Let’s start with this: There isn’t a bad defense in the SEC West and there are several that will be downright scary in 2016.

Finishing seventh in this divisional race is relative, and the gap between No. 1 and No. 3 is too small to convert on 4th-and-inches.

With that in mind, this is how the SEC West defenses will stack up in 2016, bottom to top:

7. Arkansas

Strength: Experience, particularly at linebacker

Weakness: Secondary

Best player: DE Deatrich Wise Jr.

Arkansas allowed 27.4 points per game last season. Among SEC teams, only South Carolina allowed more. Several factors led that that average, including overtime shootouts.

But the secondary struggled in 2015 — allowing a league-worst 275 yards per game — and it’s the biggest concern heading into 2016.

The front seven is above average. Wise led the Razorbacks with 8.0 sacks and if freshman McTelvin Agim is as good in the fall as he was in the spring, Arkansas’ defensive front could be much improved.

6. Mississippi State

Strength: Experience. Eight starters return

Weakness: Relative lack of playmakers

Best player: LB Richie Brown

Mississippi State forced a league-low 14 turnovers last season — a number that could have caused more problems had Dak Prescott not done such a good job of protecting it on offense. New DC Peter Sirmon will play more 3-4 this season and is adding a playmaking/hybrid “Viper” position. The goal is to attack rather than always react.

5. Ole Miss

Strength: Defensive line

Weakness: Inexperience. The Rebels must replace six starters

Best player: DE Marquis Haynes

According to WalterFootball.com, the top seven defensive end draft prospects for 2017 play in the SEC. Haynes is in that group. He led Ole Miss with 10.0 sacks last season. He’s not a one-man show, though. Breeland Speaks and newcomer Benito Jones represent the next wave.

“This spring,” Haynes told ESPN.com, “we decided we want to be the best defensive line in the country.”

Ole Miss is rebuilding behind its line and will rely on returning standouts DeMarquis Gates, Tony Bridges and Tony Conner to hold down the back end.

4. Auburn

Strength: Defensive line

Weakness: Inexperience. The Tigers are revamping their linebacking corps and secondary

Best player: DE Carl Lawson

Lawson and Montravious Adams anchor a line that is as strong as any in the conference, which means any in the country. Marlon Davidson has emerged as a true freshman to watch. Byron Cowart is still there, and five-star Derrick Brown is on the way.

The front four will need to dominate given the fact Auburn will have five new starters behind them.

3. Texas A&M

Strength: Ability to create turnovers

Weakness: Linebackers aren’t as established

Best player: DE Myles Garrett

This is the best defense Kevin Sumlin has had at A&M. Garrett, the SEC’s sack leader, is a candidate to be the first non-quarterback taken in the 2017 NFL Draft. The secondary is loaded with hitters and ball hawks (Armani Watts had 126 tackles and Donovan Wilson shared the SEC lead with six interceptions). That’s a perfect complement to a front seven that helped force an SEC-high 18 fumbles last season. Texas A&M might average 35 points per game, but it won’t have to in order to challenge for the SEC West title.

2. LSU

Strength: Veteran stars at every level.

Weakness: Not really a weakness, but it’s another new system, under new coordinator Dave Aranda. If you don’t get the Tigers early, you might not get them at all. Fortunately for LSU, it will have eight weeks to prepare for Ole Miss, Alabama and Texas A&M, the three best offenses it will see in 2016

Best player: S Jamal Adams

No argument if you prefer Kendell Beckwith or Lewis Neal or Tre’Davious White or Davon Godchaux. All four are future NFL players, too.

The Tigers return nine defensive starters. Several delayed their NFL dreams to make a run at a national championship — and bolster their draft position.

LSU’s defense can be every bit as dominant as Alabama’s. It allowed 24 points per game last season for the first time since 2008. It’s hard to envision opponents duplicating that in 2016.

1. Alabama

Strength: Secondary

Weakness: Relative to everybody else? None

Best player: OLB Tim Williams

Alabama must replace four defenders who were picked in the second round of the NFL draft. That might doom some teams, but two of Alabama’s backups starred in the national championship game against Clemson.

There are stars everywhere — and not just attached to their recruiting profiles.

Williams, a sack artist, already is being discussed as a potential top-5 pick next year. That young secondary from a year ago is back, better than ever. Some already are wondering whether the 2016 defense will be better than the 2015 version that allowed just 15.1 points per game.

LSU returns more starters, but until somebody proves it’s better defensively, the Tide will retain the title.