NFL free company is a year-round course of, as groups scout opposing gamers in an effort to defeat them through the yr and maybe signal them within the offseason.
Now that we’re on the finish of the 2024-25 NFL season, the free company image is coming into focus, and groups are starting to establish potential targets to enhance their roster weaknesses.
Listed below are the highest edge defenders slated to hit free company in 2025. Click on right here for PFF’s full listing of the highest 100 free brokers.
1. EDGE Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
2025 Free Agent Rank: 5
Mack has loved a late-career resurgence over the previous two seasons, proving he can nonetheless be a pressure as a pass-rusher and a run defender. His 88 quarterback pressures in 2023 marked his highest complete since 2016, and his 86.3 PFF pass-rushing grade was his greatest since 2020. Mack’s scenario coming into free company is eerily paying homage to Von Miller‘s again in 2022, as his six-year, $120 million contract with the Buffalo Payments was extra like three years and $52.5 million, in actuality.
High free agent comparability: Von Miller, 2022
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Khalil Mack | 87.6 | 86.8 | 16.6% | 91.5 | ? |
| Von Miller | 87.7 | 90.5 | 18.8% | 88.2 | 9.6% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
2. EDGE Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles
2025 Free Agent Rank: 10
Sweat signed an early extension with the Eagles in 2021 after which a revised one-year contract for 2024, which he made essentially the most of to the tune of eight sacks within the common season. With the departure of Haason Reddick and the unlucky harm to Eagles legend Brandon Graham, Sweat had loads of runway to spice up his inventory — and he did so on his option to a 75.7 PFF general grade within the common season.
High free agent comparability: Paul Kruger, 2013
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Josh Sweat | 72.3 | 76.8 | 14.3% | 59.9 | ? |
| Paul Kruger | 81.8 | N/A | 11.4% | 59.2 | 6.6% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
3. EDGE Haason Reddick, New York Jets
2025 Free Agent Rank: 12
Reddick’s absence from the Jets to start out the season leaves questions on how different groups will probably be in his providers in 2025. His standout 2022 season featured profession highs in each PFF general grade and sack complete, and he was a dependable pass-rusher from 2018 to 2023, incomes a PFF pass-rushing grade of at the least 65.0 every season, earlier than logging a career-low 52.9 mark this yr.
High free agent comparability: Jerry Hughes, 2015
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Haason Reddick | 68.5 | 70.7 | 12.2% | 61.2 | ? |
| Jerry Hughes | 77.3 | 78.3 | 13.4% | 85.7 | 6.3% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
4. EDGE Malcolm Koonce, Las Vegas Raiders
2025 Free Agent Rank: 16
If Koonce hadn’t suffered a season-ending knee harm earlier than 2024 started and as an alternative carried over his momentum from the again half of 2023, he may’ve been squarely throughout the prime 10 of our listing. Maybe the silver lining, if there’s one, to getting injured so early within the yr is that Koonce ought to be more healthy coming into the free company interval than if he acquired damage through the season. A brief-term deal the place Koonce can hit the market once more in 2026, or signal an extension one yr right into a two-year deal à la current edge defenders like Uchenna Nwosu, may make sense.
High free agent comparability: Romeo Okwara, 2021
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Malcolm Koonce | 78.9 | 82.5 | 14.2% | 66.3 | ? |
| Romeo Okwara | 74.8 | 79.8 | 13.2% | 52.8 | 6.8% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
5. EDGE Baron Browning, Arizona Cardinals
2025 Free Agent Rank: 39
The Denver Broncos traded Browning forward of the deadline to the Arizona Cardinals, a crew in determined want of pass-rush assist, and there was a logjam of excellent edge defenders in Denver with the current extension of Jonathon Cooper and the continued emergence of Nik Bonitto. Browning’s 14.2% stress price over the 2022-23 seasons ranked twenty fourth amongst edge defenders, and he transformed from off-ball linebacker to a full-time edge rusher in 2022. Accidents are the one factor protecting Browning from being a constant downside off the sting for opposing offenses.
High free agent comparability: Shaquil Barrett, 2019
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Baron Browning | 78.5 | 77.1 | 14.3% | 63.9 | ? |
| Shaquil Barrett | 80.1 | 81.5 | 12.0% | 80.1 | 2.1% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
6. EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, Indianapolis Colts
2025 Free Agent Rank: 42
Odeyingbo has had a affected person however regular ascent over his NFL tenure after he sustained an unlucky Achilles harm through the pre-draft course of that also didn’t drop him previous the second spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft. His recreation has rounded into kind over the previous two seasons, headlined by eight sacks in 2023 adopted by a career-high seven tackles for loss or no acquire on 67% of snaps performed in 2024.
High free agent comparability: Vinny Curry, 2016
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Dayo Odeyingbo | 68.1 | 74.4 | 11.3% | 51.7 | ? |
| Vinny Curry | 72.1 | 71.7 | 10.7% | 49.0 | 6.0% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
7. EDGE Chase Younger, New Orleans Saints
2025 Free Agent Rank: 49
Younger signed a one-year, prove-it take care of the Saints after he was traded ultimately yr’s deadline from the Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers. In 2024, he was a top-20 edge defender in complete quarterback pressures (66) and stress price (14.6%). He might not be the perennial Defensive Participant of the Yr candidate he appeared like as a prospect forward of the 2020 NFL Draft, however Younger remains to be a high-end No. 2 edge rusher for any crew in want.
High free agent comparability: Dante Fowler Jr., 2019
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Chase Younger | 72.7 | 75.2 | 14.2% | 59.2 | ? |
| Dante Fowler Jr. | 68.8 | 75.5 | 10.4% | 55.5 | 6.4% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
8. EDGE Azeez Ojulari, New York Giants
2025 Free Agent Rank: 51
Ojulari is a traditional designated pass-rush specialist with excellent sack manufacturing on a restricted snap rely, failing to eclipse the 500-snap threshold since his rookie marketing campaign. Underlying metrics like pass-rush win price and stress price have by no means matched Ojulari’s sack totals, nevertheless, and he notched seven sacks on simply 22 complete pressures in 2024, with half of these pressures coming when unblocked or as clean-up pressures the place the quarterback is chased into his space.
High free agent comparability: Lorenzo Carter, 2022
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Azeez Ojulari | 50.8 | 56.6 | 6.7% | 53.6 | ? |
| Lorenzo Carter | 61.9 | 57.3 | 9.2% | 61.9 | 1.7% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
9. EDGE DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys
2025 Free Agent Rank: 55
Lawrence was misplaced for the season in Week 4 — however not earlier than racking up three sacks, a pressured fumble, 4 tackles for loss and 5 extra quarterback hits by way of only one month. The veteran is a disruptive pressure on all three downs when wholesome, however a Lisfranc harm to his foot may result in a difficult free company interval.
High free agent comparability: Carlos Dunlap, 2021
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| DeMarcus Lawrence | 74.9 | 75.9 | 12.3% | 91.0 | ? |
| Carlos Dunlap | 73.3 | 76.7 | 10.9% | 80.1 | 3.7% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
10. EDGE Dante Fowler Jr., Washington Commanders
2025 Free Agent Rank: 63
Fowler adopted head coach Dan Quinn to Washington after Quinn served as his defensive coordinator for the previous few years with the Dallas Cowboys, which proved to be a clever transfer for Fowler and the upstart Commanders. The previous No. 3 general choose logged his most sacks in 5 years, with 10.5 to associate with his first profession interception that he took 67 yards to the crib.
High free agent comparability: Markus Golden, 2020
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Dante Fowler | 67.4 | 67.6 | 11.7% | 55.2 | ? |
| Markus Golden | 65.7 | 68.4 | 10.0% | 57.7 | 2.0% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
11. EDGE Chauncey Golston, Dallas Cowboys
2025 Free Agent Rank: 65
Golston was taken inside 10 picks of his aforementioned teammate Osa Odighizuwa and is equally a stable pass-rusher who additionally contributed to a run protection that has been gashed the previous a number of years. With Micah Parsons probably set to change into the highest-paid defensive participant of all time, Golston figures to hit the market as a rotational possibility for different groups. He has the dimensions and size to maneuver across the defensive formation.
High free agent comparability: Jacob Martin, 2022
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Chauncey Golston | 66.4 | 70.3 | 10.6% | 53.3 | ? |
| Jacob Martin | 67.3 | 75.0 | 11.2% | 52.0 | 2.2% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
12. EDGE Matthew Judon, Atlanta Falcons
2025 Free Agent Rank: 71
Judon was traded to the Falcons after a contract feud with the New England Patriots, and the brand new Patriots entrance workplace definitely seems sharp for buying a 2025 third-round choose for a participant on the decline. Exterior of his injury-shortened 2023 season that performed a task within the commerce, Judon set profession lows nearly throughout the board in 2024 in comparison with all prior wholesome seasons apart from his rookie marketing campaign in 2016.
High free agent comparability: Ahmad Brooks, 2017
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Matthew Judon | 55.1 | 56.9 | 6.8% | 56.9 | ? |
| Ahmad Brooks | 52.0 | 57.9 | 7.3% | 66.6 | 2.1% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
13. EDGE Dennis Gardeck, Arizona Cardinals
2025 Free Agent Rank: 72
Gardeck has lengthy been an underrated designated pass-rusher in Arizona, and he carried the momentum of a career-best six sacks from 2023 into his contract yr. Sadly, a torn ACL sustained in Week 7 may decelerate his free-agency course of and restrict his potential to money in on a bigger deal as he enters his 30s.
High free agent comparability: Dante Fowler Jr., 2024
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Dennis Gardeck | 79.3 | 82.7 | 15.7% | 49.8 | ? |
| Dante Fowler Jr. | 73.5 | 76.2 | 12.6% | 48.0 | 1.3% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
14. EDGE Josh Uche, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
2025 Free Agent Rank: 94
Uche signed a one-year, $3 million contract to return to the New England Patriots final offseason regardless of an alleged supply of $15 million over two years with $11 million assured, citing that he believed within the crew’s future and couldn’t think about enjoying anyplace else. Uche and the Patriots promptly went 1-6 earlier than he was traded to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on the deadline. He has now been a wholesome inactive for many weeks through the Chiefs’ quest for a three-peat. This isn’t a dig at Uche, however maybe a reminder to younger gamers: Get your cash when you can.
High free agent comparability: Dennis Gardeck, 2022
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Joshua Uche | 69.0 | 73.1 | 12.4% | 67.2 | ? |
| Dennis Gardeck | 73.4 | 71.3 | 14.2% | 64.6 | 1.6% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
15. EDGE Derek Barnett, Houston Texans
2025 Free Agent Rank: 96
Whereas Barnett’s snap rely has shrunk over time, his price of creating game-changing performs has definitely elevated, with 5 sacks and two fumbles returned for touchdowns on simply 226 pass-rushing snaps in 2024. Barnett remains to be a stable all-around soccer participant who can win with energy and maintain up within the run recreation.
High free agent comparability: Benson Mayowa, 2020
| Participant | Move-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Move-rush win price | Run-defense grade | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Derek Barnett | 72.9 | 78.9 | 13.0% | 77.1 | ? |
| Benson Mayowa | 70.7 | 80.9 | 12.1% | 64.8 | 1.5% |
*All information in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Accessible in PFF’s free company rankings
