Who has the best defense in the NFL? Is it the Seattle Seahawks? In the era of fantasy football, this question can become confused.
The best defense may not be the best fantasy defense. Fantasy values sacks and turnovers, which clearly are vital components of a great defense. But in the real world, the best defense keeps the other team from scoring. By that metric, the Seahawks were the best in the league in 2025.
Other rankings may have Houston, and I have no real objection to that. Houston fields a devastating defense. As for the other usual suspects, Denver is clearly very good, but I think their aggressive – and effective – pass rush may earn them a little extra praise. And the rebuilt Rams with Pro Bowlers all over the place? Let’s see them do it on the field before we anoint them.
The Seattle Seahawks defense, graded group by group
Until further notice, the best defense in the NFL resides in either Seattle or Houston. With the Seahawks, it is not hard to see why. They have elite defensive minds running the show, led by head coach Mike Macdonald and ably supported by assistant head coach Leslie Frazier and defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
They also have a roster without any weak links. That roster often runs several players deep, which guards against the inevitable injuries that will come during a season. Today, we’ll grade each of those defensive position groups.
Defensive line
Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, Rylie Mills, Brandon Pili, Mike Morris
Maybe there is a better defensive line in football, but I’m not seeing one. Leonard Williams remains an All-Pro dynamo at 32. Next to him, Byron Murphy is a superstar in the making. His leverage at the point of attack is as good as you will ever see from an interior lineman. Jarran Reed provides veteran support while Rylie Mills offers youthful explosiveness. Pili and Morris can step in when necessary.
Could they be better? Sure. And both Williams and Reed will inevitably slow down at some point. But for now, this is the anchor of the best defense in the NFL.
GRADE: A
Edge rusher
DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall, Dante Fowler Jr.
Lawrence was a stud last year. His arrival turned a solid unit into a dominant one. Boye Mafe, whose lack of sacks led many to undervalue him, is gone, and veteran Dante Fowler is a short-term replacement. But it is Derick Hall who looks to be the breakout star on this unit. He figures to have a huge year.
There is some concern that older players like Lawrence, Fowler, and Nwosu could fall off. Aside from Hall, Seattle has not identified their next star edge rusher. I don’t think that will be an issue this season, but it has to be in the back of John Schneider and Mike Macdonald’s minds. I expect they will address it in next year’s draft.
GRADE: A-
Linebacker
Ernest Jones IV, Drake Thomas, Tyrice Knight, Patrick O’Connell
Jones is coming off his first Pro Bowl. Knight is a starter on most teams in the league, but Thomas played so well last season that Knight remains a backup. Like the rest of the defense, these guys are fast and aggressive.
Jones has also emerged as a clear team leader. His arrival midway through the 2024 season marks the moment this defense began its climb toward greatness.
GRADE: A-
Cornerback
Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, Trevon Diggs, Julian Neal, Nehemiah Pritchett, Nick Emmanwori*
The asterisk by Emmanwori is simply an acknowledgement that he cannot be confined to one position group. He arrived as a safety but has lined up as a nickel cornerback more than a traditional safety so far.
Regardless of how you designate Emmanwori, cornerback is a position where the Seahawks are very good, but could be better. Witherspoon is clearly among the best in the league, and Jobe is a reliable CB2.
But on the perimeter, after the starters, there is cause for concern. The recently signed Diggs could provide solid support if he can stay healthy, but he hasn't been able to do that in some time.
Will Julian Neal get up to speed in his rookie season? Does Nehemiah Pritchett have another level? If you want to understand why John Schneider has been all over the Terrion Arnold situation, all you have to do is look at the depth of the perimeter corners.
GRADE: B+
Safety
Julian Love, Ty Okada, Bud Clark, AJ Finley
You can include Emmanwori in this group if you want. If he played a traditional strong safety, he would be a perennial Pro Bowler, and alongside Love, the Seahawks would have the best safety tandem in the league – or at least even with the pair in Detroit.
Even without Emmanwori, things look pretty good. Love was injured much of last year, and I think the league may have forgotten how good he is. He should remind everyone this year. Okada emerged as a quality starter in his absence.
I admit that I have concerns about Clark, but the fact that he hasn’t been making highlight-reel plays early in training camp shouldn’t matter much. I’ll trust Schneider and Macdonald on this one.
Finley could start on plenty of teams, as could D’Anthony Bell, who I think has a decent chance of sticking around on the final roster. If Clark plays up to potential, the grade goes up. For now, we’ll be a little more reserved.
GRADE: B+
Specialists
Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Chris Stoll (LS), Rashid Shaheed (PR), Tory Horton (KR)
This is how they are listed on the unofficial depth chart. Myers and Dickson are both among the best in the league. I suspect Horton will be handling the lion’s share of returns – both kickoffs and punts. He will be just fine.
GRADE: A (if Shaheed really does return punts, the grade goes up to A+)
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