5 BEST EDGE RUSHERS STILL AVAILABLE

BY ADAM GREENE

Where we’ve had an embarrassment of riches in our late offensive free agent rankings, we’ve taken a hit here as we cross over to the defense. Injuries or poor defensive schemes hit these guys a season ago, with some taking a real dip in production that has likely cost them money in 2022.

But training camp is coming up this month and few players can deliver immediate value to a team like an edge rusher. Here are my selections for the five best currently on the market.

5. CARL NASSIB, FREE AGENT

Age: 29

2021: 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three tackles for a loss, one forced fumble

The NFL’s most famous player financial advisor finds himself a free agent here deep into the offseason. Nassib has never been more than a reserve and a role player, but last year was a down one ever for him. After making five starts and appearing in 14 games in 2020 for the Las Vegas Raiders, he never made a start and played in 13 games in 2021. He’s still young and there’s plenty of gas in the tank and it’s entirely possible that the chaos and insanity surrounding the Raiders impacted his performance. It could also be that he was used incorrectly in former defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s system.

Perfect landing spot: New York Jets

The Jets are starting two guys that had 11.5 sacks between them last season, so they obviously need the help. What they should also be desperate for is leaders inside the locker room and the sideline and Nassib can definitely be that. In two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nassib had 29 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2018 and 34 tackles with six sacks in 2019, all mostly off the bench. He could thrive in Robert Saleh’s defensive system, but, maybe more importantly, he could help guys like Carl Lawson and John Franklin-Myers thrive as well.

4. TAKKARIST MCKINLEY, FREE AGENT

Age: 26

2021: 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three tackles for a loss, one forced fumble

McKinley was a first round pick in 2017 and has never lived up to that billing. As usual, for a guy like McKinley who doesn’t just bust right out of the NFL, this wasn’t his fault. It was the fault of scouts and talent evaluators. If McKinley had been taken in the third round, no one would think he was anything other than a solid NFL player.

After missing most of 2020, his final year with the Atlanta Falcons, with an injury, he played in 11 games and started two for the Browns a season ago.

Perfect landing spot: Los Angeles Chargers

Brandon Staley helped rejuvenate Leonard Floyd’s career in his first (and only) season with as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator. The Chargers already have Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, but those guys won’t play every snap. All he’s got to do is keep the pressure on when those men take a breather and he can reinvigorate a career that’s never really gotten out of the blocks.

3. JASON PIERRE-PAUL, FREE AGENT

Age: 33

2021: 31 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, four passes defended

With July 4^th in the rearview, it’s safe to talk about Jason Pierre-Paul, who has done more to teach America about fireworks safety than every public service announcement ever put together. JPP had a huge drop off last season thanks to a torn rotator cuff. He went under the knife back in February and should be ready to go when the season starts. A healthy JPP has been good for elite pass rushing seasons over most of his career, even after an accident that cost him multiple fingers. In his three healthy seasons with Tampa Bay, he had 30.5 sacks and won a Super Bowl ring.

Perfect landing spot: Kansas City Chiefs

Pierre-Paul all but cost the Chiefs their second Super Bowl championship back in the 2020-21 season so he might as well join them to help make up for it. JPP can control where he lands by what he demands in cash. A contender will pay less, but offer the chance to play for a title. But a healthy Pierre-Paul could probably play anywhere. As for Kansas City, they have a rookie in George Karlaftis penciled in as a starting edge rusher and Frank Clark on the other side, a guy who hasn’t recorded double digit sacks since 2018 and had just 4.5 last season.

2. EVERSON GRIFFEN, FREE AGENT

Age: 34

2021: 15 tackles, five sacks, four tackles for a loss, one forced fumble

Griffen’s return to the Minnesota Vikings last season worked out pretty well for nine games, but multiple issues off the field, including a car accident, kept him from playing a full campaign. Still, five sacks in nine games is nothing to wave off. Even spanning two teams after a trade in 2020, he still managed six sacks.

Perfect landing spot: Arizona Cardinals

Arizona must have a pass rush to compete in the NFC West, especially with the defending Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams owning them over the last five seasons. JJ Watt was injured most of last season. Markus Golden picked up the slack with 11 sacks, but the team could use some veteran help that won’t eat up their extra cap space. The Cards might already struggle to make the playoffs, but if they can’t get more pressure on the quarterback, they’ll be out of the running by Thanksgiving.

1. CARLOS DUNLAP, FREE AGENT

Age: 33

2021: 35 tackles, 8.5 sacks, eight tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, seven passes defended

In his first full season with the Seahawks Dunlap rediscovered the guy that consistently put up eight-plus sacks for the Cincinnati Bengals for most of the last decade. After spending most of his career with the Bengals and then one and a half with a Seahawks team that did not make the playoffs last year, Dunlap is probably looking to join a contender and his production should justify it. His price tag has probably been the biggest problem.

Perfect landing spot: Detroit Lions

While contender and “Lions” might not make a lot of sense on paper, we have new teams pop into the playoffs every season and a guy like Dunlap could be the player that pushes Detroit over the hump. While they just drafted Aiden Hutchinson to rush the QB, they currently have six-year vet Romeo Okwara on the other side of the line and he’s coming off an injury shortened season where he showed up in four games and recorded just one sack. The Lions have plenty of cap room and could use a guy like Dunlap’s production and leadership in Dan Campbell’s kneecap bite brigade.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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