NEWSLETTER
NFL teams are busy in the offseason looking to improve their teams. 2023 free agency and the new league year begins on March 15 at 4 p.m. eastern. Here’s what you need to know about free agent edge rushers this offseason.
2023 NFL Free Agent Edge Rushers
Getting after the quarterback is one of the most important parts of football. The teams with a great pass rush find themselves in a position to win football games. It’s simple, protect your quarterback and sack the other team’s QB. We’ve seen how important players like Nick Bosa are to the 49ers.
In the 2022 season, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs were number one and two in the league in sacks. You know teams will be looking for a great edge rusher during free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft.
Brandon Graham
Despite being 34 years old, Graham can still get after the quarterback. The veteran had a career-high 11 sacks in 2022 for the Eagles while totaling 11 tackles for loss and 16 QB hits. Graham was second-team All-Pro back in 2016 and has five seasons in his career in which he’s tallied more than six sacks.
Arden Key
Key is a solid rotation player and had 4.5 sacks for the Jaguars while playing in 17 games. He had 15 QB hits and will provide depth for a defensive line looking for a boost. Key had 6.5 sacks and 17 hits during the 2021 season.
Yannick Ngakoue
Yannick Ngakoue has been pretty consistent throughout his career getting after the quarterback while playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and Indianapolis Colts. In 2022, he had 9.5 sacks and 16 QB hits for the Colts.
He hasn’t been great against the run which seems to be the reason he keeps bouncing from team to team. Someone will bite on his 65 career sacks.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo spent the 2022 season with the Houston Texans. He registered 5 sacks and 11 QB hits while playing in all 17 games. After spending three seasons with the Rams, he forced a fumble as well to go along with 44 tackles and nine tackles for loss.
Jadeveon Clowney
Clowney made three straight Pro Bowls from 2016-18 and was a second-team All-Pro during the 2016 season. In 2021, Clowney had 9 sacks in 14 games for the Cleveland Browns. Last season, his production dropped to just two sacks and four QB hits. The 30-year-old has to prove he can return to form.
Marcus Davenport
Davenport couldn’t stay healthy in 2022 for the New Orleans Saints and saw a major drop in production. The pass-rusher had nine sacks during the 2021 season compared to just 0.5 sacks in 2022. The talent is there but he is yet to play a full season. In his five seasons, the most starts for Davenport is just 13 games.
More Edge Rushers in NFL Free Agency
There are some more options for teams searching for depth on the edge. These free agents include Samson Ebukam, Kyle Van Noy, Charles Omenihu, and Melvin Ingram. In 2022, Ingram led this group with 6 sacks for the Miami Dolphins. Van Noy has a combined 10 sacks over the past two seasons playing for the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers.
Top NFL Free Agent Edge Rushers FAQs
2023 NFL free agency begins on March 15 at 4 p.m. eastern time. Teams are allowed to contact the certified agents of players on March 13 during the legal tampering period.
An unrestricted free agent is an NFL player with at least four years of experience and an expiring contract. They are free to negotiate and sign with any team without any restrictions.
A few of the free-agent edge rushers available include Brandon Graham, Marcus Davenport, Jadeveon Clowney, and Yannick Ngakoue.
