held him back from ever truly getting momentum going. If he is healthy, like everyone expects him to be, he should be on a revenge tour that would make everyone blush by the end of it. Not only does he need it, but the Bucs' secondary needs it because the group as a whole remains unchanged, and they were less than impressive last season. – Andrew Harbaugh, Bucs Wire Tennessee Titans: DT Jeffery Simmons We considered going with new LT Dan Moore and RB Tony Pollard here. However, DT Jeffery Simmons remains Tennessee's best player. The combination of Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat gives the Titans one of the best defensive tackle duos in the NFL. While so much focus is on the offense, Tennessee's defense was good for a portion of last season. Simmons is an interior disruptor, and he can make up for the Titans' concerns on the edge. If Tennessee is to surprise this year and compete in the AFC South, its defense needs to rise to the occasion. It all starts up front with Simmons. – Bryan Manning Titans Wire Washington Commanders: LB Frankie Luvu It was tempting to go with WR Terry McLaurin here. He will be excellent again. But Washington needs more from its defense in 2025. Enter Frankie Luvu. Luvu was excellent last season, finishing second on the team with eight sacks and earning second-team All-Pro honors. The Commanders didn't bring in a ton of help on the edge because they know Luvu can help there. Von Miller's signing will not impact Luvu's usage as a pass rusher. Luvu was all over Washington's defense last season and established himself as a villain to Philly fans. That's how you know you've arrived. Expect Luvu to hit the double-digit mark in sacks in 2025. – Bryan Manning, Commanders Wire
