2015 Top Ten Edge Rush Free Agents

[Nation]

Franchise Tagged: Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul

TOP TEN AVAILABLE (rankings from Rotoworld)
Jerry Hughes: 26 years old. 9.5 sacks in 2014. 9.5 sacks in 2013. Questions exist regarding his lack of production with the Colts. Was his numbers a product of a great defensive line in Buffalo where he was arguably the 4th best defensive lineman?

Greg Hardy: 26 years old. 1 sack in 2014. 15 in 2013. Played one game and was then put on the Commissioner's Exempt List due to guilty judge-only abuse conviction. Charges dropped following an appeal and an inability to locate alleged victim due to (reported) payoff of alleged. May still have to serve a suspension in 2015.

Brian Orakpo: 28 years old. 0.5 sacks in 2014. 10 in 2013. Suffered his second torn pectoral in 3 years in 2014.

Pernell McPhee: 26 years old. 7.5 sacks in 2014. 2 sacks in 2013. Versatile defender who Ravens are letting walk with Sugges, Dumervile, and Upshaw all manning edge rush.

Jabaal Sheard: 25 years old. 2 sacks in 2014. 5.5 sacks in 2013. A 4-3 fit who had been misused in a 3-4 defense. He had 15.5 sacks in his first two seasons so should draw interest from smart teams who examine player skill versus scheme fit.

Jason Worilds: 26 years old. 7.5 sacks in 2014, 8 in 2013. He's developed over the past few years (15.5 sacks in last two seasons) but there is always a question to the players the Steelers let walk, as they are a team to lock up their core defenders.

Brandon Graham: 26 years old. 5.5 sacks in 2014. 3 sacks in 2013. Played in a 3-4 in Philly and wants to move to a 4-3 based on comfort. Only played in rotational role (43% of snaps) in 2014.

Derrick Morgan: 26 years old. 6.5 sacks in 2014, 6 in 2013. Not a difference maker but solid guy in a rotation. Played in 3-4 in 2014 but had similar numbers in 2013 & 2012 in a 4-3 as a hand-in-the-dirt end.

Adrian Clayborn: 26 year old. 0 sacks in 2014. 6 sacks in 2013. Suffered Torn Bicep in 2014 leading to move to Injured Reserve

Akeem Ayers: 25 years old. 4 sacks in 2014. 1 sack in 2013. Was a draft bust with Tennessee prior to being moved to New England in a trade and used in a situational role.

 

[Future]

As usual, FA pass rushers are pretty minimal.

 

[jrumann59]

kind of meh list, there are some boom or bust players but for the most part underwhelming.

 

[Nation]

As usual, FA pass rushers are pretty minimal.

Yup, unfortunately the most important position on defense is the easiest position to scout which makes it tougher to get the guys without premium picks, which in turn causes teams to lock up the good ones they have.

 

[Nation]

This is how the past 4 years of edge rush free agents performed in Year One, for those who are curious.

 

[Proximo]

What we really need is for Demarcus Lawrence (and some of our other young D linemen) to pan out and step up in 2015.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Some 4-3 team (hopefully us) is going to get a steal with Sheard if they sign him to a reasonable contract. He is a terror as a 4-3 LDE who can just pin his ears back and rush.

 

[jterrell]

This is how the past 4 years of edge rush free agents performed in Year One, for those who are curious.

key takeaway for me in that chart is you see only 5 double digit sack guys over 4 years.
and odds aren't that much better if you pay them 10+M guaranteed.
I expect we see Dallas step into that 4-6 guaranteed area and that looks like a pretty good place to be.
small gamble and one that's shown upside over-performance.

you go get Hardy you are gambling he can stay healthy, out of trouble and get you double digit sacks but even if he does he probably isn't more than a marginal value.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

That list isn't full of wow names but if you could pick up a couple of them, cheaper, they'd make some nice additions to the line to help with rotation and depth and such. I wouldn't be opposed to that in the least.

 

[jterrell]

my preferred order(this assumes salaries):
1. Jerry Hughes. Local kid who may not be a 9.5 sack guy here but could be a 7.5 sack guy. Should easily play out this contract if it is sensible.
2. Sheard. Not sure he is ever a double digit sack guy in Dallas but a lot like Hughes could fit on that second tier around 7-8 sacks. See above on contract numbers and length.
3. Hardy. Obviously the best talent but you are going to pay primo stud dollars. And his old team said no thanks, move along.
4. Graham. Not more than an average talent but a better fit here as a 4-3 end and shouldn't break the bank. Might be a really good fit at SDE for us.

After this you get into reclamation projects or injury risks and not sure Dallas can do more than add one of these guys after the market has dried up.

 

[texbumthelife]

Grab Hughes and Morgan and draft someone and Ill be happy.

 

[speedkilz88]

It still looks like a better group than what is normally available.

 

[MagicMan]

From that list, I would gamble with Jerry's money on Sheard & Hughes. But if I could only grab one-----Hardy still my choice. Downside is the possible suspension in 2015. But could work in Dallas' favor in negotiations----as long as we have him the second half of the season and into the playoffs will still work for me.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Graham could be a late bloomer. Very talented

 

[TheCoolFan]

Jabaal Sheard all the way! Maybe Adrian Clayborn. Derrick Morgan is solid but he's like Anthony Spencer - better at playing the run on the strongside

 

[big dog cowboy]

DLaw + Mincey and two more like Sheard and McPhee could free up the 27 pick from being used for a DE.

 

[ccb04]

Would likely go:

#1: Greg Hardy -- easy to make the argument based on production. Love his talent...leery of his troubles. Be curious to see if the league attempts to impose additional punishment, and how much his asking price is vs. how many teams shy away.

#2: Jabaal Sheard -- the LDE spot was among the least productive positions on the entire Cowboys defense in 2014. While playing 4-3 LDE as a rookie & 2nd year player...Sheard had 110 tackles, 15.5 sacks, & 6 forced fumbles. He was seemingly an ascending player at that position. As a rookie, the RDE across from Sheard was Jayme Mitchell, who had 1.5 sacks. Even when moving to 3-4 OLB in 2013, he still managed 5.5 sacks despite missing 3 games due to injury...switching positions, schemes, and sides...and rotating some with 6th overall pick Barkevious Mingo. He is also pretty solid vs. the run...grading as PFF's #2 OLB vs. the run last season.

#3: Jerry Hughes -- while I think he's come into his own somewhat...there are 2 questions that have to be asked. How accurate are reports that the Bills would expect Hughes to get between $8 - $10 million on the open market? And just how much of his production was based on playing with Mario Williams, Dareus, and Kyle Williams? He was a rotational player in Mike Pettine's 3-4 in 2013 (started 1 game), but to his credit, he made the most of his opportunities & notched 10 sacks. As a full-time player in the 4-3 in 2014, he again had 10 sacks...which tied him for 2nd on the team with Dareus.

Would also be interested in a guy like Morgan to be part of the DE rotation if his asking price were decent enough. I like his consistency & he's still fairly young. Sheard & Morgan wouldn't be bad IMO.

LDE: Sheard, Mincey, Gardner/Spencer/possible pick
RDE: Lawrence, Morgan, Mincey

 

[BlindFaith]

Morgan was, I believe, top 3 this past year in QB hurries. I think Morgan is a very under rated player. I'd love him as our SDE. He'd have to bulk back up to the 270 range, but I think he could do that fairly easily. He's far better than Selvie/Spencer and would be a tremendous upgrade on that side.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...fseason-decision-on-linebacker-derrick-morgan

 

[EPL0c0]

I would take a chance on Orakpo if the numbers were OK. I think getting out of Washington, he could have a Mario Williams type turnaround. I dunno if he'll be a 10+sack guy but if he's not having to shoulder the load for the pass rush, at worst he could provide solid depth

 

[Nation]

Morgan was, I believe, top 3 this past year in QB hurries. I think Morgan is a very under rated player. I'd love him as our SDE. He'd have to bulk back up to the 270 range, but I think he could do that fairly easily. He's far better than Selvie/Spencer and would be a tremendous upgrade on that side.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...fseason-decision-on-linebacker-derrick-morgan

That's one of those situations that is all about the money to me. I think the biggest failures in free agency are when you spend big on an outside player and then ask him to do something he isn't doing today.