Will the Seattle Seahawks have the No. 1 overall defense in the league when the 2026 NFL season is said and done?
The Seahawks’ defense helped fuel the team to a Super Bowl win at the end of last season. While Seattle lost several key defensive stars in the offseason, their current defense is still star-filled and equipped to not only help the team win another Super Bowl at the end of the upcoming season, but also outperform all of the other elite units in the league in the 17-game slate.
NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice projected the Seahawksto finish with the No. 2 overall defense in the league next season, citing recent departures including Boye Mafe and Riq Woolen, as losses that will likely set the team back from taking the top spot in 2026.
“The
biggest loss of all is Coby Bryant, a versatile defensive back who became a true difference-maker in Seattle after fully transitioning from cornerback to safety,” Filice said, further stressing the amount of talent that Seattle lost in the open market. “ Ty Okada, who joined the team as an undrafted free agent out of Montana State in 2023, has big shoes to fill. All that said, Macdonald still has a loaded lineup, with seasoned studs (Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, Ernest Jones IV) flanked by young stars (Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, Byron Murphy II).”
The Seahawks also have star defensive tackle Byron Murphy, who has All-Pro potential, as well as Josh Jobe in their secondary and Derick Hall on the edge, giving them more defenders capable of changing games with their play.
Seattle’s depth and star power leave the team’s defensive unit void of clear weaknesses. If Williams, Witherspoon and the pass rush remain productive, the Seahawks may finish the 2026 season as the league’s premier defense.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks forecasted by NFL.com have No. 2 defense in NFL in 2026
