Young closed the 2025 season with 38 tackles (22 solo), including 10.0 sacks, and four passes defended across 12 games. He also recorded two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, including a fumble returned for a touchdown.

Young missed the first five games of the season with a calf injury, but he still reached double-digit sacks for the first time in his career. As the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 Draft, the 26-year-old didn't live up to expectations over his first four seasons, but he's bounced back during his time with New Orleans. Young has tallied 15.5 sacks in 29 games across the last two years, and he has two seasons remaining on his three-year, $51 million deal with the Saints.

Godchaux recorded 43 tackles (14 solo) and one forced fumble while playing in 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Godchaux was traded from the Patriots to the Saints after logging at least 56 tackles in four straight seasons. He also played over 600 defensive snaps during each year with New England, but he played just 454 with New Orleans in 2025. Godchaux signed a restructured two-year, $11 million contract after being traded to the Saints last offseason. The 31-year-old figures to serve as the team's starting nose tackle once again in 2026.

Rumph played in 17 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign, recording 47 tackles (24 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one pass defended.

Rumph joined the Saints on a one-year deal after missing the entire 2024 campaign with a foot injury. The 27-year-old saw more playing time in New Orleans than he did during any of his first four seasons with the Chargers, but he still spent most of his time on special teams. Rumph enters the offseason among a large group of pending free agents for the Saints.

Stutsman accumulated 53 tackles (25 solo) while playing in 17 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.

Stutsman was a core special-teams player as a rookie, lining up on over 60 percent of special-teams snaps in all but one game for the Saints. The Oklahoma product saw a gradual increase in playing time over the course of the season, and he played almost half of the team's defensive snaps in Week 17 and Week 18. Stutsman could take on a larger role in 2026 if the Saints move on from longtime starting inside linebacker Demario Davis, whose contract expired after the 2025 campaign.

Sanker played in 17 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign, tallying 80 tackles (46 solo) and six passes defended, including two interceptions.

The rookie third-rounder was thrust into a starting role after Julian Blackmon sustained a season-ending torn labrum Week 1. Sanker went on to play almost every defensive snap for the remainder of his rookie campaign, finishing fourth on the Saints in tackles and tied for second in interceptions. The 23-year-old established himself as a key piece in New Orleans' secondary as a rookie, but he may see less playing time in 2026 after Blackmon re-signed a one-year deal to return alongside stalwart strong safety Justin Reid.

Mukuba (ankle) played in 11 regular-season games (10 starts) during the 2025 campaign, posting 46 tackles (including 0.5 sacks) and three defensed passes (including two interceptions).

Mukuba was selected in the second round of last April's NFL Draft and took on a big role right away as a rookie. He notched his first pickoff in his second game and logged a defensive snap share of at least 80 percent in 10 of the 11 contests in which he appeared. However, Mukuba fractured his right ankle in late November and subsequently underwent surgery, marking an end to his season. Mukuba should be ready for the beginning of the 2026 campaign and figures to reclaim his starting role in Philadelphia's secondary.

Jackson played in 14 regular-season games (10 starts) during the 2025 campaign, recording 55 tackles and 11 defensed passes, including an interception.

Jackson missed one game due to a concussion and another because of a groin issue but otherwise managed to stay mostly healthy. His 11 defensed passes ranked third on Philadelphia and were his most since his rookie 2017 campaign. Jackson is slated to be a free agent, and it remains to be seen if the Eagles will try to bring him back.

Dean tallied 55 tackles (including 4.0 sacks), one defensed pass and two forced fumbles over 10 regular-season games (eight starts) during the 2025 campaign.

Dean missed the first five games of the season while recovering from a knee injury and then sat out Weeks 17 and 18 because of a hamstring issue. While that led to his overall tackle total being less than half of what it was (128) in 2024, Dean did manage to reach a career-best mark with his 4.0 sacks. He just completed the final year of his rookie deal, so Dean is slated to be a free agent.

Harrell recorded 25 tackles (14 solo) with 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble across 17 games with the Titans in 2025.

Harrell played exclusively on special teams for the first five games of the season, but his role increased from there. He ultimately played over 50 percent of defensive snaps for most of the second half of the campaign, and he accounted for 4.0 sacks across his last five contests. Harrell could continue to serve as a solid pass rusher while seeing the field primarily on passing downs in 2026.

Sneed (quadriceps) recorded 26 tackles (18 solo) with three passes defensed across seven games in 2025.

Sneed was expected to become a key part of Tennessee's defense when he signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract ahead of the 2024 season. Instead, he's combined to appear in only 12 games across two campaigns while failing to record an interception. Sneed missed the Titans' last 10 games of 2025 with a quad injury, and he's very likely to be cut before the new league year.