League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Match Previews

Top 16 defensive players in the NFL for 2026 revealed

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 9, 2026, 7:34 PM

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

Summary

Nate Tice and Diante Lee highlighted the top defensive players in the NFL for the upcoming 2026 season. Will Anderson Jr. was chosen as the first overall pick, followed by Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, Patrick Surtain II, Chris Jones, and Jeffery Simmons. The discussion also included noteworthy defensive tackles and the inclusion of Fred Warner and Kyle Hamilton in the top-12, despite their positions traditionally being valued lower. The analysis concluded with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean just making the list, along with reflections on Maxx Crosby's potential performance this season.

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Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Top six defensive players include Will Anderson Jr., Myles Garrett, and Micah Parsons.
•Fred Warner and Kyle Hamilton featured in the top-12 despite lower-value positions.
•Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean barely made the final list.
•Discussion includes Maxx Crosby's performance outlook for the season.
•The segment was aired on the Football 301 podcast by Yahoo Sports.

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