The Denver Broncos' defense was one of the top defenses in the NFL in 2025, and there seems to be a consensus that the unit is slated to be near the top of the league once again in 2026.

In a Fox Sports article written by Ben Arthur, the Broncos are projected to be the third-most-feared defense in the NFL heading into the new season, behind only the defending champion Seattle Seahawks and the Houston Texans.

Denver's defense retained most of their defensive starters from 2025, with the loss of star defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers and safety P.J. Locke as the only departures in free agency. However, the Broncos feel like they drafted an adequate replacement for JFM in defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim.

The challenge for the Broncos will be remaining at the top. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph issued a clear call for the unit this spring: "Teams are getting better and better, but we got to find a way, to find a way to get better than where we was last year," Joseph told the team, according to cornerback Pat Surtain.

Denver looks to get better and better going into 2026.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Defense ranked 3rd in NFL going into summer