Myles Garrett ranks as the best defensive player in the NFL ahead of the 2026 season.
Garrett won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2025, his second win in three years. In 2024, Garrett finished third in voting behind Patrick Surtain and Trey Hendrickson.
Surtain places second in my defensive player rankings. After earning DPOY honors in 2024, Surtain fell to 20th in PFF’s coverage grades amongst cornerbacks.
Still, the ceiling potential exists on a player that ranked fourth or higher in coverage twice since 2022.
Of my top-10 defensive players, five edge rushers fill the list with four secondary players and one linebacker.
Ranking the Best Defensive Players in the NFL
| Player | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Myles Garrett | Los Angeles Rams | Defensive End |
| Patrick Surtain II | Denver Broncos | Cornerback |
| Micah Parsons | Green Bay Packers | Defensive End |
| Maxx Crosby | Las Vegas Raiders | Defensive End |
| Fred Warner | San Francisco 49ers | Linebacker |
| Will Anderson Jr. | Houston Texans | Defensive End |
| Christian Gonzalez | New England Patriots | Cornerback |
| Jeffrey Simmons | Tennessee Titans | Defensive Tackle |
| Aidan Hutchinson | Detroit Lions | Defensive End |
| Kyle Hamilton | Baltimore Ravens | Safety |
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