March 11, 2024   2 MIN READ

Setting Edges

Adam Caplan's Free-Agent Rankings: Defense

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The NFL’s new league year begins Wednesday, March 13. The league’s legal tampering period begins noon Monday.

Here’s my list of the top pending free agents on defense, by position and ranked:

Brian Burns

EDGE/SAM/DEFENSIVE END
1. Josh Allen
2. Danielle Hunter
3. Brian Burns
4. Jonathan Greenard
5. Mike Danna
6. Bryce Huff
7. Shaq Barrett
8. Jadeveon Clowney
9. Andrew Van Ginkel
10. Chase Young
Others: Michael Hoecht; D.J. Wonnum; Yannick Ngakoue; Emmanuel Ogbah; Dorance Armstrong; Leonard Floyd; Kyle Van Noy; Bud Dupree; Josh Uche; Malik Harrison; Yetur Gross-Matos; Charles Harris; Dante Fowler

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE
1. Christian Wilkins
2. Leonard Williams
3. D.J. Reader
4. Calais Campbell
5. Denico Autry
6. Daquon Jones
7. Raekwon Davis
8. Grover Stewart
9. Teair Tart
10. Foley Fatukasi
Others: Jordan Phillips; Derek Nnadi; Neville Gallimore; Justin Jones; Sheldon Rankins; Sebastian Joseph-Day; Quinton Jefferson; Javon Kinlaw; Bilal Nichols; Jihad Ward

OUTSIDE/OFF BALL LINEBACKER
1. Sione Takitaki
2. Denzel Perryman
3. Jacob Phillips
4. Zack Baun
5. Akeem Davis-Gaither
6. Anfernee Jennings
7. Melvin Ingram
8. Bruce Irvin
9. Anthony Barr
10. Trevis Gipson
Others: Isaiah Simmons; Tyrel Dodson; Shaquille Quarterman; Joe Bachie; Matt Adams

INSIDE LINEBACKER
1. Patrick Queen
2. Frankie Luvu
3. Jerome Baker
4. Jordyn Brooks
5. Kenneth Murray
6. Josey Jewell
7. Lavonte David
8. Bobby Wagner
9. Devin White
10. Blake Cashman
Others: Aziz Al-Shaair; Eric Kendricks; Anthony Walker; Kwon Alexander; Zach Cunnigham; Shaq Leonard; Jordan Hicks; Oren Burks; Mack Wilson; Blake Martinez; Devin Bush

CORNERBACK
1. L’Jarius Sneed
2. Xavien Howard
3. Chidobe Awuzie
4. Stephon Gilmore
5. Adoree’ Jackson
6. Kendall Fuller
7. Darious Williams
8. Steven Nelson
9. Ronald Darby
10. Kristian Fulton
Others: Kenny Moore; Avonte Maddox; Sean Murphy-Bunting; Patrick Peterson; Michael Davis; Bradley Roby; Eli Apple; Ahkello Witherspoon; JC Jackson; Jeff Okudah; C.J. Henderson; Levi Wallace; Kindle Vildor; Rock Ya-Sin

SAFETY
1. Antoine Winfield Jr
2. Xavier McKinney
3. Kyle Dugger
4. Kamren Curl
5. Justin Simmons
6. Darnell Savage
7. Micah Hyde
8. Jordan Poyer
9. C.J. Gardner-Johnson
10. Geno Stone
Others: Jordan Fuller; Julian Blackmon; Quandre Diggs; Jayron Kearse; Rayshawn Jenkins; Tashaun Gipson; Jeremy Chinn; Brandon Jones; Mike Edwards; Jalen Mills; Eddie Jackson; Jamal Adams; Kareem Jackson; Jordan Whitehead; Adrian Amos

About The Author

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Adam Caplan is 20+ year NFL reporter covering the league on various media platforms from an insider perspective. Caplan, a former ESPN NFL insider, is known in reporting circles for his reports and analysis on transactions, player personnel, injuries, and coaching moves. Prior to joining ESPN in 2013, he worked for various media outlets such as FoxSports.com, Scout.com and was long-time contributor to Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia's coverage of the Eagles. Caplan, who lives in the Philadelphia market, has broken numerous stories on the Eagles since he starting covering the team during the 2000 season from a transactional, coaching, and injury standpoint. And over that time, he has hosted radio shows locally including the highly-rated "Friday Night Football" on 975 The Fanatic with Joe DeCamara from 2013-2015. Currently, Caplan is a host on SiriusXMNFL Radio and SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio in addition to being a regular paid contributor to radio stations in several NFL markets. As one of the co-hosts of the Inside the Birds podcast, Caplan brings decades of knowledge of the innerworkings of the Eagles from a front office and coaching perspective.

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