Melifonwu made a career-high 53 tackles (31 solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 16 regular-season appearances with the Dolphins in 2025. He also had one pass defensed, including one interception.

Melifonwu inked a one-year deal with Miami last March and appeared locked into a starting gig at safety for the team, but he ultimately played more than 70 percent of defensive snaps in only five of his 16 appearances. The 26-year-old will figure to compete for a rotational role elsewhere in the league in free agency.

Trader racked up 55 tackles (29 solo) across 17 regular-season games with the Dolphins in 2025. He also tallied one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Trader exceeded expectations for a rookie fifth-round pick, stepping into a consistent role at safety in Miami's lackluster secondary. The Maryland product has established himself as a fair rotational option going forward, and he could grow into a more notable role under new head coach Jeff Hafley. However, it won't be surprising if the Dolphins make numerous additions at safety this offseason. He remains off the radar in most fantasy IDP formats.

McCrary-Ball (hamstring) had 23 tackles (11 solo) in five appearances in 2025.

McCrary-Ball missed Weeks 4 through 11 due to a hamstring injury, then returned for two weeks before aggravating the injury and missing the remainder of the season. He had at least five tackles in four of his five appearances to set a career high in that category after notching only seven tackles across his first two NFL campaigns. The linebacker is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent heading into his age-27 season.

Brownlee (hip) finished the 2025 season with 53 tackles (35 solo) and three passes defensed in nine games split between the Titans and Jets.

Brownlee didn't play after Week 11 due to a hip injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve. He played in two games for Tennessee before being traded to the Jets, with whom he was working as the slot cornerback prior to getting hurt. Brownlee has the inside track on the slot cornerback spot for 2026, barring any notable offseason additions to the Jets' secondary or setbacks with his recovery.

Briggs had 4.0 sacks among his 38 tackles (19 solo) in 2025.

Briggs was a quiet success story for the Jets after being acquired in a preseason trade with the Browns. The 2024 seventh-round pick appeared in all 17 games for the Jets, starting the last eight after the team traded away Quinnen Williams. Even if the Jets bolster the interior of their defensive line in the offseason, Briggs showed enough ability to generate pressure from the inside to earn at least a rotational role in 2026.

Elliss played in 15 regular-season games (13 starts) in 2025, registering 94 tackles, three defensed passes and a forced fumble.

Elliss's regular-season tackle total was a career-best mark and ranked second on New England behind Robert Spillane. Elliss played in all four of the Patriots' postseason games as well, tallying 19 stops (including 1.0 sacks), two defensed passes, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Elliss is under contract through 2026, so he should again be a key part of the Patriots' defense next season.

Spillane notched 97 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, five defensed passes (including two interceptions) and a forced fumble over 13 regular-season games (all starts) during the 2025 campaign.

Spillane signed with the Patriots last March after a two-year run with Las Vegas during which he averaged 153 stops per season. While Spillane couldn't quite reach those numbers in his debut campaign in New England, he made an immediate impact as the Pats' leading tackler despite missing the final four games of the regular season due to an ankle injury. Spillane returned for the playoffs and posted 18 stops during New England's run to the Super Bowl in spite of missing most of the AFC Championship Game versus Denver as a result of reinjuring his ankle. Spillane is under contract through 2027 and figures to be a central figure in New England's defense again next year.

Ward played in all 17 of Minnesota's games last season, making five starts and recording 27 tackles along with a recovered fumble.

Ward logged just 62 defensive snaps over 33 regular-season contests in his first two NFL campaigns, but he was much more involved on defense in 2025 with 249 defensive snaps. The 2023 fourth-round draft pick made his first NFL start in Week 10 and then started each of the Vikings' final three contests after Josh Metellus (shoulder) landed on IR. Ward will be in the final season of his rookie contract in 2026, and if Harrison Smith decides to retire, Ward could be tabbed for a starting role.

Rodriguez posted 43 tackles (including 2.0 sacks) over 16 games (two starts) during the 2025 campaign.

Rodriguez played in just two games as a rookie, but he was much more involved during his sophomore NFL campaign. The 2024 seventh-round draft pick played over half of Minnesota's defensive snaps in eight contests, including in each of the final three games of the regular season. Rodriguez will be in the third year of his rookie contract in 2026 and figures to again play a significant role for the Vikings' defense.

Jackson played 14 games (eight starts) in 2025, logging 47 tackles (including 2.0 sacks), one defensed pass, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Jackson didn't make any starts over 43 regular-season games across his first three NFL campaigns, but he started in each of Minnesota's first six contests last season. The Tennessee product saw a lessened role thereafter but still worked as a rotational defensive back most weeks and made two additional starts. Jackson tallied the first two sacks of his NFL career and posted a career-high 47 total tackles, though the midseason demotion doesn't bode well for his opportunities moving forward. Still, he's signed for another two years, so Jackson should play at least a rotational role for the Vikings again in 2026.