After a few years where the perceived value of interior defensive linemen went down, it’s fully back up now. And the Super Bowl was a big example. The Philadelphia Eagles suffocated the Kansas City Chiefs with Jalen Carter, but also with Milton Williams.

Now, Williams is slated to hit free agency and is expected to command a big payday. He leads the list of available players at the position.

Disclaimer: Osa Odighizuwa would have obviously made the list, but it’s been reported that the Dallas Cowboys were willing to franchise tag him—and the parties ended up agreeing to a four-year extension before free agency.

This is the seventh installment in our series of top available free agents.

Milton Williams, Philadelphia Eagles

Williams became nationally recognized after his two Super Bowl sacks, but he’s been a productive player for much longer. A third-round pick in 2021, he is the type of player that teams want in free agency. He’s 25, entering his second contract, and coming off a big year. In 2024, he generated 40 total pressures and five sacks in the regular season.

Williams is not a complete player, though. Last year, he had a 43.1 run defense grade by PFF, the second time in four years in which he was behind 45. As a defensive tackle, he is a designated interior rusher—and that’s really important for any defense, but the cost has to be considered.

BJ Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

Unlike Milton Williams, Hill is a complete interior defensive linemen without one single big trick. He played three years for the New York Giants and four for the Cincinnati Bengals, always as a solid player both as a run defender and as a pass rusher. Last year, he generated 32 pressures and had 29 stops.

Levi Onwuzurike, Detroit Lions

Onwuzurike is an underrated piece in free agency. He might make less than other guys on this list, but he’s as good as anyone—and that’s why he’s the best value among all. He returned strong from a serious injury and has had two excellent seasons for the Lions. In 2024, he generated 45 pressures, and was still good enough against the run.

Calais Campbell, Miami Dolphins

It’s wild that Campbell is still playing at such a high level. He will be 39 at the start of the season, but is still a productive rotational piece. A second-round pick in 2008, he’s played for the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins. And he’s had five or more sacks in each of his last three seasons. More than that, Campbell is still an elite run defender. For contending teams, he is a great short-term option.

DJ Jones, Denver Broncos

Jones has that Milton Williams style where the run defense is average at best. However, he is still a productive situational pass rusher. Ideally, you won’t want him as your top interior guy, but Jones is a good rotational piece with a lot of experience in the NFL. He’s been in the league since 2017.