Kyle Hamilton ranked second overall on the 2026 NFL Top 100 Players list, voted on by current NFL players. Fred Warner came in fourth, and Micah Parsons sixth among the game's top defenders.
Nick Bosa landed at 25, with Maxx Crosby close behind at 26. T.J. Watt checked in at 41, Cooper DeJean at 37, Chris Jones at 61 and Khalil Mack at 96.
The Los Angeles Chargers finished fifth in total defense in 2025, ranking near the top of the league against both the pass and the run.
Their defensive coaching setup is changing. Coordinator Jesse Minter left to become the Baltimore Ravens head coach. Chris O'Leary takes over as coordinator.
Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Derwin James are back for the Chargers. The team did lose edge rusher Odafe Oweh, leaving a gap in its pass rush.
To rebuild the interior line, the Chargers added Dalvin Tomlinson and drafted Akheem Mesidor. With a new coordinator and a reshuffled roster, the returning stars will need to carry the defense while new pieces find their footing.
