NFL free agent rankings: EDGE rushers

With as many as five pass rushers projected to be taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft and several big-time options available in free agency, this offseason has the chance for huge movement at EDGE rusher.

We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the players.

Note: “EDGE” is a bit of a nebulous position that encompasses 4-3 defensive ends, 3-4 outside linebackers, and some 4-3 outside linebackers, so there is always some variance in who is considered an EDGE. It generally refers to pass rushers.

We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.

Pending free agent EDGE rushers heading into 2025

Receiving votes

• Derek Barnett
• Azeez Ojulari
• Josha Uche

8. Baron Browning, Arizona Cardinals

Traded in the middle of the 2024 season from the Denver Broncos to the Cardinals, the former third-round pick was drafted as an inside linebacker but moved to OLB in his second season. He’s struggled with injuries and hasn’t been able to start many games, so he’ll likely sign a one-year contract somewhere. He has 11.5 sacks as part of 19 tackles for loss in 51 career NFL games and 25 QB hits. UPDATE: Browning signed a two-year deal to stay in Arizona.

7. Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles

A former All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, Graham played 11 games for Philly this year, his 15th(!) with the franchise. It would be weird to see him out of an Eagles jersey, and he’s going to turn 37 in April, but he had 3.5 sacks and six tackles for a loss in 2024 alongside seven QB hits. I can’t speak for how he feels on the day after a game, but his stats show he still has something in the tank.

6. Chase Young, New Orleans Saints

The former second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he had a stellar rookie season but injuries have hampered most of the rest of his career. He tore his ACL in 2021 and he missed most of the 2022 season as a result and had neck surgery during the 2024 offseason, causing him to miss training camp. He had 7.5 sacks that first season and again in 2023 when he played 16 games. In 2024, he notched 5.5 sacks and a career-high 21 QB hits while making $13 million on a one-year deal. He may want another one-year prove-it deal or could be looking for some stability after three teams in two seasons, but it wouldn’t shock me to see him make that much money again.

5. Malcolm Koonce, Las Vegas Raiders

A 2021 third-round pick, Koonce completely missed the 2024 season recovering from a knee injury. Before that, he seemed to be rounding into form in 2023 with eight sacks, three forced fumbles, and 17 QB hits. Will someone take a chance on him with a multi-year deal, or will he need to prove he’s healthy before a team gives him a longer-term deal? It’s not every day a 27-year-old pass rusher with 8 sacks in his previous season hits the free agent market, so there will be demand, even if that was an outlier season.

4. Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles

Sweat is a former Pro Bowler who has spent his entire seven-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s been their primary starter since 2021 and averaged eight sacks and 18.5 QB hits per season since then. He made $10 million in 2024 and is likely due a pay increase. Spotrac is projecting him to nab a three-year, $56 million deal.

3. Haason Reddick, New York Jets

You may remember Reddick because the Eagles traded him last offseason and he held out from the Jets into the regular season, forfeiting actual game checks in the process. To be fair, he was definitely underpaid following four straight double-digit sack seasons and a contract request was the reason the Eagles moved on in the first place. He turns 31 in September 2025 but is still likely to sign a decent contract in the three-year, $60 million to $75 million range. Once he gets that deal, it feels unlikely he will sit out in 2025.

2. DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys

Our clear number two player, Lawrence missed most of the 2024 season with a Lisfranc injury after two straight Pro Bowls. He made two Pro Bowls in 2017-2018, too. He turns 33 this offseason, but if he moves on from the Cowboys after 11 years, he will have suitors and probably make more than the $13 million per season he made with the Cowboys.

1. Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers

Our consensus number one, Mack is on the cusp of playing his way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Even at age 33, he made the Pro Bowl and notched six sacks a year after exploding for 17. He consistently gets QB hits, knocks down passes, and is always around the ball, though his role diminished in 20024 under new coach Jim Harbaugh. For the first time in his career he was under 80% of the team’s snaps at 61%. Was that because of his age or Harbaugh, and how will it impact home much he makes in free agency and whether he returns to L.A. He played 2024 on a one-year, $19.2 million deal. UPDATE: Mack is staying in Los Angeles.

Recently released EDGE rushers that joined free agency

These EDGE rushers were released after our rankings were put together in the lead up to the 2025 league year.

Preston Smith

Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2024 season, finding two sacks in eight games. His 4.5 sacks in 2024 was his lowest number since 2020 and he only had 32 tackles. The Steelers would have had to pay him $13.4 million in 2025, and they felt he wasn’t worth that kind of money.

DeMarcus Walker

Walker spent two years with the Bears but they didn’t think he was worth $5.25 million in 2025. He’s coming off a nice year with 17 starts, 16 QB hits, and 3.5 sacks after notching 3.5 sacks in 2023. He had seven sacks in 2022 in his one year with the Titans. He can get ahead of the market with his early release.

Dre’Mont Jones

The pass rusher from Seattle, Jones lost his starting job halfway through 2024 after the transition at head coach and defensive scheme with the Seahawks. He played 55% of the Seahawks snaps in 2024 and was on the field for 14% of the special teams snaps, too. He’s only 28 and will get a look from someone after averaging 5.8 sacks per year in his six NFL seasons — just not at the $16.5 million he was scheduled to make.

Joey Bosa

Bosa was released by the Chargers in a salary cap move and instantly becomes one of the top players on the market. The problem for Bosa isn’t talent, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He played 14 games in 2024 and made the Pro Bowl but he played 14 games combined in 2022 and 2023. Someone is going to give him a hefty salary hoping he can get back to playing a full season and double-digit sacks despite turning 30 this offseason.

Harold Landry

Landry had two years remaining on the massive five-year deal he signed in Tennessee, but the Titans didn’t want to pay $17.5 million for his services. He’s still really good, finishing 2024 with nine sacks and 71 tackles while playing 83% of the snaps.

Von Miller

The NFL’s active leader in sacks was released by the Bills to open up cap space. He signed an expensive deal a few years ago and his torn ACL that fall has hampered him as he ages. He’s likely a 20% snap count player at this point in his career, but his production should mean he gets a deal somewhere.

Other free agent EDGE

• Charles Omenihu
• Marcus Davenport
• Foley Fatukasi
• Jarran Reed
• John Cominsky
• Clelin Ferrell
• Dante Fowler Jr.
• Emmanuel Ogbah
• Solomon Thomas
• Tershawn Wharton
• Jerry Hughes
• Tanoh Kpassagnon
• Dawuane Smoot
• Jonathan Bullard
• Poona Ford
• Jihad Ward
• Kentavius Street
• Mario Edwards
• Dayo Odeyingbo
• Brent Urban
• William Gholston
• Joseph Ossai
• L.J. Collier
• Trevis Gipson
• Da’shawn Hand
• James Smith-Williams
• Casey Toohill
• Charles Harris
• Cameron Sample
• Chris Rumph II
• Isaiahh Loudermilk
• Quinton Bell
• Nephi Sewell
• Luke Masterson
• Jake Hansen
• Matt Judon
• Jerome Baker
• Kyzir White
• Anthony Nelson
• Lorenzo Carter
• Elandon Roberts
• Dennis Gardeck
• Darrell Taylor
• Shaq Thompson
• Joe Tryon
• Duke Riley
• Zack Baun
• Nicholas Morrow
• Kamu Grugier-Hill
• Jake Martin
• Patrick Jones
• Mykal Walker
• Oshane Ximines
• Julian Okwara
• Victor Dimukeje
• Patrick Johnson
• Grant Stuard
• Amen Ogbongbemiga
• Malik Herring (RFA)
• Earnest Brown (RFA)
• Christian Elliss (RFA) – Tendered at right of first refusal
• Janarius Robinson (RFA)

Free agent EDGE rushers who were signed to new deals

• Christian Elliss was assigned the RFA tender by the Patriots, but can still be signed by another team
• Amen Ogbongbemiga signed a two-year extension with the Bears
• Marcus Davenport re-upped with the Lions on a one-year deal
• Baron Browning re-signed in Arizona on a two-year deal
• Khalil Mack is staying with the Chargers for one more year