Top three 2024 NFL free agents at every defensive position: Yannick Ngakoue, Justin Simmons best available

NFL free agency is essentially in the rearview mirror as teams head into the summer. O the best players have already signedand the next crop of free agents has found a home for 2024. There are still some good players available, but the market has dried up significantly by the start of training camp.

Compensatory picks are no longer factored into the equation, but some players will wait for offers until the start of training camp. The players who should be selected are still available to be chosen.

These are the top three free agents available at every defensive position. To see the best offensive players still available, Click here.

Edge presser

The best pass rusher available, Ngakoue is coming off a bad season by his standards. He finished with career lows in sacks (4.0), pressures (34) and pressure rate (8.7%), breaking a streak of seven consecutive seasons with 8+ sacks.

Ngakoue signed in the late summer of last season and looks set to do the same in 2024. He’s still just 29 and a bargain on a one-year deal.

Ogbah only had 19 pressures and 5.0 sacks last season, but the numbers were deceiving as he had a pressure rate of 13.9%. He played just 240 snaps in 15 games and can still get to the quarterback as a rotational pass rusher.

Age may play a role (31), but Ogbah would be good rotational depth.

A torn Achilles limited Lawson’s productivity in New York in terms of games played, but he recovered from that with 49 pressures and 7.0 sacks in 2022 (11.9% pressure rate). The Jets essentially relegated Lawson to a backup role following a back injury last August, as he recorded no sacks and played just 98 snaps.

A healthy Lawson would be a good find for a team in need of pass rush help.

Inner defensive lineman

A former starter in San Francisco, Ridgeway played just three games in Houston before a torn Achilles tendon ended his season. Ridgeway suffered a calf injury before his Achilles rupture, taking just one snap in 27 snaps played.

If healthy, the Ridgeway provides valuable interior depth.

Mone sat out the entire 2023 season with a knee injury, and Seattle released him in March. He is more than a year removed from a torn ACL suffered after a 2022 season in which he started three games.

If you’re healthy, it’s worth taking Mone for a flyer. He is still only 28 and has yet to receive any offers. The knee injury is still a concern.

The question is not whether Joseph wants to play or not. The question is whether the 35-year-old is retired or not.

Joseph waited until November of each of the last two years to sign, doing so in 2022 with the Eagles and 2023 with the Bills. He could do the same if he wants to continue playing football in 2024.

Joseph would add seasoned veteran depth to a defensive line. He played 155 snaps last season, including six pressures and one sack.

Linebacker off the ball

Cunningham was a surprise linebacker for Philadelphia last season after signing in August, finishing with 85 tackles and four passes defensed in 13 games (10 starts). Still a starter in the league at 29 years old, Cunningham’s biggest problem is staying on the field.

Cunningham signed in August of last season. This could also be the case in 2024.

The former Pro Bowl linebacker played just nine games for Pittsburgh last season, having 41 tackles (five for loss) and one sack as a third-string linebacker. Alexander is a solid backup linebacker for Mike at this stage if he can stay on the field.

Could be a signing right before training camp for teams in need of linebacker depth.

Woods started seven games for Arizona last season and made 61 tackles, showing he is more than just a good special teamer. While Woods offers excellent play on special teams, he has also shown that he can get regular snaps on defense.

Teams could get Woods for good value in this free agency phase.

Corner

The 33-year-old Gilmore had another strong season in coverage, allowing just four touchdown passes and a 60.3 rating, as well as two interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks had just a 49% completion rate targeting Gilmore.

Gilmore has been with four teams in three years, but is still a starter.

Peterson isn’t the All-Pro cornerback he once was, but he still allowed a 62.8 passer rating as a 33-year-old. At 34 years old, Peterson wants to return to the Steelers and said he wants to know what position he will play before signing.

If any team wants Peterson, they will be getting one of the best veteran corners on the market.

Jackson, 28, has yet to find a job despite allowing just a 68.6 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks last season. Despite having just one interception, Jackson has allowed just two passing touchdowns in 2023.

Jackson, who also returns kicks, could find a job in training camp.

Security

The best free agent still on the market, Simmons, 30, is coming off a season that ended with 70 tackles, three interceptions and eight defensed passes. He earned his third consecutive Second Team All-Pro selection, as opposing quarterbacks targeting Simmons only had a 58.4 passer rating.

Simmons is the best safety in a large crop of free agents at the position.

Hyde’s coverage skills have declined over the past two seasons (87.2 rating), but the 33-year-old has started 128 games over 11 seasons. A neck injury limited Hyde in 2022, but he returned to have 54 tackles and two interceptions in 14 games.

Hyde is still a good starter in the league and a natural leader on defense. He wants to play for the Bills in 2024, but neither side has signed a contract yet.

Just 28 years old, Adams has played in just 10 games over the past two seasons thanks to a torn quadriceps tendon and persistent knee problems. Adams had 48 tackles in nine games last season, playing mostly at strong safety.

Injuries have significantly limited Adams, who can still attack the run. He also hasn’t been sacked in three years after setting a saves record in 2020 (9.5).