Let’s take a look at the five best defensive NFC West defensive backs headed into 2026.
Ranking the Top NFC West Defensive Backs for 2026
The NFC West was one of the NFL’s best divisions last season, featuring the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and two other playoff teams in the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.
The Arizona Cardinals also played football last season!
While the NFC West featured multiple formidable defensive squads, the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers and Cardinals ranked first, 10th, 13th and 29th, respectively, in scoring defense last season. The Seahawks, Rams and 49ers also ranked in the top half of the league in total defense.
The division’s pass defense numbers were not as strong. Only the Seahawks had a top-10 pass defense, while the rest of the division ranked in the bottom half of the league.
A big reason for the division’s pass defense struggles is the caliber of quarterbacks and playmakers these defenses face. Last season, the NFC West featured a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, the league MVP, some of the brightest playcallers in the NFL, some of the league’s best wide receivers and running backs who are lethal in the passing game.
The NFC West also has impact players in the secondary. The division features multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl defensive backs who will be tasked with slowing down those high-powered offenses.
Here are the five best defensive backs in the NFC West
5. Deommodore Lenoir, Cornerback, San Francisco 49ers
Deommodore Lenoir was awarded a five-year, $92 million contract this offseason after five seasons of being a consistent force in the 49ers’ secondary.
He moved from slot cornerback to San Francisco’s top outside corner in 2025.
Opposing teams targeted receivers covered by Lenoir just 4.2 times per game despite his role guarding opposing teams’ top receivers. He allowed 10 yards or fewer per reception in six games last season.
Overall in 2025, Lenoir recorded 61 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions.
With Lenoir headed into his second season as an outside corner and a brand-new contract signed, he could blossom even more in 2026.
4. Nick Emmanwori, Safety, Seattle Seahawks
Nick Emmanwori was a surprise X-factor on the Seahawks’ defense last season.
The rookie was pressed into a hybrid defensive back role in 2025. He roamed all over the field, stifled opposing rushing attacks, dropped into coverage against slot receivers and tight ends, and even played snaps as a deep safety.
He posted 81 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups and one interception in his rookie campaign. He finished as the runner-up for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
This time next year, Emmanwori could end up being the best defensive back in the division. His physical talent, along with his versatility, makes him a weapon on Seattle’s defense.
3. Trent McDuffie, Cornerback, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams sent four draft picks to the Chiefs, including the No. 29 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, to acquire Trent McDuffie this offseason. After trading for him, the Rams immediately signed McDuffie to a four-year, $124 million extension, the highest annual salary for a cornerback in NFL history.
Last season, McDuffie posted 63 tackles, seven pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble in 13 games. He allowed 9.2 yards per reception in coverage, the fourth-lowest mark in the NFL. He also held opponents to a 94.7 passer rating when targeted.
In Week 14, McDuffie hyperextended his knee, landing on injured reserve and ending his season. He did not require surgery and enters training camp fully healthy.
The 2025 season was a drop-off in production compared to his previous two years. In 2023, McDuffie earned First-Team All-Pro honors. In 2024, he recorded a career-high 13 pass breakups as he transitioned into the Chiefs’ top cornerback.
If McDuffie returns to his All-Pro form with the Rams, he could be a game-changer for their defense and climb even higher on this list.
But for now, he’s just behind the top two defensive backs in the division.
2. Budda Baker, Safety, Arizona Cardinals
Last season marked Budda Baker’s eighth Pro Bowl selection in nine NFL seasons. He started at safety for the NFC.
Baker recorded 120 tackles, four tackles for loss, five pass breakups and one interception. He tied for the second-most tackles among safeties in the NFL last season.
Baker also had a strong year in coverage. He allowed a career-low 10 yards per reception, and opponents posted a 99.8 passer rating when targeting him.
He was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season for the Cardinals’ defense. Baker played more than 90% of Arizona’s defensive snaps, led the team in tackles and was often the last line of defense.
Throughout his career, Baker has been one of the league’s best defensive backs against the run. He is the only defensive back with 1,000 tackles since the start of the 2017 season.
His consistency through the Cardinals’ ups and downs is why he ranks so highly on this list.
1. Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks
Devon Witherspoon earned Second-Team All-Pro honors after his breakout 2025 season.
Witherspoon recorded 72 tackles, seven pass breakups and one interception. His lockdown coverage was a key reason for the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory.
According to Pro Football Focus, Witherspoon was the highest-graded cornerback in the NFL. He held opponents to a 99.8 passer rating when targeted and allowed just 2.71 completions per game despite routinely matching up against elite receivers.
Witherspoon was also one of the league’s best run-defending cornerbacks. He ranked second among cornerbacks with 36 defensive stops, which are tackles that constitute a successful play for the defense near the line of scrimmage.
Headed into his fourth NFL season, Witherspoon is poised to remain one of the league’s top cornerbacks and the best defensive back in the NFC West.
