An early-down run-plugger, D.J. Jones started all 17 games and has been a staple on the Broncos defensive line the last three seasons. Jones only averaged 25.4 snaps per game, his fewest since 2018 (his second NFL season with the 49ers), as Denver cut down on his pass rushing snaps. At this point, Jones doesn’t really offer pass-rushing value, with just 12 sacks in eight seasons (including one in 2024). However, his 18.6% tackle rate on run plays ranked fifth among 96 defensive tackles to play at least 200 snaps against the run. It was the highest rate of Jones’ career, illustrating how he didn’t really slow down in his age-29 seasons. Jones turned 30 in January but has a record of durability and a well-defined role that should earn him another contract.
The undersized Poona Ford continued to churn away for his third team in as many seasons. Ford averaged 33.5 snaps per game for the Chargers in 2024, nearly doubling his average with the Bills in 2023 (18.4). He also tied his career-high with three sacks. Ford wasn’t a particularly efficient pass rusher, with a 7.0% pressure rate (which is also his career average since PFF began tracking pressures in 2019). He did create disruptiveness with career-highs in tackles for loss (eight) and batted passes (three). The former undrafted free agent turns 30 next November and will likely be part of another defensive line rotation in 2025.
The former second-round pick played a career-high 594 snaps in 2024 thanks to a litany of injuries on the Lions’ defensive line. However, Levi Onwuzurike recorded only 1.5 sacks, which was actually a career-high (he has 3.5 sacks in four seasons, though he did miss all of 2022 with a back injury). Onwuzurike entered the league as a defensive tackle, which is primarily where he played from 2021-23. However, with Detroit badly in need of edge depth, he played 63% of his snaps as an edge rusher in 2024. He had only played 21% of his snaps on the edge from 2021-23. At only 27 years old in March, Onwuzurike’s pedigree will likely earn him another shot.
The long-time rotational pass-rushing defensive tackle had his second straight season with five sacks for the Raiders. Adam Butler saw the largest role of his eight-year career in 2024 thanks to mega-free agent signing Christian Wilkins playing only five games with a foot injury. After never averaging more than 34 snaps per game, Butler averaged 47.6 snaps per game in 2024. He did make strides in run defense, which has generally been a weak spot for the undersized defensive tackle. Butler made a tackle on 15.9% of his run defense snaps, his highest rate in five seasons in which he’s played at least 100 snaps against the run.
Milton Williams recorded five sacks in 2024 after having 6.5 sacks in his first three seasons combined. Williams never averaged 30 or more snaps per game in four seasons with the Eagles as he was stuck behind a pair of first-round defensive tackles in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. However, Williams proved extremely effective in a rotational pass-rushing role in 2024. He generated a 14.2% pressure rate over 282 pass-rushing snaps. That ranked fourth among 101 defensive tackles with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps this past season.
Osa Odighizuwa had a career-high 4.5 sacks in 2024 as he started all 17 games for the third consecutive season. Odighizuwa also averaged a career-high 48 snaps per game after averaging almost exactly 35 snaps each of his first three seasons with the Cowboys. Odighizuwa is a pass-rushing defensive tackle, as he’s listed at 280 pounds and only made a tackle on 11.2% of his run defense snaps in 2024. However, he recorded a 12.3% pressure rate, sixth-best out of 50 defensive tackles with at least 200 pass-rushing snaps. He was even better in 2023 with a 13.2% pressure rate. Odighizuwa turns 27 in August and could be looking at a multi-year deal given his pass-rushing value and durability.
After an uneven 2023 season split between the Chargers and 49ers, Sebastian Joseph-Day played all 17 games in 2024 for the Titans, starting 12 of them. However, Joseph-Day averaged 27.1 snaps per game, his fewest since 2020 (his second season as a member of the Rams). Joseph-Day isn’t much of a pass rusher, as he’s never had more than three sacks in a season or cracked an 8% pressure rate. An impactful run defender earlier in his career, Joseph-Day has regressed a little in this area too, though he’s still useful enough to contribute in a rotation. In 2024, Joseph-Day recorded a tackle on 16.1% of his rush snaps, which ranked 12th among 51 defensive linemen with at least 250 snaps against the run.
Dec 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill (92) reacts after a play against the Denver Broncos in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The ancient Calais Campbell turned 38 in September but remained an effective player in his 17th season. Campbell started all 17 games for the Dolphins and recorded 5.0 sacks. His 10.3% pressure rate was virtually identical to the 10.8% rate he recorded with the Falcons in 2023. Beyond the pass rush, Campbell remained an effective player on early downs. He recorded a tackle on 21.7% of his run-defense snaps. That was the highest rate of any defensive lineman to play at least 100 snaps against the run in 2024. Campbell has talked about considering retirement in past seasons, and there’s no word yet on if he plans to play an 18th season in 2025. Last year, he didn’t sign with the Dolphins until June 18.
Primarily a run-stuffer, Teair Tart only has 3.5 sacks in five seasons. However, he demonstrated early-down value with the Chargers in 2024, recording a tackle on a career-high 17.7% of his run snaps. For context, that ranked 11th out of 109 defensive tackles with at least 100 snaps against the run. He also had five tackles for loss, with four of them coming in the run game. Tart turns 28 at the end of February but has played on three consecutive one-year deals. His lack of pass-rushing value could consign him to a similar fate this offseason, but his age and proven early-down value make him a fairly safe bet to contribute to a defensive line rotation next season.
