Do Eagles or Cowboys have best defensive interior group in NFC East?

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After the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys dominated the rankings on the offensive side of the ball, the rankings flipped for New York and Commanders. While the Cowboys had the top units at quarterback and wide receiver, Philadelphia owned the top spot at running back, offensive line, and tight end. The Giants and Commanders took the top two spots at the edge rusher position rankings in the NFC East heading into 2026.

The defensive interior is next up, and with multiple 3-4 defensive fronts, the groupings aren't solely defensive tackles, but 5T or 4i guys also. Who has the best non-pass-rush linemen in the NFC East?

4: New York Giants​

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The New York Giants traded away Dexter Lawrence, who is arguably the best defensive tackle in the league. They still have solid options like DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, and Leki Fotu, but none of them have a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 75 or more. They are bodies and some known names, but no options that can change games or instill fear in their opponents. Chauncey Golston is a former productive Cowboys defensive end who played fewer than 175 total defensive snaps, yet had a run defense grade over 72.

3: Washington Commanders​

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The Commanders top the Giants because they still have an option who can dominate in Daron Payne. Is he still a top defensive tackle in the NFL? No, but he can show up at any point and bring a dominant performance. They also have better bodies behind him.

Tim Settle has a near-80 pass-rush PFF grade, Jer’Zhan Newton has been a decent pass rusher heading into his third year, and Javon Kinlaw wasn’t great last season, but he’s been productive before and is still in his prime. Washington signed Charles Omenihu from the Kansas City Chiefs, and he was a solid run defender in Kansas City.

2: Dallas Cowboys​

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The Dallas Cowboys have Quinnen Williams, a Tier 1 defensive tackle like Lawrence. Opposing offenses put his name at the top of the list of guys they can’t allow to wreck the game on them. His PFF overall grade was near 90, his run defense grade was over 90, and his pass rush grade was almost 70. Kenny Clark is a versatile defensive tackle who can play as a nose tackle, one-technique, and three-technique on any line he plays on. He is a good tackle and an incredible second option next to Williams.

Jonathan Bullard has played under Cowboys assistant coach Marcus Dixon and knows how to be the boring, run-stopping defensive end in a 3-4. Otito Ogbonnia played on an excellent run defense in the Los Angeles Chargers' last season. He is a young, strong nose tackle option for Dallas, and LT Overton is a rookie from Alabama who played all over the line and holds up well against the run.

1: Philadelphia Eagles​

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Jalen Carter is a young star player on par with Williams, and Jordan Davis is one of the best nose tackle options in the NFL. That is the top duo in the East to begin the 2026 season. Philadelphia doesn’t have a ton of great options behind their top two, but Moro Ojomo might be the best third option in the NFC East. He played nearly 750 snaps and accumulated six sacks and 21 pressures with pass rush and overall PFF grades over 70. Byron Young had 338 snaps in 2025, but made no real impact, and nobody else on the defensive line has had many snaps in the NFL and hasn't been impactful. It’s a top-heavy group, but it's the best of the NFC East.

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Do Eagles or Cowboys have best defensive interior group in NFC East?

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