Potentially game-changing defensive linemen are valued at an all-time high in today's NFL. Outside of the quarterback position, the most buzz you'll hear about prior to the NFL Draft is which of the elite pass rushers will go in the first round and to which team.
The top free agent defensive linemen of 2016
There are plenty of starters, rotational players and guys just looking for a shot in this year’s free agent class of defensive linemen.
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That will be true every year in the foreseeable future, but more and more the position's good to great players are getting increasingly bigger deals when they hit the open market. Players who can start and make a significant impact are being given huge deals -- like the massive contract given to Ndamukong Suh by the Miami Dolphins last season -- and even role players along the line are getting big multi-year deals.
Teams are always looking for ways to improve the defensive line, from their starters to the players that rotate in. Having a fresh defensive end you can bring in to clinch an important fourth-quarter drive, or a dependable interior lineman who can make that third-and-goal stop, is crucial to success in the league.
There are players of all types in this year’s free agent class. Here are the best of them, from our list of top 100 NFL free agents.
Wilkerson is a game-changer in every sense of the word. He can immediately improve any defensive line in the entire NFL without exaggeration, and the only thing that could possibly limit his earning potential on the open market is a broken leg for which he started his rehab this month. Wilkerson’s estimated recovery time is just about in line with the start of the 2016 regular season, but teams unsure if he’ll be ready in Week 1 still can’t afford to pass up on a player of his caliber.
The Jets have plenty of defensive line talent, but it’d still be unwise if they let a guy like Wilkerson walk. He’s played five seasons in the league, putting up 300 combined tackles, 36 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He’s only missed three career games, and last season he totaled 12 sacks, a single-season best for him. He’ll get paid, and he’ll be worth it.
Von Miller got all the attention on Denver's defensive line, but Jackson also played an important role in the Broncos' Super Bowl season. The 2012 fifth-round pick played in limited action in his rookie year, but Jackson worked his way into a starting job, racking up 14.5 sacks in his next three years. He's also talented at swatting down passes at the line, recording 15 passes defended in the past three seasons.
The Broncos would like to keep Jackson, but they have to pool their resources into re-signing Miller, and Jackson could simply be too expensive for them. The 26-year-old would be one of the highest-paid defensive linemen this offseason if he hits the open market.
Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami Dolphins
Despite being one of the more versatile and effective defensive ends in the NFL, it seems like Olivier Vernon has floated somewhat under the radar in recent years. A third-round pick by the Dolphins in 2012, Vernon has 29 sacks in four seasons and has never missed a game. He’s played his full rookie contract and while many feel the Dolphins will do what they can to retain him, he should be a highly sought player on the open market.
Vernon finished last season with 61 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks and 11 stuffs behind the line of scrimmage. He hasn’t been able to replicate his 11.5-sack 2013 season, but Vernon has become a much more varied player on the field. He can do a lot more, and the Dolphins counted on him for strong play against the run and the pass. He will turn 26 during the 2016 season and should just be entering the prime of his career.
In the 2015 offseason, this seemed pretty straightforward. Jason Pierre-Paul was one of the league’s best pass rushers, entering his prime at age 26 and trying to negotiate a long-term deal after getting slapped with the franchise tag.
Then July 4 happened. A fireworks accident disfigured Pierre-Paul’s right hand, leading to months of speculation about his health and future in football. Eventually he signed a one-year deal and returned midway through the regular season. For the most part, he looked like the JPP we remember, shedding blockers with ease and getting after quarterbacks. However, the mangled hand clearly affected his play -- he was unable to grip and bring down quarterbacks, ending the year with just one sack in eight games.
Pierre-Paul had a followup procedure after the season ended, presumably to help with the grip on his injured hand. The Giants would like to re-sign him, but only at the right price. What would that price even look like, and how effective can he be from here on out? There are a ton of questions surrounding Pierre-Paul right now -- probably too many for other teams to be comfortable with, which might be what keeps him in New York.
Damon Harrison, DT, New York Jets
In his first four years in the league, Harrison made just under $4 million, but he’s eyeing the first big payday of his career after steadily progressing with the Jets over the years. The 27-year-old had his best season in 2015, putting up a total of 72 tackles with half a sack and a forced fumble. He doesn’t make all the huge plays, but as a nose tackle, Harrison is just supposed to be imposing and effective -- which he is. Harrison is a stout run defender and would improve most of the defensive lines around the league
Howard has been one of the most effective players on the Chiefs’ defense over the years, but as an interior lineman, he’s been overlooked. Still, the 2012 fourth-round pick was excellent last season, putting up career highs in every major category. He recorded 57 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Losing him would be a huge blow to Kansas City’s defense, and he could shore up most defensive lines in the NFL.
Robert Ayers, DE, New York Giants
Ayers spent two seasons in New York after a five-year run with the Broncos. He had his best season yet in 2015, recording nine sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes defended, and he was one of the few bright spots on a porous Giants defense. If there’s one red flag with Ayers, it’s his injury history -- a hamstring ailment kept him out of four games last year, and he hasn’t played a full 16-game season since 2011.
Still, demand should be high for the 30-year-old, who can play every down and contribute in run defense. The Giants would be smart to try re-signing him, since they’re starved for talent on defense and could use a veteran presence like Ayers.
Ngata may not be the game-breaking, momentum-shifting defensive tackle he was for so many years with the Ravens, but he looked like he had a lot left in the tank in 14 games with the Lions in 2015. He had 24 combined tackles and 2.5 sacks, which won't blow anybody away but most importantly, he was a stout defender and still had plenty left to offer. At 32 years old, he doesn't have much left but he's still one of the better nose tackles in the league at this point.
Chris Long, DE, Los Angeles Rams
The heart and soul of the Rams’ defense since 2008, Long hasn’t been a big producer in said defense since 2013. He’s great in the locker room and has had a couple of double-digit sack seasons, but injuries have completely derailed the past two seasons. After not missing a game for his first six seasons in the league, Long missed 14 games over the past two years.
A pass-rushing specialist, Long has only produced four sacks in his past two seasons, while the Rams have paid him just over $17 million in base salary over that time. Long wanted to stay with the Rams until retirement, but it just couldn’t work with those dollar amounts. But Long’s track record before his injuries speaks for itself, and a change of scenery might do him good.
Were it not for multiple big-time injuries, the 49ers likely would have given Williams a massive contract extension years ago. Williams, an undrafted free agent, played in just five games over his first two seasons, but was a breakout star before going down with an injury in 2014. He played in nine games that season, but this past year he played in all 16 and was a bright spot on a bad 49ers team. He’s a dominant run stuffer who can also harass the quarterback and the 49ers would really like to keep him.
Derrick Shelby, DE, Miami Dolphins
Shelby wasn't expected to get much playing time in 2015, but when Cameron Wake tore his Achilles, Shelby came in and made waves. When he found his way onto the field, he was an excellent run stopper and made few mistakes. He wasn't much of a pass rusher, but he made plays when and where they needed to be made and that was enough to likely get him noticed. He put up 37 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception as well as a touchdown last season.
Nick Fairley, DT, Los Angeles Rams
Fairley hasn’t quite lived up to his billing as the 13th overall pick in 2011, but he’s still been a decent defensive lineman for his career. One big problem is the fact that he has yet to play a full 16-game season, though he played in 15 games last season. He had 29 tackles, half a sack and a fumble recovery in his first year with the Rams. He didn’t stand out amid a talented defensive line but he’s shown plenty of potential in the past and should get plenty of opportunities before it’s all said and done.
William Hayes, DE, Los Angeles Rams
Although Hayes might be more famous for his opinions on dinosaurs, he's absolutely a force on the field. In a game against the Seattle Seahawks on the road last season, he recorded nine tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. He played in all 16 games last season, with 53 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He's developed into a consistently good player and should get interest.
Greg Hardy, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Hardy still has a lot to offer on the field, but he comes with a ton of baggage. He was suspended four games last season and was in trouble with the team several times for being late or missing meetings as well as other transgressions. But on the field, he is an effective pass rusher who can elevate a defense to the next level at his best.
Jason Jones, DE, Detroit Lions
A consistent presence on strong defensive lines since entering the league in 2008, Jones has a lot of experience under his belt but still has plenty left in the tank. He played in 15 games last season, putting up 31 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He had a couple of down years but looks like he’s back in his prime. While he doesn’t make a ton of flashy plays, he gets the job done and should be able to get a solid multi-year deal.
Brandon Mebane, DT, Seattle Seahawks
At 31 years old, Brandon Mebane isn’t the same player he once was, but the stout defensive tackle still has a lot to offer. He had 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks last season, and is a very good run defender. He used to get after the quarterback a lot more in his earlier days with the Seahawks, but now he’s just a solid tackler and someone who can hold the line on most defensive fronts in the league.
Terrance Knighton, DT, Washington
Knighton may have overestimated his value during the 2015 offseason and cost himself some money in the long run. After a two-year stint with the Broncos that made him one of the better known nose tackles in the NFL, “Pot Roast” hit the open market with dollar signs in his eyes, but didn’t get the offers he had in mind.
So instead he took a one-year, $4 million “prove-it” deal with Washington and didn’t exactly prove much that would change the minds of NFL general managers. He wasn’t bad in his 15 starts in Washington, but the team finished No. 28 in total defense and allowed 4.8 yards per carry, the second-worst mark in the NFL.
Either way, Knighton is an above-average nose tackle who shouldn’t have any trouble finding work, even if it isn’t the lucrative deal he had in mind last year.
Mike DeVito, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
DeVito recorded 19 tackles and a career-high three sacks in 2015, and he was an integral part of Kansas City’s run defense. The Chiefs went from 28th in run defense -- with DeVito out due to a torn ACL -- to eighth in run defense this past season and DeVito, 31, is a huge part of that.
Raji’s stats won’t blow anybody away, but that has a lot to do with the fact that he was switched back to his nose tackle position in 2015, and played very well there. The Packers tried to play him outside in previous years and it didn’t work out so well -- he’s a natural nose tackle and that’s where he belongs. He made his recovery from a season-ending injury in 2014 well and will hit the open market with plenty to offer.
Jeremy Mincey, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Mincey had a ton of hype surrounding him going into 2015, but after leading the Cowboys in sacks in 2014, he had none this past season. He did have 19 tackles, 15 quarterback pressures and a tackle for loss in six starts over 14 games, though. He’s had elbow surgery for the past two offseasons in a row and it will be a big concern, but if he checks out health-wise, he is a strong run stopper.
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