To finish up the series, it is time to review the top 5 defensive linemen under 25 in fantasy football. You can catch up and view the top 5 linebackers under 25 or the top 5 defensive backs under 25 by following the links.

Unlike the other positions, there is no clear standout difference maker. These players fall into two tiers. The players ranked 1-3 are the elite tier under 25, and it is just a preference for younger players versus tread on the tires. And then the next tier is the players ranked 4th and 5th.

These players are ranked based on FantasyPros IDP scoring. Check your league scoring, as if it values sacks a lot more, say 6.0 points per sack, then someone like Brian Burns should shoot straight to the top of the board.

Without further ado, here are the top 5 ranked defensive linemen under 25 for 2023.

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5. Jaelan Phillips (LB – MIA): Age 23

Phillips was a bit of a slow burn when he entered the league. However, the former first-round pick has finally found his feet and is producing consistent numbers. Whilst Phillips only had 7.0 sacks last year (down from 8.5 in 2021), he is getting more pressures and hits on the QB. His tackle numbers have also improved significantly.

Even though Phillips will struggle to threaten those who are currently holding the DL1 slots in fantasy football, he is a solid mid-level DL2, with some upside. There were several red flags about his durability during the draft process. However, he has been available every week of his career so far for his first two years and Phillips will continue to improve. The leaders in the position use their experience to get their production numbers up.

Phillips is a nice hold or even a potential buy low. However, given that there aren’t too many difference makers at the DL position, don’t overpay for Phillips.

4. Kwity Paye (DE – IND): Age 24

Like Phillips, Paye was a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Paye was selected just three picks after Phillips in that draft. However, I have Paye ahead in my rankings here, although just fractionally. Paye hasn’t quite matched the production of Phillips, but he has also played fewer games due to injury.

On a per-game basis, Paye averaged slightly more sacks and tackles, as well as more tackles for loss, despite playing five fewer games than Phillips.

Paye is explosive and always seems to make plays. If he remains healthy, he will be a safe DL2 with a safe floor. However, his playmaker ability means he will have DL1 weeks as an upside, and a slightly safer floor than Phillips.

3. Brian Burns (DE – CAR): 24

We are now at the point of the article where some nuance is required and that nuance is your league scoring. Should your league scoring reward Sacks and QB hits more than the standard FantasyPros IDP scoring, then you need to vault Burns up to number one on this list. However, as the scoring stands, and with the potential of the other two ahead of him, I have to put Burns in here at number three.

While he is coming off his best season yet, and his second Pro Bowl selection in a row, I believe what we saw from Brian Burns in 2022 will be his peak. In 2023, he will be in line for some regression in his sack and tackle numbers. Not a lot, but enough to move him from mid-DL1 to the fringes of the DL1 conversation.

Burns is an incredible athlete and the former first-round pick has been incredibly good on what has been an average Carolina defensive line over the past four years. However, he is now onto his third coaching staff overhaul in five years and his fourth head coach. That isn’t easy for a player, especially on the defensive line. It’s even harder for the playmaker on the line, who will either have a scheme or role change, based on the preference of new Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Burns will still be a top-15 DL in 2023, however, if you are looking for the ceiling play, one of the two other guys ahead of Burns on this list could leap ahead of him in 2023.

2. Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE – NYG): Age 22

The fifth overall pick from last year’s NFL Draft is someone that should be on your radar when looking at young defensive linemen. While his stats from last season don’t jump off the page as impressive, with just four sacks and six tackles for loss in 14 games, there is a lot of safety and appeal in his tackle numbers.

Since his sack, tackle for loss, and QB hit numbers have nowhere to go but up, I see far more upside in Thibodeaux in potentially reaching the top-6 at the position. However, his range of outcomes in 2023 is anywhere from DL5 – DL24. As the position doesn’t have many game-changers, it is better to gamble on the potential of Thibodeaux, than the safety of Burns. He will only get better as he gains experience and he has time on his side to improve.

There is a reason Thibodeaux was a top-five pick and we will certainly see more of him and his potential in 2023.

1. Aidan Hutchinson (DE – DET): Age 22

Atop of the defensive lineman under 25 list is the second overall pick from last year. Hutchinson was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year last year and finished his rookie year with 9.5 sacks, 52 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits. Despite finishing as the DL20 last year, he was only 9.8 points behind the DL12 in 2022.

Like Thibodeaux, the sky is the limit for Hutchinson and his numbers are likely to only go up in 2023 and beyond. He also finished the season very strong, breaking the 9.0-point barrier six times in the final nine weeks of the season, peaking with a 17-point Week 17 and an 18.3-point Week 18.

In the final nine weeks of the season, Hutchinson was the DL10. This shows he has the upside to improve. I expect Hutchinson to break into the top-6 defensive linemen in 2023. He will be hard to buy low. However, if you can convince someone to part with Hutchinson, then he could be worth acquiring. However, don’t break the bank, as the gap between him and the other two players in the tier is not worth paying a premium for.

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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @Murf_NFL.