4. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks should still have a top defense in the 2026 season despite losing Boye Mafe, Riq Woolen, and Coby Bryant in free agency. With how deep this unit was and still is, coupled with the defensive genius of Mike Macdonald, there really shouldn't be any issues for Seattle.
The one thing Seattle seemed to do better than any team in the league last year is fine quality depth along the front seven - it starts and ends in the trenches, so the front office being able to stack the defensive line with notable talent, even if it wasn't high-end, still paid off when February rolled around.
This is absolutely a team that could repeat in 2026.
3. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos did lose two part-time defensive players in the offseason in Greenlaw and John Franklin-Myers. The Broncos cut Greenlaw after just one season and lost Franklin-Myers in free agency to the Tennessee Titans. With that said, the Broncos are a lot like the Seahawks in that they have a ton of competent bodies along the defensive line.
But where Denver has a slight advantage over Seattle is in the secondary. The cornerback room might just be the best in the NFL, and it's highlighted by the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year in Patrick Surtain II.
Denver does also have Zach Allen, an All-Pro defensive end who has led the NFL in quarterback hits in each of the last two seasons. Despite being a bit weak at inside linebacker, which has been the case in 2024 and 2025, the Broncos have ranked 3rd in each of the last two years in points allowed per game.
2. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans managed to make their already elite defense better in the offseason by signing Reed Blankenship, Jadeveon Clowney, and drafting Kayden McDonald. Houston's stifling secondary and intense pass rush create one of the more violent units in the NFL.
This was an area where head coach DeMeco Ryans enacted immediate change, and with the main contributors all coming back, there is no reason why this unit can't be great in 2026.
1. Los Angeles Rams
I don't believe it's a 'homer' take to say that the Rams have the best defense in the NFL. The one weakness was in the secondary, and all the Rams did there was acquire a pair of teammates in Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who were both with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Rams also added Myles Garrett to the defensive line in what felt like the move of the offseason, and even before Garrett's arrival, Los Angeles' defensive line was absolutely a top-5 unit in the league. And with Donald now back in the mix, there really isn't a spot where the Rams lack talent.
This is an insanely deep, talented group surely ready to take the league over in 2026.
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