Biggest Defensive Player Signings in 2025

Craig Rondinone analyzes the biggest defensive player signings and trades of the NFL's 2025 offseason and how they may affect IDP fantasy football leagues for the upcoming season.

Fantasy football can be so much more than just touchdowns, yards, targets, receptions, and rushes. To make things even more interesting, you can be in a fantasy league where both sides of the ball are represented.

IDP (Individual Defense Player) fantasy football leagues have gained in popularity over the past several seasons. Now, fantasy footballers can pay as much attention to tacklers as they do to touchdowns. Have you ever dreamt of trading Travis Kelce for a premium pass-rusher or an interception machine of a cornerback? IDP leagues give you that opportunity!

So, during this offseason, when the salary cap has been raised to a record amount and organizations are tossing millions of dollars at defensive linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties, which free-agent signings and trades have involved the biggest names on the defensive side of the ball? Here is a look.

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The Biggest Defensive Player Signings and Trades of the 2025 NFL Offseason

Milton Williams, New England Patriots (DT)

Milton Williams played second banana on Super Bowl champion Philadelphia’s defensive line next to Jalen Carter, and he parlayed it into a $104 million payday from New England. Williams was a Super Bowl hero thanks to two sacks and constant pressure on Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes.

The jury is out on whether or not Williams can be another Vince Wilfork, especially without Carter making his life easier next to him on the line. Now, Williams will be the one facing double teams and special blocking schemes. But he will certainly fortify a Patriots run defense that finished 23^rd in 2024 and faces Buffalo’s James Cook, New York’s Breece Hall, and Miami’s De'Von Achane regularly.

Oh yeah… the #Patriots got themselves a monster when they signed Milton Williams.

(via _rockofficial IG) pic.twitter.com/OF6cVogA6u

— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) March 21, 2025

Williams is not exactly a fantasy force as run-stuffing tackles do not put up the spectacular stats cornerbacks, linebackers, and pass-rushers do for fantasy footballers, but do not be surprised to see his sack total rise now that he is the centerpiece of a defensive line instead of sharing the sacks with other ultra-talented big men like he did in Philly.

Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals (DE/OLB)

Call him an outside linebacker. Call him a defensive end. The two things you can call Josh Sweat, though, are a premium pass-rusher and rich!

Sweat was a cornerstone of the Philadelphia Eagles front seven as he consistently came off the edge to wreak havoc throughout the regular season and the postseason. Now, he has taken his talent to Arizona, thanks to a four-year, $76.4 million deal.

Sweat gave fantasy managers plenty of sacks during his seven seasons in the land of the Liberty Bell. He recorded 39 sacks over the past five years, including a career-high 11 in 2022. Sweat’s consistency, durability, and ability to make big plays in big games made him so sought-after this offseason -- and in fantasy leagues as well.

Considering Arizona did not have a player with more than five sacks in 2024, Sweat is a welcome addition to the defense. It will be interesting to see what he can do without a bevy of Pro Bowl players around him to free him up for one-on-one blocking situations. Sweat’s track record has to make you think that 7.5 to 11 sacks in 2025 is the right range for him with his new team.

Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs (ILB)

Patrick Mahomes might be Kansas City’s quarterback on offense, but Nick Bolton is the quarterback of the Chiefs defense and is arguably almost as important.

Bolton has been the heart and soul of the defensive unit since being drafted in the second round back in 2021 and has slowly turned the Chiefs into a defensive team over the past couple of years. That is why he was blessed with a three-year, $45 million deal to stay with the defending AFC champions.

Nick Bolton is staying home 💪 #ChiefsKingdom

(📹 @Chiefs)

pic.twitter.com/20X0l17dq3

— Let’s Chat Chiefs (@LetsChatChiefs) March 9, 2025

Bolton has been Kansas City’s leading tackler while manning the middle of the defense for the past four seasons. He finished second in tackles in the NFL in 2022 with an astounding 180. While he did not come close to averaging 10 tackles per game last season, Bolton’s role in the defense has never been more important. He led the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and fumble recoveries, and he also defended six passes and added three sacks.

Feel free to draft Bolton in IDP leagues as he can help out in numerous categories, with tackles being the main man. His role should not change now that he is staying put with the AFC champion Chiefs and is entering the prime of his career as he heads into his fifth NFL campaign.

Other Signings of Note

The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed LB Zack Baun to a three-year, $51 million contract after his breakout 2024 season. After four years as a part-time player for the New Orleans Saints, Baun blossomed with the Super Bowl champs and led the team with 152 tackles and added 3.5 sacks. After losing the aforementioned Williams and Sweat, bringing back Baun is a boost to the Eagles defense.

The Carolina Panthers re-signed CB Jaycee Horn to a four-year, $100 million deal. There was a bumper crop of cornerbacks on the free-agent market this offseason, but Carolina decided to keep the shutdown corner it had in-house for a few more seasons. Horn now has to prove that he is worth every penny.

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