Edge was one of the most intriguing and deep classes in the 2025 draft. Many teams picked up new rushers and linebackers to get after the QB. In the upcoming season, who will be the best at sacking the quarterback and creating pressure? I ranked the top 10 best edge rushing duos in the league going into the 2025 season.
#10. Atlanta Falcons (James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker)
The Falcons made a huge swing to move back into the first round and draft two edge rushers at picks #15 and #26. It’s not for sure that both or either of them will work out, but there’s a ton of potential there. Walker is a Butkus award winner with 6.5 sacks and 10.5 TFLs last season. James Pearce Jr. had 10 sacks and 14.5 TFLs himself. Both of them are top SEC players, and we all know the recent success of Georgia edge rush prospects. We obviously can’t say for sure these players will pan out, but after investing two first round picks, the least we can do is give them the #10 spot on this list.
#9. San Francisco 49ers (Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams)
The 49ers were another team who invested a high pick in a Georgia edge rusher, Mykel Williams. We all know Nick Bosa is one of the best edges in the league, and he’s coming off a great 9-sack Pro Bowl season. Mykel Williams doesn’t have a ton of college production to speak of, but the traits are there. If Nick Bosa and the 9ers staff can help him develop, the 9ers could have a very scary duo on their hands. Not to mention that they also invested 2 other picks into the D-Line and 1 in a linebacker. They have plenty of young bodies to add to what has always been a pretty fearsom D-Line, and Robert Salah has a lot of clay to mold to make what could be one of the best edge duos in the league.
#8. Buffalo Bills (Greg Rousseau and Joey Bosa)
Speaking of Bosa’s, the Bills made a splash by acquiring Joey Bosa in the offseason. They probably are hoping this move has echoes of their stint with Von Miller in Buffalo. Bosa had 5 sacks and 5 TFLs last year, and he will be alongside longtime Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau. Rousseau had 8 sacks himself and ranked #12 among edges on PFF. The Bills have sort of the opposite situation of the previous two teams. Rather than hoping new young prospects can get to the QB, they have to hope their stalwart veterans still have some juice left. If they do, this duo could be very scary for opposing offenses.
#7. Los Angeles Rams (Jared Verse and Braden Fiske)
Partners in the trade with the Falcons, the Rams chose to pass on a top edge rusher in favor of first round picks for next year. They had good reason to do so, given that they seem to have locked up a great duo in last year’s draft. Jared Verse was the Defensive Rookie of the Year and for good reason. He had 4.5 sacks and 36 solo tackles and was a huge presence on film for the Rams D. Braden Fiske, his Florida State and Rams teammate, had 8.5 sacks himself. This young duo showed a lot of promise in year one, and as they continue to develop they could be one of the best edge rush duos in the league.
#6. Philadelphia Eagles (Nolan Smith and Jihaad Campbell)
The Superbowl Champs won in large part due to their amazing defensive line tearing apart the Chiefs. However, they paid the Superbowl tax in losing top edge rusher Josh Sweat and DT Milton Williams in free agency. But in the least surprising event ever, the guy Howie wanted desperately in the first round fell to him once again. The Eagles picked up Jihaad Campbell, the athletic Alabama linebacker Howie and team were hot on for good reason. Campbell racked up 5 sacks and 11.5 TFLs last year, and even after losing some D-Lineman, the Eagles still have great talent left over. Nolan Smith had 6.5 sacks himself and 21 solo tackles. And of course Jalen Carter is the sun that the whole Eagles line revolves around. With Carter attrating a lot of attention, this edge duo should have the space to thrive and get after the quarterback.
#5. Dallas Cowboys (Micah Parsons and Donovan Ezeiruaku)
Micah Parsons is almost an edge rushing duo by himself. He had 12 sacks and 30 solo tackles last season, but you don’t need stats to know he’s great. The entire offensive gameplan agains the Cowboys will usually center around Parson, and now that Batman may have found his Robin. The Cowboys got excellent value selecting Donovan Ezeiruaku in the 2nd round. Ezeiruaku won the Hendricks Award for the best DE in the country with 16.5 sacks and 20.5 TFLs. Obviously that production at Boston College may or may not transfer to the NFL, but Ezeiruaku is a very talented player. He has the chance to force a fearsome duo alongside one of the best defenders in the league.
#4. Denver Broncos (Nick Bonito and Zach Allen)
Coming off a playoff berth and a great debut season for Bo Nix, the Broncos are on of the highest potential teams in the 2025 season. Nick Bonito, though not talked about a ton, is coming of a 13.5 sack season and a 71 yard pick six. And opposite him is Zach Allen, with 8.5 sacks and 32 solo tackes himself. These two are a great duo, and are poised to make even more waves this year as the Broncos have picked up some great backup for them in the offseason. Even with the splash signings of Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga from the 49ers, this duo is still the engine that makes this Broncos defense run.
#3. Houston Texans (Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.)
The Texans and Vikings swapped edge rushers last offseason, and it’s worked incredibly for both of them. Not only is Greenard thriving in Minnesota, but Danielle Hunter is absolutely eating in Houston. Hunter had 12 sacks and 31 solo tackles. Will Anderson also had 11 sacks as well as one strip sack. This duo absolutely tears it up week to week and will continue to thrive in Houston. This trade of edge rushers has been a smashing success for both teams, as evidenced by the next entry on this list.
#2. Minnesota Vikings (Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel)
It should be no surprise this edge rush duo is good given Van Ginkel is holding the football in most of the Google Images of him. He had 11.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions for 73 yards and 2 TDs. Alongside him, Jonathan Greenard had 12 sacks and 4 forced fumbles. These two both have noses for the ball, they know how to get to the QB and finish, and in Brian Flores’ defense they have absolutely thrived. Not only that, but the Vikings added Jonathan Allen to their defensive line so they’ll have even more single teams. This line is fearsome and will continue to be for a long time as long as these two play with Brian Flores.
#1. New York Giants (Abdul Carter and Brian Burns)
The Giants drafted the top edge rusher and arguably top player in this years draft in Abdul Carter. Carter had 12 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in his last year at Penn State, and he absolutely explodes off tape. The Giants will pair him with Brian Burns, who had 8.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles last year and will be a great mentor for Carter. Not only that, but they added a new DT, Darius Alexander from Toledo alongside their stud nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. This defensive line is absolutely terrifying, and the edge duo featuring the #3 overall pick is clearly the scariest in the league.
