Kicking off a new series, we’ll be taking a look at spending rankings for every NFL position by team for the 2025 season. Dead cap hits from players who are no longer on the team do not count towards their positional spending, so Russell Wilson will not show up for the Broncos’ quarterback room despite carrying a dead cap hit of $32,000,000 for the year.

We’ve already covered each offensive position, the offense as a whole and every defensive position. Edge rushers and corners typically cost the most, but some teams prioritize the interior defensive line and safeties. Here’s a look at the most expensive defenses in the league of players currently on the roster.

• Cap information compiled via Over The Cap
• PFF grades for the entire unit from 2024

1 – Steelers: $178,904,919

• Percentage of total cap: 63.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 12.9
• Edge rusher: 19.8 percent
• Linebacker: 10.8 percent
• Safety: 12.9 percent
• Cornerback: 7.6 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE T.J. Watt, $30,418,694
• PFF grade: 77.8 (4th)

2 – Giants: $150,963,580

• Percentage of total cap: 54.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 14.5
• Edge rusher: 15.4 percent
• Linebacker: 8.3 percent
• Safety: 6.2 percent
• Cornerback: 9.6 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Dexter Lawrence, $23,664,012
• PFF grade: 66.9 (20th)

3 – Colts: $144,375,895

• Percentage of total cap: 51.7 percent
• Interior defensive line: 16.1 percent
• Edge rusher: 13.8 percent
• Linebacker: 5.5 percent
• Safety: 5.4 percent
• Cornerback: 10.9 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL DeForest Buckner, $26,600,000
• PFF grade: 74.2 (9th)

4 – Bears: $144,096,835

• Percentage of total cap: 51.6 percent
• Interior defensive line: 6.8 percent
• Edge rusher: 14.3 percent
• Linebacker: 10.7 percent
• Safety: 6.9 percent
• Cornerback: 12.9 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Montez Sweat, $25,085,494
• PFF grade: 70.9 (11th)

5 – Patriots: $136,947,196

• Percentage of total cap: 49.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 12.2 percent
• Edge rusher: 8.4 percent
• Linebacker: 8.7 percent
• Safety: 11.2 percent
• Cornerback: 8.5 percent
• Top cap hit: S Kyle Dugger, $15,264,706
• PFF grade: 64.4 (24th)

6 – Texans: $136,249,076

• Percentage of total cap: 48.8 percent
• Interior defensive line: 6.5 percent
• Edge rusher: 17.4 percent
• Linebacker: 7.3 percent
• Safety: 7.3 percent
• Cornerback: 10.3 percent
• Top cap hit: EDGE Danielle Hunter, $20,200,000
• PFF grade: 74.8 (7th)

7 – Commanders: $135,199,729

• Percentage of total cap: 48.4 percent
• Interior defensive line: 14.2 percent
• Edge rusher: 11.9 percent
• Linebacker: 5.2 percent
• Safety: 5.9 percent
• Cornerback: 11.2 percent
• Top cap hit: IDL Daron Payne, $26,170,000
• PFF grade: 54.5 (31st)

8 – Jaguars: $134,383,419

• Percentage of total cap: 48.1 percent
• Interior defensive line: 6.6 percent
• Edge rusher: 16.00 percent
• Linebacker: 7.3 percent
• Safety: 6.5 percent
• Cornerback: 11.7...