7 Best Tier 1 Edge Rushers Hitting the Market This Offseason Part 3

BY ADAM GREENE

We’ve arrived at the end of our franchise-worthy edge rushers, with an NFC Champion first up to bat.

5. ARIK ARMSTEAD, DE, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT

2019: 54 tackles, 11 for a loss, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two passes defended

Everything clicked for the San Francisco 49ers this season and while his fellow defensive end Nick Bosa got most of the ink, the Niners’ other former first rounder, Armstead, got most of the action on the field.

In his second healthy season in a row, Armstead made the most of it, setting career highs in every meaningful stat right before he’s due a significant pay increase.

Where he should end up: Las Vegas Raiders

The real answer here is the Buffalo Bills, who should just basically wheel up a pirate treasure chest full of gold up to Armstead’s house to sign him. But nobody wants to play in Buffalo on purpose and with his pick of 4-3 pass-rush needy teams, Armstead will stay in the Pacific time zone to help solve the pass rushing issues that the Raiders themselves created when they shipped Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears two years ago.

6. BUD DUPREE, OLB, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT

2019: 68 tackles, 16 for a loss, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three passes defended

Dupree is just the latest in a long line going back to probably Joey Porter of elite 3-4 outside linebacker edge rushers that the Pittsburgh Steelers let walk after their contract was up. It’s nothing personal at this point. They’ll draft the next guy up (or already have) like they did Dupree when Jarvis Jones and Arthur Moats’ Logan’s Run red palm lights started blinking.

But don’t weep for Bud. He’ll be neck deep in Bugattis before this free agency period is over.

Where he should end up: Arizona Cardinals

Chandler Jones has been a sack monster for the Cardinals since they brought him over in a trade with the New England Patriots back in 2015, but they haven’t gotten much production from the other side. And they tried in free agency this past season, adding Terrell Suggs before shipping him off the Kansas City Chiefs at the trade deadline.

For the Cardinals to compete in the NFC West, they not only need to score points, they need to harass the other teams’ quarterbacks. Dupree with Jones instantly makes them one of the deadliest units in the division, if not the NFC.

7. MARKUS GOLDEN, OLB, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT

2019: 72 tackles, 13 for a loss, 10 sacks, one fumble recover, one defensive touchdown

There were few bright spots in a 4-12 season for the New York Giants last year, but Markus Golden most certainly was one. Golden joins Shaq Barrett and Dante Fowler on this list as guys signing one-year prove it deals looking to cash in a private jet or two this offseason. The only difference between Golden and those other guys is that he flashed this potential before.

Specifically, he did it in his second year with the Arizona Cardinals where he recorded 51 tackles and 12.5 sacks. Injuries basically cost him a job in the desert and the Cards set him loose, but a healthy 2019 put him right back on the radar.

Where he should end up: New York Giants

The Giants have been making cuts heading up to free agency to clear room for a move just like this. Unless they trade away the No. 2 overall pick, they’re adding Ohio State’s Chase Young to their defense, but how much more potent will that pass rush be with Young and Golden both coming off different edges?

I make this point a lot, but teams should pay attention. If you have something that’s working, you need to keep it. Don’t outsmart yourselves. Pay the dude.

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