Just how good might the Los Angeles Rams‘ defense be with Myles Garrett now in tow?
When the Rams stunned the NFL world on June 1 by acquiring the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, expectations swelled for an already formidable unit. By adding the record-setting sack king, Los Angeles finally equipped itself with the “closer” it lacked since Aaron Donald’s retirement, with the defense now confidently boasting a force capable of single-handedly derailing an offense in a game’s final, critical moments. And even over the course of an entire game, Garrett creates a far more comfortable landscape for his teammates by boxing in opponents and discouraging them from pursuing certain chances they might otherwise feel comfortable taking.
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With the league’s most disruptive force joining an already imposing group that added cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason, the Rams have all the trappings of an elite defense. But has the group already skyrocketed above the league’s best?
Here are our power rankings of every NFL defense entering the 2026 season:
There shouldn’t be much debate about the Seahawks’ standing after their title run. Not only did Seattle top the league in defensive DVOA, it also set the pace in points per drive (1.48) and yards allowed per carry (3.7). Its most definitive statement, however, came in the Super Bowl 60 dismantling of the Patriots’ second-ranked scoring attack. The rout highlighted Seattle’s proclivity for letting a deep stable of contributors in on the action, a dynamic that helps quell any concern about the minor offseason attrition. The singular success of the “Dark Side” defense has been cemented. Now, how about a sequel?
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There’s a good argument to be made that the Texans own the NFL’s most outright dominant defense. While Houston trailed only Seattle for the league lead at 1.54 points allowed per drive, no other unit was better at forcing three-and-outs (29.4%) or ranked higher in defensive expected points added per play (-0.18), according to Next Gen Stats. The group doesn’t rely on surprises, with coach DeMeco Ryans preferring instead to let the overwhelming pass rush and vise-grip secondary simply overwhelm opponents. With almost all notable contributors back and some additional help (safety Reed Blankenship, second-round defensive tackle Kayden McDonald) joining, Houston looks as intimidating as ever. And barring injury, things might stay this way for quite a while for a group that largely consists of stars in their early-to-mid 20s.
While other defenses have fluctuated, Denver has enjoyed an enviable level of sustained excellence over the last two seasons. Might this be the year that the unit falls off? Even if the Broncos can’t match last year’s league-leading highs of 68 sacks and 4.5 yards allowed per play, the depth and breadth of talent should prevent any skid from becoming too steep.
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4. Los Angeles Rams
The league’s best? Not yet. It’s understandable that some might be prepared to crown what might already be the league’s most robust set of defensive starters after the arrivals of Garrett, McDuffie and Watson. But Los Angeles hasn’t exhibited the same resiliency as the other top-notch outfits, especially as it comes off last season’s late collapse against the pass. Still, it might not be long before it becomes fully clear what the Rams are about to unleash on the rest of the NFL. Garrett gives defensive coordinator Chris Shula a figure who will prompt offenses to collapse into themselves in anticipation of his game-wrecking capabilities, as well as someone who substantially alleviates the ask on the secondary. If the Rams ascend to elite territory, it won’t surprise anyone. For now, though, any such proclamation is premature.
There’s plenty of unrest lingering for the post-A.J. Brown Eagles, but all is well with Vic Fangio. The famed defensive coordinator shrugged off speculation that he might retire and came back for another run with Philadelphia’s stacked roster. Trading for Jonathan Greenard replenished the pass rush, and Riq Woolen could firm up the stubborn second cornerback spot opposite All-Pro Quinyon Mitchell.
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Like Denver, Minnesota earns special consideration for the rare consistency exhibited by Brian Flores and his singularly confounding scheme. While questions remain along the defensive line and secondary, Flores has already demonstrated himself more than capable of navigating shortcomings at either spot, helping the Vikings finish fourth in points per drive (1.7) while shutting down big plays better than anyone else. How third-year edge rusher Dallas Turner handles a much weightier role could significantly shape a critical campaign for Kevin O’Connell and Co.
In his first season as a defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanile put himself on the fast track for head-coaching consideration by engineering one of the league’s most impressive transformations of a unit. Jacksonville jumped from 31st in EPA/play in 2024 to third last fall, according to Next Gen Stats. An aggressive approach facilitated the rapid rise, with the Jaguars ranking second in takeaways (31). Even if that big-play production trails off, Jacksonville can compensate for any hit by picking up its sack production, where it looks due for a jump after tallying just 32 last year.
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New defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary will be keeping the framework that Jesse Minter established for the Bolts – and with good reason. Under Minter, the Chargers became one of the NFL’s stingiest and most disciplined defenses, seldom giving up anything easy. O’Leary, Minter’s longtime mentee, can carry out the existing vision, thanks in large part to a roster that presents few deficiencies. Some slippage is possible in the transition, but don’t expect a precipitous fall.
Here’s a major vote of confidence for Minter. The first-year head coach was the catalyst for the Chargers’ sharp defensive turnaround, and he has all the necessary elements in place for an encore effort in Baltimore. Hardly lacking for talent, the Ravens last year were doomed by a toothless pass rush and repeated missed tackles. The expected return of Nnamdi Madubuike and addition of Trey Hendrickson provide hope on the former front, while Minter’s insistence on precision and cohesion could solve the latter issue. Several veterans, including linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, have to bounce back from subpar seasons in order for Baltimore to unearth any sense of consistency. Still, this might be the leading candidate for the league’s most improved unit.
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Unable to leave its snakebitten ways in 2024, Detroit once again saw mounting defensive injuries derail any hopes of competing down the stretch. With several additions made to the secondary, the Lions should be better able to withstand another calamitous run of personnel losses on the back end. And if defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard‘s crew manages to stay relatively healthy, a breakout could be ahead.
The NFL’s highest-paid defense hasn’t yielded a sufficient return on investment to date. Perhaps new coordinator Patrick Graham can bring about a bull market and invigorate the group with a shift away from a stale scheme. With key additions in the secondary, this shapes up as one of the league’s most well-rounded units.
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In making two of the splashiest defensive signings of the offseason in edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd, general manager Dan Morgan made clear that status quo wouldn’t suffice for the newly minted NFC South champions. Carolina’s defense might appear a long way off from joining the league’s elite after ranking 23rd in EPA per play. Still, a significant leap could be in store for a promising collection of players. Phillips and Lloyd could immediately transform a pass rush that posted the league’s last-place pressure rate (26.2%), allowing coordinator Ejiro Evero – one of the NFL’s most highly regarded defensive minds – an unfamiliar degree of flexibility in countering opposing offenses.
13. New England Patriots
Last year’s fourth-ranked scoring defense was somewhat of an illusion, with a favorable schedule repeatedly serving up bottom-tier or backup quarterbacks. But New England also was forced to figure things out on the fly when Zak Kuhr had to take on play-calling duties in Week 2 when coordinator Terrell Williams took a leave of absence after his prostate cancer diagnosis. Elevated to the full-time role, Kuhr and the defense might be more settled this time around. It remains to be seen, however, if New England can dial back on the all-out blitzing, which became a late-season necessity as the edge rush evaporated. The bottom-line production might indicate a step back for the unit, but the Patriots could end up in a more tenable spot by the end of the season.
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Brandon Staley’s group is unquestionably greater than the sum of its parts. Despite lacking the brand recognition of other units, New Orleans finished last season ranked sixth in yards allowed per play (4.8). An uneven pass rush and the needed youth movement, particularly in the secondary, could impede progress in 2026. But a forgiving schedule and solid existing foundation should help engender further growth.
If Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward Sr. can stay on the field, the talented cornerback tandem opens a bevy of possibilities for vexing coordinator Lou Anarumo to throw opposing offenses off balance. Any disturbance in Indianapolis’ man coverage efforts, however, could prove costly. An edge rush that lacks any complementary threat to Laiatu Latu places a heavy burden on Anarumo and the secondary to set the tone, though getting defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back from a herniated disc should provide some relief.
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Retaining Jeff Ulbrich was a clear win for new coach Kevin Stefanski after the coordinator coaxed a franchise-record 57 sacks out of a so-so front seven. But with James Pearce Jr. potentially facing a suspension and Atlanta last year ranking second in blitz rate to generate sufficient heat, replicating the results could prove difficult. More substantial roles for the likes of Jalon Walker and Divine Deablo could help the Falcons take the next step, but the path forward for this unit isn’t as clear it is for others.
After merely scraping by on defense toward the tail end of Sean McDermott’s tenure, Buffalo made a full departure on that side of the ball with the hire of coordinator Jim Leonhard. More changes rolled through later in the offseason, with three potential starters signing in free agency. The new system could allow many of the Bills’ standouts to play faster and with more flexibility, but any shift won’t amount to much if a run defense that ranked 30th in yards allowed per carry (5.1) doesn’t tighten up. Buffalo still looks vulnerable at the second level, which could force fourth-round rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr into a more significant role than many might expect.
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After acquiring Micah Parsons, the Packers opened the season looking as though their defense might lay waste to the rest of the league. By the end of the year, though, it was Green Bay that had been wrecked, most notably by injuries to season-ending injuries to Parsons and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt. With the former acknowledging that the organization’s nine-month timetable for anterior cruciate ligament tear recoveries will sideline him until October, the Packers could open the fresh campaign in a precarious place. But perhaps Parsons’ eventual return will enable the team to flip its 2025 trajectory.
Trading away McDuffie underscored general manager Brett Veach’s confidence in Steve Spagnuolo. The defensive coordinator has repeatedly covered for the loss of standout cornerbacks by bringing along a new class of cover men, and he’ll be asked to do so again as No. 6 overall pick Mansoor Delane and 2025 third-rounder Nohl Williams take over in Kansas City‘s reconfigured back end. A flagging pass rush is also looking to first-round defensive tackle Peter Woods and second-round edge rusher R Mason Thomas to chart a necessary new course. Maybe the defense-heavy draft class eventually helps usher in a new era, but the reliance on the youngsters could lead to some early discomfort.
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A sizable leap of faith is required to envision a group that surrendered more points per game (30.1) than any other unit could approach the middle of the pack. Yet Dallas‘ incessant breakdowns on the back end – including a league-worst 14 completions of 40-plus yards – were largely a product of miscommunication and schematic misalignment. Even as a first-time coordinator, Christian Parker could make a massive difference by keeping the secondary on point and catering his malleable approach to Dallas’ personnel. An even higher ascent is possible, though pushing forward the edge rush and maintaining health among an unsteady collection of cornerbacks are both necessary steps.
Things look mostly solid for Tampa Bay, which addressed its glaring concern of subpar second-level athleticism by bringing linebacker Alex Anzalone aboard. But it won’t take much to send Todd Bowles’ group to another disappointing finish. Losing Jamel Dean reduces the secondary’s margin for error greatly, with neither Zyon McCollum nor Benjamin Morrison having proven sufficiently reliable at cornerback. If rookie Rueben Bain Jr. can’t propel the pass rush, things could come unglued for a collection of players that repeatedly lost their composure in the red zone, finishing with a league-worst conversion allowed rate of nearly 70%.
Even if Garrett had remained, Cleveland looked due for a regression as it navigated the loss of coordinator Jim Schwartz. Without its cornerstone, the Browns now no longer have a clear floor. Jared Verse‘s penchant for creating pressure shouldn’t be overlooked, but he’s nowhere near as efficient as Garrett in generating quick pressures or finishing plays in the backfield. That swap is bound to have a compounding effect on the rest of a unit that, while still promising in spots, can’t operate with the same level of comfort as when it could count on the two-time Defensive Player of the Year to set the tone for everyone.
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More: Jared Verse gives candid reaction to Browns trade: ‘It was upsetting’
It’s almost impossible to judge the 49ers off a year in which they lost edge rushers Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams and perennial All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner in the early going. Yet even a full return to health doesn’t set everything straight for San Francisco. Raheem Morris, the team’s fifth coordinator in as many years, will have to revitalize a defense that no longer meets its previous lofty standards. Getting Bosa and Williams back should prove meaningful in resuscitating what was easily the league’s most lackluster pass rush, but the addition of disruptive defensive tackle Osa Odihizuwa indicated that general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan understood external help was required to jolt the front.
The dissolution of the Maxx Crosby trade prevented the Silver and Black’s defense from bottoming out – and potentially provided the always revved-up edge rusher with additional motivation. With several signings – led by linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, edge rusher Kwity Paye and nickel Taron Johnson – addressing problem areas, Las Vegas should be at least functional in more areas than not. But the Raiders still lack the proper pieces, particularly up front – to rise much higher than a league-average outfit.
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How bad were things for Cincinnati’s defense on the whole in 2025? Even with a late-season surge, the unit surrendered a league-worst 6.2 yards per play. A front office long set in its ways broke from precedent with the seismic trade for Dexter Lawrence. The three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle could be a gravitational force, grounding a front that hasn’t posed much of a threat on the interior for some time. With Bryan Cook bolstering a promising secondary and Boye Mafe diversifying the post-Hendrickson pass rush, Cincinnati could make significant strides in Year 2 under Al Golden. To do so, however, linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter must prove much more instinctive and reliable at the second level after dreadful rookie debuts.
After a one-year stint back at the coordinator level, Robert Saleh returned to the head-coaching ranks to take on a different challenge than the one he faced last season with the 49ers. General manager Mike Borgonzi quickly went to work reshaping a talent-starved defense to Saleh’s proclivities. The result: Tennessee added rangy playmakers at almost every level, most notably on the edge and at cornerback. The Titans seem somewhat stuck partway through the process of an extensive build, but a group that remains under construction could at least serve as proof of concept for Saleh’s vision.
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An NFL-best 33 takeaways were the saving grace for a Bears defense that otherwise infrequently found ways to stand up to opposing offenses. A regression to the mean is to be expected, and the fallout could be ugly for Chicago. A pass rush that ranked 27th in pressure rate and had the worst average time to pressure (2.9 seconds), according to Next Gen Stats, went largely untouched, leaving the line’s hopes in the hands of Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker. Even if new safeties Coby Bryant and rookie Dillon Thieneman prove more dynamic than their predecessors, this shapes up as a team likely to get repeatedly ensnared in shootouts.
There’s an undeniably alluring upside to a collection of talent led by its deep stable of disruptors, led by Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Yet there only might be so many dropbacks required to take advantage of a defense that dealt away Lawrence after giving up a league-worst 5.3 yards per carry. The post-draft signing of DJ Reader should provide some assistance in commanding the line of scrimmage after leading the NFL with a 71.7% double-team rate, according to ESPN, but free-agent signing Tremaine Edmunds and No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese might have to provide the finishing touch to stop opposing ground games. With the secondary still on shaky ground, it might be another year before this group finds its footing.
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29. Washington Commanders
Between Daronte Jones and Sonny Styles, the Commanders are pinning a lot on a pair of first-timers. The latter is tasked with rejuvenating a defense that was one of the NFL’s most easily gashed groups, giving up more total yards (384 per game) than anyone else while ranking 30th in yards allowed per play (6). The latter might be the most vital offseason addition for a unit that will hang its hat on versatility, as the No. 7 overall pick will shoulder a heavy load and potentially wear the green dot right away. Though the hyperathletic linebacker has proven capable of handling any assignment thrown at him, he’ll still need significant assistance from edge-rushing additions Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson. Improvement is within reach, but it could take a good deal of time before results materialize.
A series of short-term health setbacks denied Arizona’s defense any chance at coming together in 2025. With better fortune on that front and new coach Mike LaFleur retaining defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, perhaps some semblance of continuity will emerge in the fall. Still, the Cardinals didn’t bring aboard any true difference-makers in free agency before ignoring that side of the ball through the first two days of the draft. This is a franchise stuck in a holding pattern, and its defense looks likely to remain in limbo.
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Having sold off Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at midseason, Gang Green spent its offseason shooting for the middle – and it still might have come up short. Though veteran additions Demario Davis and Minkah Fitzpatrick could help fill the leadership void, each can only do so much to assist a widely deficient group. The pass rush’s well-being hinges on No. 2 overall pick David Bailey’s acclimation to the pro game – an unquestionably rough proposition for a still-suspect secondary that set a record by failing to get its hands on an interception in 2025. Perhaps the most worrisome development, however, is head coach Aaron Glenn adding to his plate with play-calling duties, calling the responsibility his “superpower.” Given how his first year at the helm went, it probably would have been a good idea for him to learn how to walk before attempting to fly.
Buckle up, Jeff Hafley. Outside of Jordyn Brooks, Chop Robinson and Zach Sieler, the first-year Dolphins coach has been saddled with a defensive depth chart riddled with also-rans and draft picks from the past two classes. With Miami having embraced a teardown, there should be ample opportunity for the young players to learn on the job. But there will probably be plenty of pain along the way.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL defenses ranked from best to worst: Can Rams catch Seahawks?
