Twenty-eight highest paid NFL defensive players to switch teams in 2025 free agency

Over the last two days we have discussed some of the more high profile NFL player personnel changes at the quarterback and wide receiver positions. Today the focus is on defense. Here are 28 defensive players in the NFL that have switched teams in free agency, and are making a minimum of $10 per season.

Paulson Adebo

The native of Farmington, Michigan has signed a three-year deal worth $30 million with the New York Giants. The cornerback played the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Last year he had 52 combined tackles (43 solo tackles and nine assisted tackles), one quarterback hit, one tackle for a loss, 10 pass deflections, and three interceptions for 68 yards. Adebo only played seven games last season because of a broken leg.

Jonathan Allen

The native of Anniston, Alabama has signed a three-year deal worth $51 million with the Minnesota Vikings. The two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle only played eight games last year with a torn left pectoral muscle. Allen, who has been with Washington since 2017, had 19 combined tackles (16 solo tackles and three solo tackles), seven quarterback hits and three sacks in 2024.

Joey Bosa

The native of Miami, Florida has signed a one-year deal worth $12.3 million with the Buffalo Bills. The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker has spent his entire career with the Chargers organization and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016. In 2024, Bosa had 22 combined tackles (17 solo tackles and five assisted tackles), 13 quarterback hits, five sacks and two forced fumbles.

Camron Bynum

The native of Corona, California has signed a four-year deal worth $60 million with the Indianapolis Colts. The safety has spent the last four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2024, Bynum had 96 combined tackles (54 solo tackles and 42 assisted tackles), two tackles for a loss, three interceptions for three yards, two fumble recoveries and 10 pass deflections. The two fumble recoveries came in a 31-29 Vikings win over the Green Bay Packers on September 29 and in a 27-25 Vikings win over the Packers on December 29.

Andre Cisco

The native of Queens, New York has signed a one-year deal worth $10 million with the New York Jets. The safety has spent the last four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2024, Cisco had 68 combined tackles (44 solo tackles and 24 assisted tackles), seven pass deflections, one interception for 22 yards and one tackle for a loss. The TFL came in a 20-13 Jaguars win over the Tennessee Titans on December 29.

Carlton Davis

The native of Miami, Florida has signed a three-year contract worth $60 million with the New England Patriots. The cornerback spent six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (winning a Super Bowl in 2021) from 2018 to 2023, and this past season with the Detroit Lions. In 13 games in 2024, Davis had 56 combined tackles (42 solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles), two tackles or a loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for 49 yards.

The first tackle for a loss came in a 20-13 Lions win over the Arizona Cardinals on September 22, and the second tackle for a loss came in a 42-29 Lions win over the Seattle Seahawks on September 30. The first fumble recovery was for 49 yards and came in the aforementioned Lions win over the Seahawks, and the second fumble recovery came in a 52-14 Lions win over the Tennessee Titans on October 27. The two interceptions came in a 26-23 Lions win over the Houston Texans on November 10, and the forced fumble came in a 34-31 Lions win over the Green Bay Packers on December 5.

Leonard Floyd

The native of Atlanta, Georgia has signed a one-year deal worth $10 million with the Atlanta Falcons. The outside linebacker is joining his fifth NFL team after four seasons with the Chicago Bears (2016 to 2019), three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (2020 to 2022), and one season each with the Buffalo Bills (2023) and San Francisco 49ers (2024). The 2022 Super Bowl champion with the Rams, had a solid season last year in San Francisco. He had 42 combined tackles (25 solo tackles and 17 assisted tackles), 16 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, one pass deflection and one forced fumble. The forced fumble came in a 30-13 49ers win over the New England Patriots on September 29, and the pass deflection came in a 23-20 49ers win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 10.

Kristian Fulton

The native of New Orleans, Louisiana has signed a two-year deal worth $20 million with the Kansas City Chiefs. The cornerback is joining his third NFL team after four seasons with the Tennessee Titans (2020 to 2023), and one season with the Los Angeles Rams (2024). In 2024, Fulton had 51 combined tackles (39 solo tackles and 12 assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, one interception for 29 yards, and seven pass deflections. Ironically, the interception came against the Chiefs, in a 17-10 Chargers loss on September 29.

Dre Greenlaw

The outside linebacker from Fayetteville, Arkansas has signed a three-year deal worth $35 million with the Denver Broncos. Greenlaw played the last six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. In 2024, he had nine combined tackles (six assisted tackles and three solo tackles). He only played two games with a torn Achilles.

Nate Hobbs

The cornerback from Louisville, Kentucky signed a four-year deal worth $48 million with the Green Bay Packers. He spent the last four seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2024, Hobbs had 49 combined tackles (33 solo tackles and 16 assisted tackles), one interception for 35 yards, five pass deflections, two tackles for a loss, and one quarterback hit.

Jevon Holland

The lone Canadian on the list signed a three-year deal worth $45.3 million with the New York Giants. The safety from Coquitlam, British Columbia had 62 combined tackles (42 solo tackles and 20 assisted tackles), two tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, four pass deflections, one forced fumble and one sack with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, the team he has been with since 2021.

Holland had a memorable game on November 11 against the Los Angeles Rams. He had his first tackle for a loss, first quarterback hit and sack in a 23-15 Dolphins win over the Los Angeles Rams. Holland also had a forced fumble in a 20-17 Dolphins win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 8, tackle for a loss in a 34-15 Dolphins win over the New England Patriots on November 24, and another quarterback hit came in a 20-3 Dolphins win over the Cleveland Browns on December 29.

Talanoa Hufanga

Joining Greenlaw in Denver from the 49ers is safety Talanoa Hufanga of Corvallis, Oregon, who signed a three-year deal worth $45 million. In 2024, Hufanga had 38 combined tackles (20 solo tackles and 18 assisted tackles), and two tackles for a loss. Hufanga was with the 49ers the last four seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022. He only played seven games last season because of a torn ligament in his wrist.

Grady Jarrett

The defensive tackle from Conyers, Georgia signed a three-year deal worth $43.5 million with the Chicago Bears after 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, where he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020. This past season, Jarrett had 53 combined tackles (30 solo tackles and 23 assisted tackles), 12 quarterback hits, nine tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.

Patrick Jones II

The defensive end from Chesapeake, Virginia signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers worth $20 million. He had spent the last four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2024, Jones II had 39 combined tackles (20 assisted tackles and 19 solo tackles), seven sacks, nine tackles for a loss, 12 quarterback hits and one forced fumble. The forced fumble came in a 23-17 Vikings win over the San Francisco 49ers on September 15.

Javon Kinlaw

The defensive tackle from Washington, District of Columbia signed a three-year deal worth $45 million with the Washington Commanders. Kinlaw had spent four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers from 2020 to 2023, and one season with the New York Jets in 2024. This past season, he had 40 combined tackles (27 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles), five quarterback hits, five tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for four yards.

Jourdan Lewis

The cornerback from Detroit, Michigan signed a three-year deal worth $30 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lewis has spent the last eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. In 2024, he had 71 combined tackles (39 solo tackles and 32 assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, one interception, eight pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one sack.

The two quarterback hits, interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery and sack all came in Cowboys wins. The fumble recovery was in a 20-17 Cowboys win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 6. The forced fumble was in a 34-26 Commanders win over the Dallas Cowboys on November 24.  The sack and first quarterback hit was in a 30-14 Cowboys win over the Carolina Panthers on December 14. The second quarterback hit and interception was in a 26-24 Cowboys win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 22.

Tre’von Moherig

The safety from Spring Branch, Texas signed a three-year deal worth $51 million with the Carolina Panthers. He has spent the last four seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2024, Moehrig had 104 combined tackles (64 solo tackles and 40 assisted tackles), five tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits, two interceptions for 28 yards, 10 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one sack.

Dayo Odeyingbo

The defensive end from Brooklyn, New York signed a three-year deal worth $48 million with the Chicago Bears. He has played the last four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. In 2024, Odeyingbo had 31 combined tackles (13 solo tackles and 18 assisted tackles), seven tackles for a loss, 17 quarterback hits, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Haason Reddick

The outside linebacker from Camden, New Jersey signed a one-year contract worth $14 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers are Reddick’s fifth NFL team as he has previously played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2017 to 2020), one season with the Carolina Panthers (2021), two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (2022 and 2023), and one season with the New York Jets (2024). In 10 games with the Jets in 2024, Reddick had 14 combined tackles (nine solo tackles and five assisted tackles), two tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits, one sack, one pass deflection and one forced fumble. The forced fumble came in a 32-20 Jets win over the Miami Dolphins on January 5.

D.J. Reed

The cornerback from Bakersfield, California signed a three-year deal worth $48 million with the Detroit Lions. Reed has played two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2018 and 2019), two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (2020 and 2021), and the last three season with the New York Jets (2022 to 2024). In 2024, Reed had 64 combined tackles (52 solo tackles and 12 assisted tackles), four tackles for a loss, one quarterback hit, 11 pass deflections and one sack. The quarterback hit and sack came in a 21-13 Jets win over the Houston Texans on Halloween.

Justin Reid

The safety from Prairieville, Louisiana signed a three-year deal worth $31.5 million with the New Orleans Saints. Reid is joining his third NFL team after four seasons with the Houston Texans from 2018 to 2021, and three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2022 to 2024. It is Kansas City where Reid won two Super Bowls in 2023 and 2024. This past season, Reid had 87 combined tackles (61 solo tackles and 26 assisted tackles), two quarterback hits, five tackles for a loss, two interceptions for eight yards, and nine pass deflections. The interceptions came in a 28-18 Chiefs win over the San Francisco 49ers on October 20, and in a 29-10 Chiefs win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The quarterback hits came in a 16-14 Chiefs win over the Denver Broncos and in a 19-17 Chiefs win over the Las Vegas Raiders on November 29.

Darius Slay Jr.

The cornerback from Brunswick, Georgia signed a one-year contract worth $10 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Slay Jr. is joining his third NFL franchise as he was previously with the Detroit Lions from 2013 to 2019, and the Philadelphia Eagles from 2020 to 2024. A six-time Pro Bowler, Slay Jr. was honoured three straight years by the Lions (2017 to 2019), and three straight years by the Eagles (2021 to 2023). This past season with the Eagles, Slay Jr. won a Super Bowl. In the 2024 regular season, he had 49 combined tackles (39 solo tackles and 10 assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, 13 pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The forced fumble came in a 34-28 Eagles win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil on September 6, and the fumble recovery came in a 27-13 Eagles win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 15.

Robert Spillane

The linebacker from Oak Park Illinois, signed a three-year deal worth $33 million with the New England Patriots. Spillane is joining his fourth NFL team as he was previously with the Tennessee Titans in 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers for four seasons from 2019 to 2022, and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023 and 2024. This past season with the Raiders, Spillane had 158 combined tackles (91 solo tackles and 67 assisted tackles), 10 tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits, two interceptions, seven pass deflections and two sacks.

Brandon Stephens

The defensive back from Plano, Texas signed a three-year deal with the New York Jets worth $36 million. He has played the last four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2024, Stephens had 70 combined tackles (59 solo tackles and 11 assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, 10 pass deflections and one and a half sacks.

Josh Sweat

The linebacker from Chesapeake, Virginia signed a four-year deal worth $76.4 million with the Arizona Cardinals. Sweat has spent the last seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles since 2018, was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021, and won a Super Bowl in 2024. This past season, Sweat had 41 combined tackles (27 solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles). nine tackles for a loss, 15 quarterback hits, eight sacks and two pass deflections. The pass deflections came in a 28-3 Eagles win over the New York Giants on October 20 and in a 28-23 Eagles win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 3.

Charvarius Ward

The cornerback from McComb, Mississippi signed a three year deal worth $60 million with the Indianapolis Colts. Ward has spent four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs where he won a Super Bowl in 2020, and the last three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. In 2023, Ward was selected to the Pro Bowl and led the NFL with 23 pass deflections. In 2024, Ward had 54 combined tackles (38 solo tackles and 16 assisted tackles), one tackle for a loss, and seven pass  deflections.

Tershawn Wharton

The defensive tackle from St. Louis, Missouri signed a three-year deal worth $54 million with the Carolina Panthers. Wharton spent the last five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and played in the Super Bowl for the championship winning Chiefs in 2024. This past season, Wharton had 29 combined tackles (18 solo tackles and 11 assisted tackles), seven tackles for a loss, 11 quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks, two pass deflections and one forced fumble. The two pass deflections came in a 22-17 Chiefs win over the Atlanta Falcons on September 22 and in a 27-20 Chiefs win over the Las Vegas Raiders on October 27. The forced fumble came in a 26-25 Chiefs win over the Cincinnati Bengals on September 15.

Milton Williams

The defensive tackle from Crowley, Texas signed a four-year deal worth $104 million with the New England Patriots. Williams has spent the last four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and won a Super Bowl in 2025. This past season, Williams had 24 combined tackles (11 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles), seven tackles for a loss, 10 quarterback hits, one pass deflection, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

The pass deflection, forced fumble and fumble recovery all came in Eagles wins. The fumble recovery was in a 34-6 Eagles win over the Dallas Cowboys on November 10. The forced fumble was in a 37-20 Eagles win over the Los Angeles Rams on November 24. The pass deflection came in a 27-13 Eagles win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 15.

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