With as many as 5 go rushers projected to be taken within the first spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft and several other big-time choices accessible in free company, this offseason has the prospect for large motion at EDGE rusher.
We polled a bunch of writers from round SB Nation to collect consensus rankings concerning the gamers.
Notice: “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 typically refers to go rushers.
We’ll take away gamers from the record as they re-sign with their present groups all the best way as much as the opening of free company 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 course 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 probably 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. UPDATE: Browning signed a two-year deal to remain in Arizona.
7. Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles
A former All-Professional and Professional Bowl choice, Graham performed 11 video games for Philly this yr, his fifteenth(!) with the franchise. It will 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 communicate for the way he feels on the day after a sport, however his stats present he nonetheless has one thing within the tank.
6. Chase Younger, New Orleans Saints
The previous second general 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 consequently and had neck surgical procedure throughout 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 might be on the lookout for some stability after three groups in two seasons, however 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 harm. Earlier than that, he gave the impression 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 must show he’s wholesome earlier than a crew provides him a longer-term deal? It’s not day by day a 27-year-old go rusher with 8 sacks in his earlier season hits the free agent market, so there shall 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 main 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 improve. Spotrac is projecting him to nab a three-year, $56 million deal.
3. Haason Reddick, New York Jets
You might 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 sport 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 continues to be prone to signal a good 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 harm 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 doubtless 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 means into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Even at age 33, he made the Professional Bowl and notched six sacks a yr after exploding for 17. He persistently 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 crew’s snaps at 61%. Was that due to his age or Harbaugh, and the way will it influence residence 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. UPDATE: Mack is staying in Los Angeles.
Just lately launched EDGE rushers that joined free company
These EDGE rushers had been launched after our rankings had been put collectively within the lead as much as the 2025 league yr.
Preston Smith
Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers throughout 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 value that sort of cash.
DeMarcus Walker
Walker spent two years with the Bears however they didn’t suppose he was value $5.25 million in 2025. He’s coming off a pleasant yr with 17 begins, 16 QB hits, and three.5 sacks after notching 3.5 sacks in 2023. He had seven sacks in 2022 in his one yr with the Titans. He can get forward of the market along with his early launch.
Dre’Mont Jones
The go rusher from Seattle, Jones misplaced his beginning job midway by way of 2024 after the transition at head coach and defensive scheme with the Seahawks. He performed 55% of the Seahawks snaps in 2024 and was on the sphere for 14% of the particular groups snaps, too. He’s solely 28 and can get a glance from somebody after averaging 5.8 sacks per yr in his six NFL seasons — simply not on the $16.5 million he was scheduled to make.
Joey Bosa
Bosa was launched by the Chargers in a wage cap transfer and immediately turns into one of many prime gamers available on the market. The issue for Bosa isn’t expertise, however he hasn’t been in a position to keep wholesome. He performed 14 video games in 2024 and made the Professional Bowl however he performed 14 video games mixed in 2022 and 2023. Somebody goes to offer him a hefty wage hoping he can get again to enjoying a full season and double-digit sacks regardless of turning 30 this offseason.
Harold Landry
Landry had two years remaining on the large five-year deal he signed in Tennessee, however the Titans didn’t need to pay $17.5 million for his providers. He’s nonetheless actually good, ending 2024 with 9 sacks and 71 tackles whereas enjoying 83% of the snaps. UPDATE: Landry signed a three-year take care of the Patriots.
Von Miller
The NFL’s lively chief in sacks was launched by the Payments to open up cap house. He signed an costly deal a number of years in the past and his torn ACL that fall has hampered him as he ages. He’s probably a 20% snap depend participant at this level in his profession, however his manufacturing ought to imply he will get a deal someplace.
Za’Darius Smith
Smith was traded to the Lions this yr after Detroit’s accidents left them shorthanded. Detroit didn’t need to pay him $11 million. The previous Professional Bowler turns 33 simply after the beginning of the 2025 season however he’s fairly constant. He completed with 9 sacks in 2024, 5.5 in 2023, and 10 in 2022. He’s performed at the very least 16 video games each season in that span. He’s nonetheless able to being a 60% snap depend participant.
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 Avenue
- 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
Amen Ogbongbemiga- Malik Herring (RFA)
- Earnest Brown (RFA)
- Christian Elliss (RFA) – Tendered at proper of first refusal
- Janarius Robinson (RFA)
Free agent EDGE rushers who had been signed to new offers
- Christian Elliss was assigned the RFA tender by the Patriots, however can nonetheless be signed by one other crew
- 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
- Harold Landry signed a three-year take care of the New England Patriots
- Khalil Mack is staying with the Chargers for another yr
