NFL players make their pitch to Myles Garrett to join their team
Justin Jefferson, Rome Odunze, and David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs pich Myles Garrett to come to their team after requesting a trade from Browns.
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The adage that defense wins championships still exists. Anyone who disputes that should watch the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl 59 performance.
Philadelphia’s success could lead to a robust free-agent market on the defensive side of football.
Several free-agent defenders can make immediate impacts in 2025. Edge rushers and defensive backs are expected to be in high demand as the legal tampering period starts on March 10, and the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 12.
Safety Jevon Holland, cornerback D.J. Reed, edge rusher Khalil Mack and linebacker Zack Baun are among the best free-agent defensive players available.
Where will the top free-agent defensive players go? USA TODAY Sports analyzes the best fits for the top free-agent defenders as free agency approaches.
Best fit: Minnesota Vikings
Holland is an impact player in the defensive backfield. He’s a sure tackler with the speed and range to cover a lot of ground. The Oregon product has registered 301 tackles, 25 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and five interceptions in 60 regular-season games in his career.
It’s time for the Vikings to revamp their safety room. Veteran Harrison Smith is contemplating retirement, and Camryn Bynum is a free agent. Holland would add a jolt of youth and athleticism to the Vikings’ secondary.
Best fit: Atlanta Falcons
Reed is in his prime at 28 years old. The corner is a bit undersized at 5’9” but has good coverage skills. He allowed a 57% completion percentage and two touchdowns when targeted during the 2024 NFL season.
Reed could reunite with former Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in Atlanta. The new Falcons DC knows Reed’s skillset well.
Best fit: Los Angeles Chargers
Mack has been the Chargers‘ best and most consistent pass rusher over the last three seasons. The veteran turns 34 on Feb. 22 but is still disruptive coming off the edge. He’s a nine-time Pro Bowler and was invited to the Pro Bowl for three straight seasons with Los Angeles.
Joey Bosa is a potential cut candidate. The Chargers could save approximately $25 million by releasing Bosa. Mack isn’t quite the force he once was, but he still makes plays and is a veteran leader in Los Angeles’ locker room.
Best fit: Philadelphia Eagles
Baun earned himself a big payday this offseason.
The linebacker enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, racking up a career-best 151 tackles and 3.5 sacks while forcing five fumbles. He had a team-high seven tackles and one interception in Super Bowl 59.
The Eagles, who ranked No. 1 in total defense in 2024, can’t let Baun walk out the door after his breakout year. The 28-year-old was named a first-team All-Pro and is entering what should be the prime of his career.
Best fit: Los Angeles Rams
Sweat led the Eagles with eight sacks and tallied 54 pressures during the regular season. The edge rusher produced a game-high 2.5 sacks in a dominant Super Bowl 59 performance.
Sweat changed his representation, which signifies he’s seeking a significant pay raise. Will the Eagles be able to re-sign him? Sweat has leverage following his superb performance in Super Bowl 59. Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and Sweat would form an imposing pass-rush duo.
Best fit: Las Vegas Raiders
Unfortunately for Reddick, most of the news he made during the 2024 season came from his lengthy holdout. Reddick tallied just one sack in 10 games after skipping part of the season, snapping a streak of four straight seasons with at least 11 sacks.
Reddick desires a Pro Bowl-level salary. The Raiders have over $92 million in salary cap space via Over the Cap. Las Vegas has enough money to splurge on a pass rusher to pair with Maxx Crosby.
Best fit: Kansas City Chiefs
Bolton led the Chiefs with 106 tackles and 11 tackles for loss during the regular season and has recorded at least 100 tackles in three of his last four seasons.
The linebacker has been steady and productive in all four seasons in Kansas City. He wears the green dot and is the captain of the Chiefs defense. It would be a significant loss for the Chiefs’ defense if he bolts in free agency.
Best fit: Kansas City Chiefs
Reid is an anchor in the defensive backfield for the Chiefs. His nine passes defended ranked second on the team in 2024. He’s a reliable safety and one of the best tacklers on the squad. He’s produced over 80 tackles in all three seasons in Kansas City. He’s by far the team’s best safety.
The veteran declared he wants to return to Kansas City after the team’s blowout Super Bowl 59 loss.
Best fit: Denver Broncos
Injuries have hampered Hufanga the past two seasons. The defensive back has played a combined 17 games in two years while dealing with a torn ACL and other bumps. However, Hufanga is one of the NFL’s better safeties when he’s on the field. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2022.
The Broncos ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in pass defense. Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Pat Surtain and Hufanga would be a scary duo in Denver’s defensive backfield.
Best fit: Detroit Lions
Ward allowed a 61% completion percentage and five touchdowns in 2024. He was a 2023 Pro Bowl and a second-team All-Pro at cornerback.
The Lions had the 30th-ranked pass defense in the NFL last season, and Detroit cornerback Carlton Davis is slated to hit free agency.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
