Training camp is on the horizon for all 32 teams across the NFL. In the NFC East, training camp unintentionally starts on the same day, July 28. Ahead of the 2026 season, all four teams in the division are eager to bounce back. Only one NFC East squad finished with a winning record last season. Next, we’ll rank the best NFC East defensive linemen for the 2026 season.
The Best NFC East Defensive Lineman for 2026
5. Kenny Clark, Dallas Cowboys
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark is set to enter his 11th professional season and second with the Dallas Cowboys. The Green Bay Packers drafted Clark in 2016 out of UCLA. He spent nine seasons with the Packers, appearing in 140 games and making 126 starts. For the last four consecutive seasons, the 30-year-old has started 17 games. He hasn’t missed a game since Week 15 of the 2021 season. Clark was on the reserve/Covid-19 list and was unable to play. The veteran defensive lineman has been extremely reliable, and Dallas hopes the same for 2026.
Clark was traded from the Packers to the Cowboys shortly before the 2025 season. He was part of the blockbuster deal that landed Green Bay All-Pro Micah Parsons. In 2026, Clark started all 17 games for the Cowboys and finished the year with three sacks, 36 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits. Losing Parsons was a big hit to Dallas’ defense; however, they acquired Clark in that deal, and he remains one of the top NFC East defensive linemen heading into the upcoming season.
4. Daron Payne, Washington Commanders
With the 13th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Washington Commanders selected Daron Payne out of Alabama. The 29-year-old is set to enter his ninth professional season. He’s appeared in 130 games and made 124 starts. Payne has been a full-time starter for Washington for the last six consecutive seasons. His most productive campaign came in 2022 when he finished with a career-high 11.5 sacks. He was named to the only Pro Bowl of his career that season.
Ahead of 2026, Payne is one of the top NFC East defensive linemen. In 2025, he started all 15 games he appeared in for Washington. He finished the year with five passes defended, one forced fumble, 46 combined tackles, three sacks, seven tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, and one safety. Payne had a productive season individually for the Commanders, but their defense as a whole left a lot to be desired. Despite that, Payne comes in as the fourth-best NFC East defensive lineman ahead of 2026.
3. Jordan Davis, Philadelphia Eagles
In the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, the Eagles selected Jordan Davis out of Georgia. At six-foot-six, 365 pounds, Davis is a force to be reckoned with on the interior defensive line. As a rookie, Davis appeared in 13 games and made five starts. Since then, Davis has started all 17 games for Philadelphia in each of their last three seasons. The 26-year-old had the most productive season of his NFL career in 2025. He finished the year with four and a half sacks, 72 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits.
Executives, coaches, and scouts ranked the top 10 defensive linemen for 2026 in a recent ESPN article. Philadelphia’s Davis came in at number 10. On our list of the top NFC East defensive linemen for 2026, Davis is number three. His 72 combined tackles ranked third among all interior defensive linemen. On top of that, his 39 run stops vs. double teams ranked second. The 2025 season was a massive step forward in Davis’ progression with the Eagles. He plays on one of the top defenses in the NFL and still has plenty of room left to grow.
2. Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys
During the 2019 NFL draft, the New York Jets used the third overall pick to select Quinnen Williams out of Alabama. He appeared in 98 games and made 94 starts over seven years with New York. At the 2025 deadline, the Jets traded Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. In return, they received a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. Williams started eight games for the Jets last season and seven for the Cowboys.
Over his seven-year career, Williams has consistently been one of the top players at his position. His most productive season in the NFL was in 2022. The 28-year-old finished the season with four passes defended, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 12.0 sacks, 55 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 28 quarterback hits. Dallas is hopeful that Williams can increase his production in 2026, his first full year with the Cowboys. For 2026, Williams is the second-best NFC East defensive lineman.
1. Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have no shortage of former Georgia Bulldogs defenders on their roster. For the 2026 season, they have six players who attended college in Athens, Georgia. That includes their 2023 first-round pick, Jalen Carter. Over three seasons, Carter has appeared in 43 games and made 27 starts. He is the true definition of a game-wrecker. When Carter is at his best, he is tough to stop. While Carter’s production slipped slightly in 2025, his talent level is undeniable.
Last season, the 25-year-old missed six of the Eagles’ 17 regular-season games—five due to injury and another game due to a league-issued suspension. Despite only appearing in 11 games last season, Carter’s six passes defended were tied for the most among interior defensive linemen. Additionally, his 83 pass rush wins as an interior defensive lineman were tied for the seventh-most since 2023. Carter comes in at number one for our top NFC East defensive lineman entering 2026.
Main Photo: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
