With as many as 5 move rushers projected to be taken within the first spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft and several other big-time choices obtainable in free company, this offseason has the prospect for enormous motion at EDGE rusher.
We polled a gaggle of writers from round SB Nation to assemble consensus rankings concerning the gamers.
Observe: “EDGE” is a little bit of a nebulous place that encompasses 4-3 defensive ends, 3-4 exterior linebackers, and a few 4-3 exterior linebackers, so there’s at all times some variance in who is taken into account an EDGE. It usually refers to move rushers.
We’ll take away gamers from the listing as they re-sign with their present groups all the best way as much as the opening of free company in March.
Others receiving votes: Derek Barnett, Azeez Ojulari, Josha Uche
8. Baron Browning, Arizona Cardinals
Traded in the midst of the 2024 season from the Denver Broncos to the Cardinals, the previous third-round decide was drafted as an inside linebacker however moved to OLB in his second season. He’s struggled with accidents and hasn’t been in a position to begin many video games, so he’ll possible signal a one-year contract someplace. He has 11.5 sacks as a part of 19 tackles for loss in 51 profession NFL video games and 25 QB hits.
7. Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles
A former All-Professional and Professional Bowl choice, Graham performed 11 video games for Philly this 12 months, his fifteenth(!) with the franchise. It might be bizarre to see him out of an Eagles jersey, and he’s going to show 37 in April, however he had 3.5 sacks and 6 tackles for a loss in 2024 alongside seven QB hits. I can’t converse for a way he feels on the day after a recreation, however his stats present he nonetheless has one thing within the tank.
6. Chase Younger, New Orleans Saints
The previous second total decide within the 2020 NFL Draft, he had a stellar rookie season however accidents have hampered a lot of the remainder of his profession. He tore his ACL in 2021 and he missed a lot of the 2022 season in consequence and had neck surgical procedure in the course of the 2024 offseason, inflicting him to overlook coaching camp. He had 7.5 sacks that first season and once more in 2023 when he performed 16 video games. In 2024, he notched 5.5 sacks and a career-high 21 QB hits whereas making $13 million on a one-year deal. He might want one other one-year prove-it deal or may very well be in search of some stability after three groups in two seasons, nevertheless it wouldn’t shock me to see him make that a lot cash once more.
5. Malcolm Koonce, Las Vegas Raiders
A 2021 third-round decide, Koonce utterly missed the 2024 season recovering from a knee damage. Earlier than that, he appeared to be rounding into kind in 2023 with eight sacks, three compelled fumbles, and 17 QB hits. Will somebody take an opportunity on him with a multi-year deal, or will he have to show he’s wholesome earlier than a staff offers him a longer-term deal? It’s not day by day a 27-year-old move rusher with 8 sacks in his earlier season hits the free agent market, so there will likely be demand, even when that was an outlier season.
4. Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles
Sweat is a former Professional Bowler who has spent his total seven-year profession with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s been their major starter since 2021 and averaged eight sacks and 18.5 QB hits per season since then. He made $10 million in 2024 and is probably going due a pay enhance. Spotrac is projecting him to nab a three-year, $15 million deal.
3. Haason Reddick, New York Jets
It’s possible you’ll bear in mind Reddick as a result of the Eagles traded him final offseason and he held out from the Jets into the common season, forfeiting precise recreation checks within the course of. To be truthful, he was positively underpaid following 4 straight double-digit sack seasons and a contract request was the rationale the Eagles moved on within the first place. He turns 31 in September 2025 however remains to be prone to signal an honest contract within the three-year, $60 million to $75 million vary. As soon as he will get that deal, it feels unlikely he’ll sit out in 2025.
2. DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys
Our clear quantity two participant, Lawrence missed a lot of the 2024 season with a Lisfranc damage after two straight Professional Bowls. He made two Professional Bowls in 2017-2018, too. He turns 33 this offseason, but when he strikes on from the Cowboys after 11 years, he may have suitors and possibly make greater than the $13 million per season he made with the Cowboys.
1. Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
Our consensus primary, Mack is on the cusp of enjoying his manner into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Even at age 33, he made the Professional Bowl and notched six sacks a 12 months after exploding for 17. He constantly will get QB hits, knocks down passes, and is at all times across the ball, although his function diminished in 20024 below new coach Jim Harbaugh. For the primary time in his profession he was below 80% of the staff’s snaps at 61%. Was that due to his age or Harbaugh, and the way will it influence dwelling a lot he makes in free company and whether or not he returns to L.A. He performed 2024 on a one-year, $19.2 million deal.
Different 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 Road
- Mario Edwards
- Dayo Odeyingbo
- Brent City
- William Gholston
- Joseph Ossai
- L.J. Collier
- Trevis Gipson
- Da’shawn Hand
- James Smith-Williams
- Casey Toohill
- Charles Harris
- Cameron Pattern
- 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
- Malik Herring (RFA)
- Earnest Brown (RFA)
- Christian Elliss (RFA)
- Janarius Robinson (RFA)
Not too long ago launched EDGE rushers that joined free company
These EDGE rushers have been launched after our rankings have been put collectively within the lead as much as the 2025 league 12 months.
Preston Smith
Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the course of the 2024 season, discovering two sacks in eight video games. His 4.5 sacks in 2024 was his lowest quantity since 2020 and he solely had 32 tackles. The Steelers would have needed to pay him $13.4 million in 2025, and so they felt he wasn’t price that form of cash.