It’s counterintuitive that such an important and valuable position as edge defender will have so many options. Still, year after year we see good players signing decent, team-friendly teams and producing at a high level in the NFL.
Teams fairly spend a lot of resources to find elite players, but free agency always offers great short-term options—and sometimes, even long-term shots as well.
This year, it’s the same thing. There are some really good bets to make, like Chase Young and Montez Sweat, who can offer good play for years to come. And there’s an old star like Khalil Mack, who is still playing great despite his age but won’t be around much longer.
This is the eighth installment of our top free agents list in 2025.
Chase Young, New Orleans Saints
Young has played for three NFL teams over the past 18 months, which might generate some level of concern. But he is still 25 and extremely productive. Last year for the Saints, Young generated a career high 66 pressures, which is ninth in the entire NFL.
Lately, Chase hasn’t been as good of a run defender as he was early in his career, but at the same time he’s more efficient as a pass rusher, which balances just fine.
Montez Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles
Sweat has never been a bona fide star edge rusher, but he’s been consistently good throughout his NFL career. But he did shine in the Super Bowl, with 2.5 sacks and a strong case to be the game’s MVP. Sweat, who’s already entering his third NFL contract, has had at least 40 pressures in each of the last four seasons.
Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
How frequently a player in the NFL signs a six-year deal and actually plays the entire contract? That’s exactly what happened to Mack, extended when he was traded from the Raiders to the Bears in 2018. He was traded from the Bears to the Chargers in 2022, and now that deal is finally over. Mack is 34, but he is still impressively productive with 23 sacks and 137 pressures generated over the last two years.
Haason Reddick, New York Jets
Reddick missed a big part of last season because of a contract dispute with the Jets, so it’s hard to be sure about where he’s at now, but he was still able to generate 26 pressures in 10 games. Between 2022 and 2023, his final two years with the Eagles, Reddick had 27 sacks and 135 pressures, one of the most productive edges in the league.
Dante Fowler Jr., Washington Commanders
Fowler is one of these classic examples of journeymen at the edge position. And eventually he will have big-time seasons, like he did last season playing on a one-year contract with the Commanders. He had 10.5 sacks, the second best number of his career. It’s hard to know if he will replicate that, because his best season was in 2019, but he can certainly be a viable edge rusher.
Other options: Chauncey Golston, Azeez Ojulari, Dayo Odeyingbo, Brandon Graham, Matt Judon, DeMarcus Lawrence, Preston Smith, Charles Omenihu, Marcus Davenport, Derek Barnett, Carl Lawson.
