Nothing sells tickets in the NFL like an elite quarterback and an explosive offense. But Super Bowl LVIII is recent proof that defense still matters a lot in the race for the Lombardi Trophy. Perhaps more than Patrick Mahomes, Steve Spagnuolo’s Kansas City Chiefs defense helped propel the third title in five years for this generation’s NFL dynasty.
With that in mind, all 32 teams plan to explore the veteran market for defensive upgrades this year. And 2024 free agency, which begins later this month, actually has a number of entry-level pieces to offer.
(To discover the 25 best offensive free agents, Click here).
Here’s a first look at 25 of the best defenders available:
Honorable mentions: Chiefs DE Mike Danna, Eagles DE Brandon Graham, Colts DL Grover Stewart, Patriots OLB Josh Uche, Buccaneers LB Devin White, Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks, Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner, Broncos LB Josey Jewell, Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr., Texans CB Steven Nelson, Colts CB Kenny Moore II, Rams S Jordan Fuller, Lions S CJ Gardner-Johnson, former Seahawks S Quandre Diggs
On a Miami Dolphins roster loaded with speed and stardom, Van Ginkel emerged in 2023 as a more rugged breakout, recording a career-high six sacks, plus 19 QB hits, as a part-time starter. Add in three more years of solid rotational work, and he’s ready for bigger work in the future.
He turns 30 this summer and has missed significant time due to injury in two of his last four seasons. But Reader is a gigantic-sized stopgap who has been steady when healthy for the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans. His impact goes well beyond the numbers, particularly as a run defender.
23. Ravens DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney
Has he finally found a new level at age 30, or has he simply benefited from the Baltimore Ravens’ stellar scheme and setup in 2023? There is probably some truth in both. Clowney is the definition of a short-term rental at this point, but he’s proven in different cities and systems that he can be an imposing presence.
22. Browns DE/OLB Za’Darius Smith
Playing with Myles Garrett helped in Cleveland, but Smith was always a pretty consistent runner when healthy and given opportunities. He’s had 20 quarterback hits in five of his last six seasons, so consistency is the key to the game here.
21. Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner
For Wagner, age is just a number. Clearly, at 34 years old, he no longer possesses the kind of sideline-to-sideline speed that bodes well for lockdown help in pass coverage. But if you need a short-term plug-and-play leader for the middle of a defense, he still has it. The question is: Will he want to start fresh outside of Seattle?
20. Former Dolphins CB Xavien Howard
Released to save money, Howard has an all-star resume that’s probably a bit brighter than his current 2023 tape. He’ll also be 31 years old at a notoriously unstable position. But he’s been shown before he can be a ball magnet in the secondary, so he’ll be worth someone’s bet.
After a multi-year lull, Cox returned to his starting form on an otherwise shoddy Philadelphia Eagles defense in 2023. At 33, he is still best suited in a rotation role, no longer the stud permanent from its peak. But if he doesn’t retire or re-sign in Philadelphia, he should have suitors as an interior chess piece.
18. Texans DL Sheldon Rankins
Will Anderson Jr. gets most of the love on the Houston front, where DeMeco Ryans has overseen a quick turnaround for the Texans. But Rankins does a lot of things well in the trenches, and he’s been above average for three different teams in his career.
The former No. 2 overall draft pick is probably the biggest mystery on the roster, if only because his reputation dominates his career production. It’s true that the former Washington Commanders player had a solid Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, but his value comes far more from the upside of his freakish physical tools than from a consistent and lasting track record.
The former New York Jets reserve has quietly carved out a niche as the Carolina Panthers’ best off-ball blitzer, totaling 12.5 sacks and 20 hits since 2022. His speed with the ball gives him a great appeal even at a devalued position, and he is only two years after having the opportunity to become a full-time starter.
There are few veterans better positioned to capitalize on a single season of production than Stone, whose seven picks in 2023 have made him an unlikely star of a loaded Baltimore Ravens defense. Although he profiles more as a No. 3 center fielder than a do-it-all starter, his knack for finding the ball in pass coverage cannot be denied.
If Geno Stone is the boom-or-bust playmaker of the security market, then Curl is the stable, if unspectacular, prototype. While Washington has struggled to field a respectable “D” pass rush, he has still recorded four straight years of generally reliable play at fullback, notching a career-high 115 tackles in 2023.
His highs are extremely high, which makes sense considering he’s earned Pro Bowl nominations with three different teams. Even at 33, Gilmore has had some vintage lockdowns for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. The concern, however, is that he’s not getting any younger and will likely be joining his fifth different defense in as many years.
Like fellow free agent Kam Curl, Fuller is often overlooked for playing on a forgettable Washington Commanders defense. But he’s mostly been steady as a cover man, and that goes back to eight years he split between DC and the Kansas City Chiefs. You could do a lot worse on the perimeter.
11. Justin Simmons, former Broncos
Released days before free agency to free up much-needed salary cap space, Simmons is no spring chicken at 31, but he’s still one of the smartest back-end players in the game, giving Denver year after year of ball production. If any stock is going to break the trend of a declining market at this position, it might just be him.
David continues to defy Father Time as a pillar of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, making 120 tackles for the fourth time in six years at age 33. He’s just hard to find out of position, and he always brings a physical advantage. It’s hard to imagine him playing for any team other than the Bucs, though.
9. Giants S Xavier McKinney
Injuries – on and off the field – robbed him of extended action twice in four years with the New York Giants. But when active, the Alabama product has set the tone for the secondary.
Will Anderson Jr. won Defensive Rookie of the Year in the trenches for the Houston Texans, but Greenard has quietly set the stage for his pass-rushing efficiency, leading the club with 12.5 sacks in 2023 Injuries have missed him 16 games from 2021 to 2022, but when active he has been one of the Texans’ most stable starters.
There may be no more underrated journeyman than Floyd, who has now eclipsed nine sacks and 18 QB hits in four straight seasons between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams. He’s a plug-and-play beginner who thrives on pinning his ears back during transmissions.
The New York Jets’ stocky, demanding reserve is one of Robert Saleh’s favorites, and his effectiveness as a situational runner justifies it, especially after a career season in 2023 (10 sacks, 21 QB hits). He has the explosiveness of a future Pro Bowler, provided he can remain durable with more snaps.
Marketed by the New York Giants during the 2023 campaign, Williams is no longer necessarily the game destroyer he briefly was at the peak of his tenures with the New York Giants and Jets. But even at 30, he remains a big, versatile passer capable of moving in the trenches.
The former first-round pick finally lived up to his pre-draft hype once Roquan Smith arrived to help the Baltimore Ravens linebacker corps in 2022. At just 24 years old, he’s just entering the his peak, fresh off a dynamic 2023 that saw him headlining. of the game’s stingiest defenses with 133 tackles, six assists and several takeaways.
Two years after missing almost a full season due to serious injury, Hunter was back to MVP caliber for the Minnesota Vikings defense in 2023, recording a career-high 16.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. At 30 years old, he remains one of the most imposing and unblockable Edge Rushers in the game.
Against all odds, the Miami Dolphins were able to count on Wilkins from the start. The former first-rounder has played in 81 of a possible 83 games since entering the NFL, recording at least 10 tackles for loss in each of his last three seasons. He does everything well as the anchor of the defensive front.
A beast of an interior pocket disruptor at the heart of the Kansas City Chiefs’ championship roster, Jones is a top-five defensive difference maker in the NFL, poised to land a contract worth around $30 million per year. He’s already hinted at a return to KC, where the Chiefs are expected to prioritize an extension after his latest postseason stardom. If he somehow manages to enter the market, many clubs would rush to make him one of the highest paid players in football.