With NFL free company contract negotiation window opening March 9 at midday ET, CBS Sports is offering a position-by-position take a look at the free agent panorama. Pass rushers make the world go ‘spherical on protection. If you may disrupt the opposing workforce’s quarterback, it mechanically elevates your protection, not solely strengthening its potential to wreak havoc but in addition its potential to cowl up for weaknesses elsewhere. A great move rusher makes life simpler on everybody else on the protection, and fortunate for a number of groups, there are many good move rushers accessible this offseason.
Top 5 free agent EDGEs
1. Trey Hendrickson
2025 workforce: Bengals
2025 stats: 4.0 sacks, 16 tackles, 11% strain price; PFF’s No. 11 EDGE (sixth in move rush)
Age: 31
There are 4 edge defenders within the top 11 of Pete Prisco’s top 100 free agents, and Trey Hendrickson is available in at No. 2 total. The 2024 sack chief with 17.5, Hendrickson performed in simply 9 video games in 2025 and tallied simply 4 sacks. His strain numbers fell sharply, however PFF nonetheless preferred his work in that space. Age, harm historical past and restricted rush protection help shall be components, however Hendrickson at ought to money in in a significant means. He’s a technician with burst and bend.
2. Odafe Oweh
2025 groups: Ravens, Chargers
2025 stats: 7.5 sacks, 38 tackles, 17.5% strain price; PFF’s No. 26 EDGE (fifteenth in move rush, 54th in run protection)
Age: 27
Odafe Oweh had zero sacks in 5 video games with the Ravens in 2025. Then he bought traded to the Chargers and had 7.5 sacks in 12 video games along with three sacks and two pressured fumbles within the playoff loss to the Patriots. Oweh is an excellent athlete for his place — he ran a 4.36 40-yard sprint in 2021 — and one yr after a 10-sack season with subpar strain charges, his strain charges truly exceeded his sack manufacturing in 2025. Despite his comparatively slender construct, he is a strong run defender, too. His upward trajectory might make him the highest-paid EDGE on this class.
3. Jaelan Phillips
2025 groups: Dolphins, Eagles
2025 stats: 5 sacks, 53 tackles, 18.8% strain price, PFF’s No. 31 EDGE (twenty second in move rush, seventieth in run protection)
Age: 26
Jaelan Phillips‘ strain numbers effectively outpaced his sack numbers. His 73 pressures tied for ninth within the NFL, and his 18.8% strain price was fifth (min. 200 move rush snaps). Long story quick, he was wonderful. Phillips’ free company shall be an fascinating case research, as his medicals could give some groups pause. He tore his Achilles in 2023 and tore his ACL in 2024. A return to full well being in 2025 confirmed he nonetheless has loads of juice, although, and he and Oweh are in line for big-time cash.
4. Boye Mafe
2025 workforce: Seahwks
2025 stats: 2 sacks, 31 tackles, 12.7% strain price, PFF’s No. 47 EDGE (forty third in move rush, twenty sixth in run protection)
Age: 27
An vital a part of the Seahawks‘ great protection, Boye Mafe noticed his sack totals dip from 9 in 2023 to 6 in 2024 to simply two in 2025, however his strain price truly remained considerably constant over all three years. In truth, his 19% move rush win price was eighth among all edge defenders. The former second-round decide performed his fewest snaps since his rookie yr with Seattle utilizing a deep pass-rush rotation, however he might see his position enhance ought to he land elsewhere.
5. Jadeveon Clowney
2025 workforce: Cowboys
2025 stats: 8.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 19.1% strain price, PFF’s No. 16 EDGE (sixteenth in move rush, twenty eighth in run protection)
Age: 33
The 2014 No. 1 total decide, Jadeveon Clowney simply retains producing high-quality edge protection in opposition to each the run and the move. He has bounced all around the league — seven groups since 2018. Clowney has the dimensions and physicality to carry up in opposition to the run. He recorded a sort out on 21.6% of his snaps in opposition to the run, the sixth-highest price of any defensive lineman/EDGE/linebacker within the NFL in 2025. Add in some move rush pop, and he is a high-floor veteran.
Prisco’s Top 100 NFL free agents for 2026: Rankings for a market lacking elite talent
Pete Prisco
Three extra to control
Joey Bosa
2025 workforce: Bills
2025 stats: 5 sacks, 29 tackles, 14.6% strain price, PFF’s No. 29 EDGE (tenth in move rush, 103rd in run protection)
Age: 30
Khalil Mack
2025 workforce: Chargers
2025 stats: 5.5 sacks, 32 tackles, 14.5% strain price, PFF’s No. 16 EDGE (forty fifth in move rush, twelfth in run protection)
Age: 35
We’ll pair the previous Chargers teammates collectively right here. After a number of injury-riddled years, Joey Bosa posted a powerful 2025, and his 5 pressured fumbles led the league. He can nonetheless get after the passer. So, too, can Khalil Mack, and he is additionally wonderful in opposition to the run.
Cameron Jordan
2025 workforce: Saints
2025 stats: 10.5 sacks, 47 tackles, 11.2% strain price, PFF’s No. 23 EDGE (eightieth in move rush, fifth in run protection)
Age: 36
It can be downright unusual to see Cameron Jordan in something apart from a Saints uniform. He has been with New Orleans since 2011, made Pro Bowls and was a part of the All-2010s Hall of Fame team. While his 10.5 sacks belie his underlying pass-rushing numbers, he was excellent in opposition to the run in 2025 and majorly bounced again from a down 2024.
Five groups to observe
- The Chargers are in line to be massive gamers right here with Oweh, Mack and Del’Shawn Phillips all hitting free company. Los Angeles has the second-most cap area within the NFL, and so they ought to make use of it with new defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary changing Jesse Minter.
- Minter, in fact, is taking on the Ravens, who had one of many NFL’s worst move rushes and are seeing Dre’Mont Jones and Kyle Van Noy hit free company. Baltimore desperately wants an affect add right here.
- The Commanders additionally want move rush juice. Von Miller led the workforce with 9 sacks, however he ended up taking part in way over anticipated on account of accidents round him. Plus, he is 36 years outdated and set to be a free agent.
- The Bengals have loads of cash to spend and an enormous want to enhance the defensive entrance. With Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai set to hit free company, Cincinnati must make upgrades. It additionally wants an enormous second yr from Shemar Stewart.
- The Bears have been thirty first in move rush win price and twenty sixth in run cease win price. That’s not adequate for a workforce that hopes to vogue itself as a contender.
One massive query
How massive do the large hunters go?
There are loads of options in free company — we most likely might have listed a dozen starter-caliber gamers a minimum of — and there are many needy groups. Many of these needy groups have playoff aspirations. In addition to the 5 listed above, the Bills, Cowboys, Lions, Packers, Patriots, 49ers and Buccaneers all come to thoughts.
Over the previous two offseasons, 20 EDGE free brokers signed contracts price a minimum of $10 million per yr. Expect one other massive spending yr. How massive will Hendrickson go? He reworked his contract to get $30 million from the Bengals final yr. Could Oweh or Phillips fetch near $20 million per yr?
There are numerous intriguing under-30 options after the headliners, too: Dre’Mont Jones, Arnold Ebiketie, K’Lavon Chaisson, Kwity Paye. Expect to see some massive numbers flying round at this place.
