Rookie seasons are hard, but year two is usually the sweet spot. The fog lifts, confidence grows, and talent starts to shine. Across the league, a group of second-year defenders looks determined to take that next step and get serious attention in 2025. These are the 15 guys worth keeping an eye on. Credit: Instagram Opposing quarterbacks started avoiding Mitchell by midseason. He gave up only 0.8 yards per coverage snap, which is 10th-best among all starting corners, not just rookies. His technique tightened as the year passed, and the Eagles began trusting him in press coverage. Credit: Instagram After Jaelan Phillips' injury, Robinson moved into a full-time role and finished with a 17.2% pressure rate, the fifth-best in the league. His six sacks don't tell the whole story. If he adds inside rush moves, the sack numbers will catch up fast. Credit: Instagram Lassiter didn't flinch even after he was thrown into a starting spot next to Derek Stingley Jr. His 45.6% completion rate when targeted was well below expected. His coverage was a big reason Houston's defense stayed aggressive on the back end. Credit: Instagram Verse made life uncomfortable for offensive tackles. Veteran Terron Armstead even said he's happy to never face him again. Though he only had 4.5 sacks, his 16.8% pressure rate and high-impact run defense stood out. Fans can expect more consistent finishing this year as his handwork improves. Credit: Instagram It all clicked for Cooper late in the season. He led all off-ball linebackers with 13 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during his rookie season. With a bigger role in 2025, he's in line for a major statistical jump if he stays healthy. Credit: Instagram Bullock recorded five interceptions as a rookie and left a few more on the table. He topped out at 21.58 mph on a chase-down tackle, which is faster than most corners. Houston trusted him to patrol deep space alone, and his instincts didn't disappoint. Credit: Instagram Denver didn't give him much time on the field, but Kris still made the most of it. In just over 10% of the team's defensive snaps, he recorded an interception, two pass breakups, and nine tackles. He could become a key piece in a secondary school that is still sorting out its lineup. Credit: Instagram Murphy's rookie year included flashes of the disruptive tackle he was at Texas. Injuries limited his explosiveness, and he played multiple spots across the line. Still, he showed an 8.6% pressure rate, solid for a first-year interior lineman. A full offseason of strength building should make him more consistent. Credit: Instagram DeJean excelled when he took over slot duties in a complex defense. His anticipation in the zone and quick decision-making made him one of the most reliable nickels in the game. By season's end, he was making pre-snap checks and adjusting coverages like a veteran. Credit: Instagram Sweat played 699 snaps last season, which is quite surprising for a 366-pound nose tackle. His 6.9% pressure rate wasn't elite, but his ability to anchor double-teams and disrupt short-yardage plays was hard to miss. Tennessee relies on him to clean up blocking math on early downs. Credit: Instagram Despite some rotation late in the year, Wiggins led all rookies in target EPA. His speed and length helped him break up passes and stick with receivers deep. Penalties were an issue, but the physical tools are already ahead of schedule. With a full-time CB1 role this year, he'll face tougher matchups. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Sainristil had to play outside early, where his lack of length was exposed against big receivers. Now he's moving inside, where his quickness and ball skills fit better. He still gave up six touchdowns in coverage, but he also deflected 14 passes. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Tarheeb Still bounced between nickel and outside roles depending on injuries around him, but his instincts were steady. He came up with four interceptions. The Chargers liked his ability to read the quarterback's eyes and time his breaks. They'll continue moving him around, and he's already comfortable doing both. Credit: Instagram Williams started slowly after a shoulder injury delayed his rookie debut. Once healthy, he proved useful in multiple coverages and played key roles in sub-packages. The coaching staff trusted him on zone blitzes and finished the 2024 season with 49 tackles. Credit: Instagram Brownlee was meant to be depth, but injuries gave him a shot. He didn't waste it. His nine penalties were high, but his run support and physical press style made offenses uncomfortable. He was second among all corners in run-stopping EPA.
