With the offensive explosion taking place in the NFL, having a dominant pass rusher is more important than ever. Getting to the quarterback is the easiest solution to prevent offenses, as teams that pressure the quarterback force mistakes and generate twists. The top four teams in pressure and seven of the top ten teams in sacks made it to the playoffs this season, so having a strong pass is critical to success.
Five of the pass rushers in this year’s free agent class ranked in the top 10 in sacks this season, so there is a lot of talent for a team to improve their pass rush. These players will have a high salary, as the price is immediately worth improving their defense and making a run in the playoffs – and perhaps a deep postseason run.
The free agency is a month away, but the teams are already looking at their salary limit to get their hands on these pass brokers set to reach the open market (you can also take a look at our ratings for the best free agent defenders, wide receivers, running backs and offensive tackles). This is a deep class of free agent pass brokers, and here are the main ones available on March 15, when teams can start trading with them:
(Note: The market value is classified by Spotrac)
- Classification of free agent: 1
- Age: 28
- Market value: $ 19.7 million
Barrett did not have the dominant sack season he did in 2019, when he led the NFL with 19.5 sacks, but the outside linebacker will have a big payout in March. Barrett came in sixth in the NFL with 42 pressures, despite having only eight sacks in the year – and tied for the NFL leadership in a hurry with 24. Barrett made money in the postseason, having four sacks and 14 pressures for the Super champions Bowl – including 11 combined pressures between the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl LV.
Barrett has had 27.5 sacks since joining Tampa Bay early in the 2019 season, the second highest number of sacks in the NFL during that period. He will get one of the biggest contracts for a pass rusher at the free agency and is the main player in his position in the market.
- Classification of free agent: two
- Age: 26
- Market value: $ 11.2 million
Williams signed his franchise brand last season and earned every penny out of the $ 16.1 million he received from the Giants. Williams, listed as a defensive tackle on the Giants’ depth table, was one of the best defenders in the NFL – finishing with 30 quarterback strikes and 11.5 sacks in his first season under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Williams’ 42 pressures and 12 pressures were third among all defensive tackles (behind only Aaron Donald and Chris Jones) and his 30 quarterback strokes took all players into position.
An entire season with the Giants made swapping a third round 2020 choice worthwhile for Williams. Williams deserves a big deal in New York, but will that happen? Otherwise, some team will be paying dearly for one of the best NFL pass brokers.
- Classification of free agent: 3
- Age: 28
- Market value: $ 13.1 million
Four disappointing seasons in Chicago were not enough for Los Angeles to give Floyd $ 10 million, who seems to be on the line for a bigger payout after a year of career for the Rams. Floyd ended with career records in sacks (10.5), tackles (55), defender hitting (19) and pressures (30) – as an excellent addition to Aaron Donald in the Rams defensive line that ended in second place in the NFL in sacks (53) despite only blitzing 159 times.
Floyd was ninth in the NFL in bags, but was his 2020 a sign of things to come – or just a flash in the pan? Staying with the Rams may be Floyd’s best option, but he is set to get a huge contract next month.
- Classification of free agent: 4
- Age: 28
- Market value: $ 18.2 million
Dupree is one of the most underrated pass rushers in the free agent class, as his 19.5 sacks in the past two years are the eighth most in the NFL. After breaking a career record of 11.5 sacks and 68 tackles in 2019, Dupree’s numbers dropped to eight sacks and 31 tackles in 2020. Dupree ended with 28 pressures and 12 hurries for a Steelers defense that finished first place in the NFL in sacks (56) and was the only team with more than 200 pressures this year.
Teams that run 3-4 and need a fast pass linebacker will find great value in Dupree, who has the ability to thrive outside Pittsburgh. Dupree will cost a lot, as he won $ 15.8 million playing the franchise brand this year.
- Classification of free agent: 5
- Age: 26
- Market value: $ 10.3 million
Hendrickson has always had a lot of talent, especially as he set up his massive structure this year for a dominant season on the defensive end. Playing in the final year of his rookie contract, Hendrickson finished tied for second in the NFL with a career record of 13.5 sacks with 33 pressures and 25 hitting center backs. Hendrickson started 15 games this year, after starting just three in his first three seasons. A brute talent, Hendrickson (6-4, 270) provided the necessary help alongside Cameron Jordan – ranking ninth in quarterback strikes and eighth in his pressure position.
Henderson earned just $ 825,000 in base salary last season. A big increase is coming, but it will be difficult for the Saints to retain it.
- Classification of free agent: 6
- Age: 25
- Market value: $ 15.5 million
Ngakoue suffers a lot for not posting large numbers of sack, but he is one of the most consistent pass brokers since joining the league in 2016. Ngakoue has 45.5 sacks, 96 quarterback strikes and 18 forced fumbles in his career – and is one of just three players with more than eight sacks in each of the past five years (Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack are the others). His 18 forced fumbles since 2016 are second only to Mack (20).
Ngakoue was traded by the Vikings to the Ravens after just six games and ended with eight sacks and 11 strikes from the center, the lowest number of his career – but he had four forced fumbles. The 26 pressures were the lowest since Ngakoue’s debut year, but the numbers of forced sack and fumbles will be enough to get Ngakoue to be paid by a team in the off-season. Another year in the defense of the Ravens can take Ngakoue back to the numbers of 2017 (12 bags, six forced fumbles).
- Classification of free agent: 7
- Age: 26
- Market value: $ 11.6 million
Reddick was a disappointment in his first three years with the Cardinals, but his production in 2020 (12.5 bags) exceeded his total career layoffs before this year (7.5 bags). Reddick had five sacks and three forced fumbles in one game to increase those numbers – but that shouldn’t hurt a series of three games in which he had 7.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. Reddick proved that he can play at an elite level without Chandler Jones in the roster, making his free agency price even higher.
Reddick’s six forced fumbles led all pass rushers and 12.5 sacks were tied for fourth in the league. His 34 pressures and 16 hurries were also the highlight of his career. The Cardinals made Reddick an expert in quick passes on defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s scheme this year, allowing him to make money this offseason.
- Classification of free agent: 8
- Age: 31
- Market value: N / D
Watt is arguably the best NFL pass broker in the past decade, so why is he so low on this list? To start, Watt is 31 years old and has only 26.5 bags in the last five seasons. Injuries undermined Watt’s opportunity to beat Bruce Smith by the all-time sack record, but Watt played all 16 games this year and ended with just five sacks, 17 quarterback strikes, two forced fumbles and 29 pressures.
A team that hires Watt is getting a good pass, but not the three-time Defensive Player of the Year it once was. Watt is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward subscription if the price is right (he won $ 15.5 million last year). Watt was not worth what the Texans paid him, but he managed to present numbers similar to those of 2017 in the right system (16 sacks, 25 quarterback strikes, seven forced fumbles).
- Classification of free agent: 9
- Age: 28
- Market value: $ 15.6 million
Judon was more than worthy of earning his $ 16.8 million franchise mark in 2020, but he didn’t play until that contract number last season. He posted only six sacks and 21 hitting strikes, the lowest total of Judon’s sack since his debut year in 2016 and hitting strikes since 2017. Judon improved his pressures from 31 to 32 and hurried from four to 11, which leaves some hope that the sacks are gone didn’t come to pick you up last year.
Judon has had 30.5 sacks since his debut year in 2016, the tenth most for an external linebacker in the league. A good pass broker, Judon may not be worth the $ 15.6 million he plans to receive. It will improve any team that needs a fast pass linebacker.
- Classification of free agent: 10
- Age: 32
- Market value: N / D
No matter your age, Houston continues to produce at a high level. Houston had eight sacks at age 31, with 25 pressures and 12 hitting strikes. Although Houston may not be the elite pass rusher he was with the Chiefs, his 28 sacks in the past three years are the 13th in the NFL and he is only one of eight players with more than eight sacks in each of the past three seasons. Houston has three security guards in the past two seasons, which leads the NFL.
There may be younger and cheaper options than Houston – which won $ 9 million last season – but its production and ability to reach the quarterback are worth a contract with a short team. Nor will a team find a better leader for their defense than Houston.
- Classification of free agent: 11
- Age: 30
- Market value: N / D
Vernon is ranked at the bottom of this list because of out-of-season Achilles surgery that will lower his market value. There is no denying how much money Vernon could have received had he entered the period of healthy free agency. Vernon was a force in the defense of Cleveland in 2020, ending with nine sacks (the second highest total of his career) with 16 hitting strikes, 28 pressures and 12 hurries.
There are so many options in the pass rusher market that Vernon may have to wait until the second or third wave of free agency to sign up, as a team will get Vernon at a great price in a high-limit deal. Some teams will be more than happy with Vernon, who has had nine sacks in his last eight games. Vernon’s only downside is that he may not be ready to play until the end of September, since Achilles injuries usually take nine months to recover.