Where I Think The Top Defensive Free Agents At Each Position Will End Up
Defensive Tackle: Akiem Hicks to the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars interior defensive line is pretty weak and could use a run stuffing player that eats up double teams like Akiem Hicks. By adding him to their defensive line, this would free up edge rushers like Josh Allen and K’Lavon Chaisson to run wild.
Jacksonville has fifty six million in cap space and could give the thirty two year old interior defensive lineman a two year deal for around twelve to fifteen million dollars. The Regina alum is coming off a season where he was banged up and recorded twenty five tackles and three and a half sacks so his market value will be low when you factor in his age, stats, and injury history.
Hicks is still a good player despite age and injuries that will add a veteran presence to a talented pass rushing unit and help build the Jaguars into a contender.
Defensive End: Chandler Jones to the Miami Dolphins
With J.J. Watt coming in and eating up a lot of cap space, Chandler Jones is going to want big money to rush the quarterback. The Dolphins have the most cap space in the NFL with sixty two million so this feels like a match made in heaven.
Jones, thirty two, is coming off a year where he tallied forty one solo tackles and ten and a half sacks. In Miami, Jones would be the primary pass rusher while in Arizona there are a lot of mouths to feed with Watt, Allen, Golden, and Kennard. Miami could give Jones a three year twenty eight to thirty two million dollar contract and lock him up essentially through the end of his career. This’d be a great deal for both Miami and Jones.
Inside Linebacker: De’Vondre Campbell to the New England Patriots
Campbell is twenty eight years old and is coming off his best career season where he was named All Pro and totaled one hundred and forty six tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions. With his age and status in the league, the Patriots will have to pay a decent sum for Campbell.
New England should be cutting ties with players like Hightower and Van Noy to both free up cap space and also bring in a younger and more talented regime of linebackers. Campbell is at the perfect age that he can be still very efficient on the field and respected as a leader, just what the Patriots need. The Pats should give Campbell a four year deal worth twenty six to thirty two million.
This would bolster a solid yet aging New England defense while also giving Campbell a chance to thrive in a good scheme.
Outside Linebacker: Harold Landry to the Atlanta Falcons
Harold Landry is one of the leagues most underrated pass rushers and he should be getting a solid contract this offseason from the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta is sitting even at the salary cap and are looking to free up more space. They’re already working to after they cut Dante Fowler which also opens up an edge rusher position.
Last season was Landrys fourth and he really played well. He made seventy five tackles accompanied by twelve sacks. While Atlanta doesn’t have massive cap space like other teams in need of an edge rusher like Miami or Denver, the Falcons head coach is former Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. This could be a connection to pull Landry to Atlanta and have him wearing black and red next season.
Cornerback: J.C. Jackson stays with the New England Patriots
A lot of people are predicting that Jackson is going to leave New England, but there really isn’t a reason unless a team offers him a five year one hundred million dollar deal, which won’t happen. He’s in a good scheme in New England and is a fan favorite after they got rid of Gilmore.
Currently the Pats don’t have enough cap space to give Jackson the deal he may want, but I think they will start to clear some older guys with big contracts out and make space for Jacksons deal.
Safety: Tyrann Mathieu to the Carolina Panthers
It’s very rare that you see a player of Mathieu’s caliber bounce around the league that he’s had, but I think he’ll be on the move once again. Kansas City only has around three million in cap after extending Kelce, Mahomes, and Hill and signing Thuney last season so I think Mathieu will walk and sign with the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers have a great secondary already that includes Stephon Gilmore, Jaycee Horn, CJ Henderson, Donte Jackson, and Jeremy Chinn, but by adding Mathieu, you add one of the best run support players and freak athletes in the NFL. He could sign a three to four year deal with Carolina for about eight million a season. His high motor and great IQ make him a ridiculously good player and one that could make the Panthers an NFC South contender.