The big guys who sniff out quarterbacks like coon dogs are fan favorites as well as some of the most highly-paid defenders in the NFL and are always wanted and in vogue, no matter how defenses change in the NFL.
This year, the free agent market for big-time pass rushers and run stuffers has been depleted drastically, with top free agents around the league getting the franchise tag slapped on them. The designation is designed to slow down movement of players to big-money markets, and essentially binds the player to his team for another year, if certain conditions are met.>
Players such as Michael Johnson of Cincinnati, Harry Melton of Chicago, Randy Starks of Miami and Anthony Spencer of Dallas all had the franchise tag applied to them, taking them off the free agent auction block in all probability.
Still, with March 12 the start of free agency, quite a bit of talent remains for teams looking for help on the defensive line. Here are my top five free agent defensive linemen.
Bennett is the top pick because he is both an excellent pass rusher as well as a run defender. He had nine sacks this past season for a sorry defense, a third of the team's total. He also had 41 tackles and three forced fumbles.
Bennett reportedly has a little agreement with the Bucs in which he will give them a chance to outbid his best offer. The Bucs have a strong incentive to do so.
He was an undrafted free agent in 2009 with Seattle, and the Bucs claimed him off waivers the same year. Since then, he has quietly prospered to the point he is now well-regarded around the league.
Avril is the best pure pass rushers among the free agents. He had 9.5 sacks this past season and 11 the year before that. But, he has a well-deserved reputation for being weak against the run. Still, he could be very helpful as a situational player.
Avril has made it know he wouldn't mind staying in Detroit, but he and the Lions have scarcely met this offseason. He's been playing on one-year contracts the last two years. He and the Lions were reportedly close on a long-term contract last year, but the deal did not go through.
Seymour's contract was voided by the Raiders, who are going through something of a youth movement.
He's a little older now at 33 and coming off an injury to boot, but Seymour is an ideal candidate for a nice, short-term contract from a playoff contender with pass-rushing needs. He has one of those un-measurable assets, leadership. He is also a good run defender a three-time All Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler.
Bryant hasn't received the some of the other, more gaudier players have, but the upside of his potential is there. He filled in more than competently when Seymour went down with injuries, and impressed a lot of NFL people.
He's solid on both the run and getting to the quarterback. He fits the type players the Raiders want to keep and the word is they will try hard to keep him.
Freeney, 33, is another of those "older" players, in NFL years. He got up from a three-point stance to standing up last year, going from defensive end to outside linebacker, as the Colts switched to a base 3-4 defense.
He had only five sacks, but that could be attributed to playing out of position. He still has quickness and a variety of fancy, pass-rushing moves and a team with a 4-3 defense will take a serious gander at him. Again, a playoff contender with a pass-rushing need to fill could be his new home.
This year, the free agent market for big-time pass rushers and run stuffers has been depleted drastically, with top free agents around the league getting the franchise tag slapped on them. The designation is designed to slow down movement of players to big-money markets, and essentially binds the player to his team for another year, if certain conditions are met.>
Players such as Michael Johnson of Cincinnati, Harry Melton of Chicago, Randy Starks of Miami and Anthony Spencer of Dallas all had the franchise tag applied to them, taking them off the free agent auction block in all probability.
Still, with March 12 the start of free agency, quite a bit of talent remains for teams looking for help on the defensive line. Here are my top five free agent defensive linemen.
1. Michael Bennett, DE Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bennett is the top pick because he is both an excellent pass rusher as well as a run defender. He had nine sacks this past season for a sorry defense, a third of the team's total. He also had 41 tackles and three forced fumbles.
Bennett reportedly has a little agreement with the Bucs in which he will give them a chance to outbid his best offer. The Bucs have a strong incentive to do so.
He was an undrafted free agent in 2009 with Seattle, and the Bucs claimed him off waivers the same year. Since then, he has quietly prospered to the point he is now well-regarded around the league.
2. Cliff Avril, DE Detroit Lions
Avril is the best pure pass rushers among the free agents. He had 9.5 sacks this past season and 11 the year before that. But, he has a well-deserved reputation for being weak against the run. Still, he could be very helpful as a situational player.
Avril has made it know he wouldn't mind staying in Detroit, but he and the Lions have scarcely met this offseason. He's been playing on one-year contracts the last two years. He and the Lions were reportedly close on a long-term contract last year, but the deal did not go through.
3. Richard Seymour, DE/DT Oakland Raiders
Seymour's contract was voided by the Raiders, who are going through something of a youth movement.
He's a little older now at 33 and coming off an injury to boot, but Seymour is an ideal candidate for a nice, short-term contract from a playoff contender with pass-rushing needs. He has one of those un-measurable assets, leadership. He is also a good run defender a three-time All Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler.
4. Desmond Bryant DT, Oakland
Bryant hasn't received the some of the other, more gaudier players have, but the upside of his potential is there. He filled in more than competently when Seymour went down with injuries, and impressed a lot of NFL people.
He's solid on both the run and getting to the quarterback. He fits the type players the Raiders want to keep and the word is they will try hard to keep him.
5. Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis
Freeney, 33, is another of those "older" players, in NFL years. He got up from a three-point stance to standing up last year, going from defensive end to outside linebacker, as the Colts switched to a base 3-4 defense.
He had only five sacks, but that could be attributed to playing out of position. He still has quickness and a variety of fancy, pass-rushing moves and a team with a 4-3 defense will take a serious gander at him. Again, a playoff contender with a pass-rushing need to fill could be his new home.
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