Defensive players set to make a leap in 2025

About this episode

<p>Whenever a player makes a leap—whether that's bad to average, average to good, good to great, or great to elite—it can change his team. Just think of guys like Zack Baun and Derek Stingley last season. Who might make a leap this year akin to what those two did in 2024? Derrik Klassen and Diante Lee from The Ringer highlight their top defensive breakout players on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p><strong>Rundown</strong></p><p>Daiyan Henley</p><p>Edgerrin Cooper</p><p>Nate Wiggins</p><p>Laiatu Latu</p><p>Kobie Turner</p><p>Brian Branch</p><p>Will Anderson</p><p>Cooper DeJean</p><p>Honorable mention</p><br><p>Hosts: Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen</p><p>With: Diante Lee</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show...</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-athletic-football-show-a-show-about-the-nfl/id1528622068" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠Apple⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://spoti.fi/3waggUU" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠Spotify⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gWjMSDj7-8j3iCc2ZGo3g" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠YouTube⁠</a></p><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Diante on Bluesky: @diantelee.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @robertmays</p><p>Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass</p><p>Follow Diante on X: @DianteLeeFB</p><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>