Top Defensive Free Agents

SI Staff | Jul 26, 2011

Top Defensive Free Agents /

Top Defensive Free Agents

Nnamdi Asomugha

Without question the top defensive player on the board, Asomugha is known as one of the best corners in recent years and strikes fear in the hearts of opposing quarterbacks. The Raiders corner was thrown to just 27 times last season and did not give up a touchdown. He's had four All-Pro selections since 2006.

Jason Babin

Before landing with the Titans last season, Babin spent his first seven years in the league with four different teams. He seems to have found a home at Tennessee, where he recorded 12.5 sacks at defensive end and made it to the Pro Bowl.

Brandon Carr

The Chiefs tendered Carr's contract in March, meaning if a team wants him, they'll have to give up a first-round pick to get him. Entering his fourth season, Carr is poised to have a breakout year in the defensive backfield.

Chris Carr

Never starting more than four games in a season before 2010, Carr seized the starting gig in Baltimore last season thanks to injuries above him on the depth chart. The cornerback forced three fumbles and tallied two interceptions for the Ravens in 2010.

Barry Cofield

The New York Giants nose tackle has started in all but two games for the team since 2006. The 2010 season was his best yet, with 54 combined tackles and four sacks.

Antonio Cromartie

Cromartie had a solid first year with the Jets after being traded by the Chargers. After gaining a lot of buzz for his coverage skills in 2007, when he picked off 10 passes, Cromartie tallied three more interceptions last year to go along with 17 passes defensed.

Thomas Davis

Davis enjoyed a great 2008 season with 113 tackles and 3.5 sacks, but that was his last full season in the league. The Panthers linebacker has been hampered by injuries, including an ACL tear in June 2010 that forced him to miss the entire season.

Ray Edwards

How did Ray Edwards spend his lockout? By winning his first professional boxing match. The Minnesota defensive end recorded eight sacks in 2010 before going on to win a four-round unanimous decision against T.J. Gibson in May.

Shaun Ellis

The Big Katt has become a staple of the Jets defense, playing in at least 13 games every season since 2000. His numbers are on the decline, though. The defensive end's 4.5 sacks were the lowest since 2005, with his combined 36 tackles the lowest since his rookie season.

Aubrayo Franklin

Franklin came to the 49ers in 2007 and would be playing under his third head coach in Jim Harbaugh this season if he were to remain in San Francisco. Entering his ninth year in the league, the defensive tackle may be looking to go where there's a little more consistency.

Brent Grimes

Just four years ago, Grimes was playing for the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europa. This past season, he made it to the Pro Bowl with five interceptions and an NFL-best 23 passes defensed for the Falcons.

Michael Huff

Huff had his best season statistically last year as free safety for the Raiders with 77 solo tackles, four sacks and three picks. Along with Nnamdi Asomugha, he helped Oakland field one of the most formidable defensive backfields in the league.

Cullen Jenkins

Jenkins seemed promising after signing a contract extension in 2007, but his abilities have been hampered by injuries. The tackle has started in eight games or fewer four times since 2003.

Charles Johnson

In 2009, the Carolina Panthers paid Julius Peppers more than $1 million per game for his 10.5 sacks and 36 solo tackles. Charles Johnson put up 11.5 sacks and 51 solo tackles last year for a fraction of the cost. The Panthers, who ranked 26th in the league in scoring allowed, will want to keep Johnson in Charlotte.

Johnathan Joseph

Since 2007, Joseph has combined with Leon Hall to make the Bengals' secondary one of the best in the NFL. Joseph racked up three picks this past season, taking one back for a touchdown. With the Bengals likely having to choose between Joseph and Hall for the long-term future, Joseph may be on the move.

Mathias Kiwanuka

The defensive end/linebacker suffered a season-ending neck injury just three games into the 2010 season. But in those three games, Kiwanuka tallied four sacks and a forced fumble.

Dawan Landry

Landry's 111 tackles were fourth-most for a safety in 2010 and he'll likely ask for more than the $1.76 million he earned last year from the Ravens, who haven't invested much in safeties not named Ed Reed lately.

Manny Lawson

The 49ers haven't gotten exactly what they were hoping for out of the 2006 first-rounder, but Lawson has put together a respectable resume in his five years in San Francisco. In the past two seasons, the linebacker has forced five fumbles and racked up nine sacks.

Quintin Mikell

Entering his ninth season in the league, Mikell is one of the Eagles' defensive leaders both on and off the field. He tied a career high with three interceptions in 2010 and made 77 solo tackles at safety for Philadelphia.

Paul Posluszny

Posluszny tallied the third-most tackles (151) in the league last year at linebacker for the Bills. Even in this loaded free-agent market, "Poz" should have options outside of Buffalo.

Carlos Rogers

It was tough for Rogers to stand out this past season at cornerback when his Redskins finished a woeful 31st in pass defense. Rogers has made it painfully clear he doesn't want to stay in Washington after reportedly saying it'd be "fun to play the Redskins twice a year."

Barrett Ruud

The Tampa Bay linebacker has had at least 114 tackles in each of the past four seasons. But no matter how much money the Bucs are willing to offer, Ruud said prior to the 2010 season that it would be his last in Tampa Bay.

Ike Taylor

The two-time Super Bowl champion cornerback will likely want to stay with a contender like the Steelers -- the only team he's played for in his eight years in the league. This past season he picked off two passes and forced a fumble.

Stephen Tulloch

Tulloch promised his Twitter fans that wherever he lands this fall, they'll get "100% from me." The Titans linebacker had 160 combined tackles and picked off a pass after starting in all 16 games for Tennessee.

Eric Weddle

How is Eric Weddle spending his lockout? By suing the maker of Alka-Seltzer. The Chargers safety, who picked off two passes last season including one for a touchdown, is suing Bayer for using him on boxes of the drug without his permission.

Published Jul 26, 2011

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