Top defensive position battles during NFL offseason: Seahawks, Giants DBs, Bucs LBs and more

By Monday, all 32 NFL teams will have begun organized team activities. Mandatory minicamps follow soon thereafter.

After previously going position-by-position on offense, we do the same on defense and examine the top positional battles on that side of the ball as offseason workouts heat up.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle

Options: Khyiris Tonga • Peter Woods | The Chiefs gave All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones two running mates in the middle of the line this offseason. They signed Tonga, who played most recently for the New England Patriots, to a three-year, $21M free-agent contract, then selected Woods at No. 29 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

At 6-foot-2, 335 pounds, Tonga can plug the middle on rushing plays. Per NFL Pro data, the 2021 seventh-rounder recorded 21 stops, defined as tackles that result in negative expected points added for the offense, against the run last season. With only 0.5 career sacks, Tonga doesn't offer much on passing downs, which could allow Woods to crack the starting lineup ahead of him. 

Woods was solid against the run at Clemson, where he also produced five sacks over the past two seasons, potentially allowing him to win more one-on-one matchups while Jones commands double teams.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end

Options: Boye Mafe • Myles Murphy • Cashius Howell • Shemar Stewart | Mafe, fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks, should be a lock for a spot on the Bengals first-team defense after signing a lucrative three-year, $60M contract during free agency. But it should still be a healthy competition for who gets the most playing time at edge-rusher. 

Murphy needs a big season after Cincinnati declined to pick up the 2023 first-rounder's fifth-year option. Stewart also disappointed in his rookie 2025 season, finishing the year with one sack in eight games. Howell, selected at No. 41 overall in April's NFL Draft, could challenge for a starting role. He had 11.5 sacks at Texas A&M last season, two years after leading the MAC in sacks (9.5) at Bowling Green.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker

Options: Alex Anzalone • SirVocea Dennis • Josiah Trotter | It's the end of an era in Tampa Bay, which lost longtime (and future Hall of Fame) linebacker Lavonte David to retirement this offseason. The 14-year veteran started 215 games over his pro career — exclusively with the Bucs — including all 35 games (including postseason) the past two seasons. 

Running a 3-4 defense, both linebacker spots are open for business this summer. Anzalone signed a two-year, $17M contract in free agency, bringing the former New Orleans Saints draft pick to the NFC South after spending the past five seasons with the Detroit Lions. Last season, the 2017 third-rounder started 16 games, finishing with 95 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a career-high nine passes defensed and one interception.

Dennis is entering the final year of his rookie contract and started 16 games for Tampa Bay in 2025. He was a liability in coverage, allowing 51 completions on 60 targets (85 percent) for 657 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Trotter, a 2026 second-round pick, could force him into a backup role by showing more upside as a coverage defender.

New York Giants cornerback

Options: Paulson Adebo • Deonte Banks • Colton Hood | Among 2025 free agents, few players were bigger letdowns after signing a lucrative contract than Adebo. The six-year veteran, in his first season with the Giants after four years in New Orleans, only had one interception in 2025 and allowed a completion on two-thirds of his targets, per Pro Football Reference data, for 645 yards and three touchdowns.

Greg Newsome II was added in the offseason and may have an inside track to one starting outside corner spot, putting Adebo in a competition with the underperforming Banks and 2026 second-rounder Hood for CB2.

The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll reported on Thursday that while Newsome and Adebo were with the first-team defense during a recent open portion of practice, head coach John Harbaugh wouldn't shut the door on Hood emerging as a Week 1 starter. He was one of the top corners in the 2026 draft class, with Sports Info Solutions ranking him No. 2 at the position. The site credited him with 11 pass breakups and allowing a positive play on just 38 percent of his snaps when targeted.

Seattle Seahawks safety

Options: Ty Okada • Bud Clark | Last year, defensive back Nick Emmanwori forced his way into a full-time starting role midway through his rookie season and never looked back while finishing runner-up in Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Clark, 24, could be the next impact rookie but will have to beat out Okada for a starting role.

The six-year senior has substantial experience as a four-year starter at TCU, tallying 15 interceptions, two touchdowns and 21 passes defensed from 2022-25. Okada, a former Montana State walk-on, has been a remarkable success story, from entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023 to starting 11 games for the reigning Super Bowl champs. Entering 2026 as a lead safety in Seattle's title defense would be another achievement, but it's far from a given.