NFL free company is a year-round course of, as groups scout opposing gamers in an effort to defeat them in the course of the 12 months 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 determine potential targets to enhance their roster weaknesses.
Listed here are the highest inside defenders slated to hit free company in 2025. Click on right here for PFF’s full checklist of the highest 100 free brokers.
1. DI Osa Odighizuwa, Dallas Cowboys
2025 Free Agent Rank: 30
Odighizuwa is one other inside pass-rusher with very robust underlying metrics that haven’t fairly translated to main sack manufacturing via practically 4 seasons. Whereas the Dallas Cowboys‘ season fell off the rails as accidents piled up, Odighizuwa stayed the course and performed a few of the finest ball of his profession over the second half of the marketing campaign. The 2021 third-round decide is quietly one of many extra underrated defenders throughout the NFL.
High free agent comparability: Nnamdi Madubuike, 2024
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Osa Odighizuwa | 57.3 | 82.3 | 87.8 | 14.6% | ? |
| Nnamdi Madubuike | 66.6 | 75.2 | 82.8 | 11.7% | 9.6% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
32. DI Milton Williams, Philadelphia Eagles
2025 Free Agent Rank: 32
Williams is already a candidate for the largest riser on this checklist, and his inventory solely improved down the homestretch. His six sacks within the common season are a career-best complete. A rotational inside defender with critical pass-rush juice is usually the profile of a participant who does very effectively in free company, and Williams has restricted tread on his tires, given he’s by no means eclipsed 50% of defensive snaps performed in a season regardless of taking part in not less than 36% in yearly since his debut. Go away it to the Eagles to get a brand new deal accomplished, but when not, don’t be shocked when Williams makes a significant splash in March.
High free agent comparability: Javon Hargrave, 2020
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Milton Williams | 54.5 | 81.2 | 86.5 | 12.7% | ? |
| Javon Hargrave | 81.3 | 77.5 | 80.1 | 12.2% | 6.6% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
3. DI Levi Onwuzurike, Detroit Lions
2025 Free Agent Rank: 40
Onwuzurike has flashed each time he’s been wholesome over his first 4 seasons within the league after getting drafted one spherical forward of lately prolonged inside defender Alim McNeill in 2021. The previous second-round select of Washington is the penetrating three-technique inside pass-rusher that each crew covets, together with his 12.5% pass-rush win charge in 2024 rating as a top-15 mark on the place.
High free agent comparability: Sheldon Rankins, 2021
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Levi Onwuzurike | 65.0 | 67.8 | 72.8 | 12.2% | ? |
| Sheldon Rankins | 61.8 | 66.1 | 72.2 | 9.4% | 3.0% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
4. DI B.J. Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
2025 Free Agent Rank: 52
Hill signed a three-year contract with the Bengals in 2022 after an especially sharp commerce swap with the Giants for middle Billy Worth, and he was a veteran presence on a really younger, growing inside line of defense in 2024. Hill remains to be a strong all-around participant, however regardless of Cincinnati’s want on the place, huge contracts looming for Ja’Marr Chase, Trey Hendrickson and maybe Tee Higgins might make it robust to retain Hill.
High free agent comparability: Randy Starks, 2014
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| B.J. Hill | 67.6 | 66.1 | 69.2 | 8.3% | ? |
| Randy Starks | 68.3 | 69.4 | 78.1 | 7.7% | 3.8% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
5. DI Calais Campbell, Miami Dolphins
2025 Free Agent Rank: 53
The ageless marvel put collectively a sensational 2024 season as he nears 40 years of age, with a trade-off, in his personal paraphrased phrases, of shedding some pace over time however sustaining brute energy. This actuality is mirrored in Campbell’s elite PFF run-blocking grades, as he can nonetheless maintain up on the level of assault in addition to anybody. It’s most likely as much as Campbell whether or not he performs subsequent 12 months and the place precisely that could be.
High free agent comparability: N/A
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Calais Campbell | 87.5 | 68.9 | 74.3 | 11.3% | ? |
| – | – | – | – | – | – |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
6. DI Jarran Reed, Seattle Seahawks
2025 Free Agent Rank: 75
Reed remains to be a handful to comprise as an inside pass-rusher, which is quietly the perfect crop of expertise in free company. Nevertheless, Reed is the confirmed commodity and elder statesman amongst a pool of largely younger gamers who’ve displayed potential however maybe not produced constantly.
High free agent comparability: William Gholston, 2022
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Jarran Reed | 54.5 | 74.6 | 75.8 | 10.1% | ? |
| William Gholston | 49.1 | 73.7 | 76.4 | 11.9% | 2.2% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
7. DI Poona Ford, Los Angeles Chargers
2025 Free Agent Rank: 76
Ford had a significant bounce-back 12 months with the Chargers, as did just about each Charger on this checklist. He was a disruptive drive on the inside of a line of defense that noticed a significant bounce in effectiveness in 2024 in comparison with 2023. Ford appears to get dinged for his measurement and lack of draft pedigree, however each time a crew provides him a run, he merely makes performs.
High free agent comparability: Stephen Paea, 2016
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Poona Ford | 73.5 | 71.5 | 78.6 | 9.5% | ? |
| Stephen Paea | 63.6 | 76.2 | 78.0 | 9.9% | 1.2% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
8. DI Tershawn Wharton, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
2025 Free Agent Rank: 82
The previous undrafted free agent out of Missouri S&T has carved out a pleasant position for himself as a rotational pass-rusher over his 5 seasons in Kansas Metropolis, taking part in on the four-year qualifying contract with the Chiefs this previous season, which enabled him to make more cash whereas conserving his cap hit with the crew down. Wharton is a bit undersized and might get pushed round on run downs, however he does an excellent job of capturing gaps and getting upfield. He logged greater than 60% of snaps this 12 months, exhibiting he can maintain down a reasonably important position effectively sufficient.
High free agent comparability: Maliek Collins, 2020
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Tershawn Wharton | 42.5 | 69.5 | 75.5 | 9.9% | ? |
| Maliek Collins | 53.6 | 71.9 | 75.0 | 10.0% | 3.0% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
9. DI Teair Tart, Los Angeles Chargers
2025 Free Agent Rank: 84
Tart’s expertise has by no means been in query, and he put his talents in opposition to the run and go on full show in defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s protection. Tart will seemingly be a rotational participant who bounces round on short-term contracts, however when you get a locked-in season from him, its super upside in your funding.
High free agent comparability: Maurice Hurst, 2024
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Teair Tart | 69.1 | 79.3 | 75.9 | 11.4% | ? |
| Maurice Hurst | 76.5 | 75.9 | 76.7 | 14.1% | 0.7% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
10. DI D.J. Jones, Denver Broncos
2025 Free Agent Rank: 97
Jones remains to be one of many extra disruptive run defenders within the NFL when capturing gaps, together with his 11.3% run-stop charge rating third amongst inside defenders in 2024. Nevertheless, he has additionally missed extra tackles over time. Nonetheless, there’s a job for a 0/1-technique run stuffer with the occasional pass-rush juice.
High free agent comparability: Austin Johnson, 2022
| Participant | Run-defense grade | Cross-rush grade | True go set pass-rush grade | Cross-rush win charge | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| D.J. Jones | 56.1 | 64.7 | 64.5 | 6.0% | ? |
| Austin Johnson | 56.0 | 62.7 | 64.4 | 5.6% | 3.4% |
*All knowledge in tables displays two years previous to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Out there in PFF’s free company rankings
