There are certain positions NFL teams can never have enough of and one said position is that of the pass rusher variety.

Having the ability to put consistent heat on opposing quarterbacks is one of the main ingredients to winning ball games and championships. A defense is basically rendered obsolete if it doesn’t have an effective pass rush.

Fortunately, there are plenty of quality pass rushers in this year’s free agency crop. We know this because A to Z Sports conjured up a list of the top-100 free agents and 17 names are guys who get after the quarterback. It’s not just a middling group either – there are plenty of big names that can boost a pass rush in a very effective manner.

Below are the writers who not only ranked the players, but also offered up insights and analysis on why the players are ranked where they are:

• Destin Adams, A to Z Sports Indianapolis 
• Evan Winter, A to Z Sports Tampa Bay
• Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports Miami
• Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Minnesota 
• Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Pittsburgh 
• AJ Schulte, A to Z Sports Los Angeles 
• Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports Kansas City

Let’s stop wasting time and dive in.

Who are the best pass rushers heading into 2026 free agency?

1. Cincinnati Bengals EDGE Trey Hendrickson

Hendrickson is arguably the best player in this free agency class. When the Cincinnati Bengals signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract, it felt like a hefty price at the time. Hendrickson rewarded them in a major way with seasons of 14.0, 17.5, and 17.5 sacks, including a first-team All-Pro selection in 2024.

He enters the free agency market for the second time in his career, and will do so at 31 years old. How much will teams be willing to give him, and what will the term be for one of the league’s best edge rushers? It’s likely north of $30 million, but he will deserve every penny. – Kyle Crabbs

Three best fits: Cowboys, Commanders, Titans

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 2

2. Los Angeles Chargers EDGE Odafeh Oweh

Oweh was looking like a fifth-year option flop in 2025 with the Baltimore Ravens before a trade to Los Angeles kickstarted the pass rusher’s season. A 2024 breakout saw Oweh crack double-digit sacks and he very much looked like that version of himself playing for Jesse Minter and the Chargers throughout the second-half of the season.

Now, he is set to hit the pass rusher market and push for a deal potentially in the mid-20 million dollar range annually. – Kyle Crabbs

Three best fits: Chargers, Commanders, Patriots

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 6

3. Philadelphia Eagles EDGE Jaelan Phillips

Phillips was able to do almost everything needed in 2025 to really ignite the enthusiasm about his free agency profile.

He stayed healthy. He was a demon off the edge. He had ample disruption and pressures both on a struggling unit in Miami and in Philadelphia after the trade deadline.

He just…didn’t finish his play opportunities. Phillips had several sacks slip through his fingers last season that prevented his numbers from reflecting his pressure numbers. If you believe he’ll finish those plays this year and stay healthy again, he’s a top pass rush option. But the injury history may prompt a one-year deal. – Kyle Crabbs

Three best fits: Eagles, Colts, Titans

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 8

4. Los Angeles Chargers EDGE Khalil Mack

No one is going to confuse soon-to-be 35-year-old Khalil Mack with the player who dominated the league as a Raiders, Bear, and at the beginning of his tenure with the Chargers, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play a valuable role on a contending team going forward.

His sack numbers have seen a precipitous drop in recent seasons, but Mack is still a sturdy presence against perimeter runs, and perhaps more importantly, Mack can serve as a designated pass rusher on obvious passing downs. I’d love to see him on a one-year deal with a Super Bowl contender before he calls it a career. – Rob Gregson

Three best fits: Chargers, Seahawks, 49ers

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 14

5. Buffalo Bills EDGE Joey Bosa

Joey Bosa feels a lot older than 30 years old, but that is largely due to a lengthy and unfortunate injury history. However, Bosa played in the most games since 2021 last year with the Bills, and he led the league in forced fumbles.

The strip sack artist will see contract limitations on the open market due to his injury history and role at this point in his career, but he screams designated pass rusher on a Super Bowl contender to me, much like Mack above. That was essentially his role in Buffalo, and him continuing that in a way not to dissimilar to what Von Miller did with the Rams in 2021 would be an ideal designation. – Rob Gregson

Three best fits: Commanders, Bills, Rams

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 36

6. Seattle Seahawks EDGE Boye Mafe

Mafe didn’t have an eye-popping 2025 season in terms of production and a big reason why is because he played the lowest amount of defensive snaps since his rookie year.

It had more to do with how the Seahawks rotated their pass rushers, than anything else. Mafe found himself in a thick rotation that was utilized often. Regardless, he still finished second among Seahawks EDGE players in win rate, per Pro Football Focus (17.4%) and he finished eighth in ESPN’s pass rush win rate.

He’s an athletic, stand-up rusher who has a solid array of moves and a quick first step, but his abilities in run defense aren’t the greatest. He is a low-end No. 1 rusher, with high-end No. 2 upside who can still develop into an even better player. – Evan Winter

Three best fits: Seahawks, Patriots, Buccaneers

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 40

7. Baltimore Ravens DE Dre’Mont Jones

Jones was a mid-season acquisition by the Baltimore Ravens after an injury to Nnamdi Madubuike and the trade of Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers. He was, generally speaking, a valuable pass rusher but his impact was mitigated by a unit that by and large was missing juice. If you’re looking for an alignment diverse pass rusher to be a key part of the rotation but not the headlining name, Jones would be a great target. – Kyle Crabbs

Three best fits: Broncos, Raiders, Commanders

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 44

8. Indianapolis Colts EDGE Kwity Paye

Paye was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He’s spent the last five years with the team and recorded 30.5 sacks, 37 tackles for loss, and 50 quarterback hits across 75 games. His best season with the team was 2023, when he set a career high with 8.5 sacks.

This past year was Paye’s worst season since his rookie year and I think it was actually his least effective pass-rush display, including his rookie season. Many were shocked Paye had his fifth-year option picked up by the Colts, so now that he’s a free agent, fans seem to hope he ends up elsewhere.

Paye is an excellent run defender off the edge, and that alone will help him find a home for next year. I could also see teams talking themselves into Paye having more upside as a pass rusher if he were playing opposite an elite edge, something he never had in Indy. – Destin Adams

Three best fits: Lions, Browns, Steelers

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 48

9. New England Patriots EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson

Call me pleasantly surprised by K’Lavon Chaisson’s 2025 season.

After years of mediocre play from the former first-rounder, Chaisson turned his career around in New England, posting 74 pressures and 12 sacks. He’s an explosive speed rusher dependent on winning with his first step and bend around the edge, giving opposing tackles fits up the arc and attacking with his speed on slants and stunts. He’s not the strongest run defender, but he is capable of playing on all three downs.

In an ideal world, he is a No. 2 rusher working alongside a good pass rush to set him up with one-on-ones on the outside. – AJ Schulte

Three best fits: 49ers, Cowboys, Lions

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 59

10. Atlanta Falcons EDGE Arnold Ebiketie

Ebiketie very quietly posted a strong season with the Atlanta Falcons as a rotational rusher, posting 25 pressures and two sacks while working behind James Pearce Jr., Jalon Walker, and Leonard Floyd. Ebiketie was a raw athlete coming out and while he’s still far from perfect, his game has taken strides, and he can be a strong DPR as an EDGE #3 while working in a rotation with his movement skills and motor. – AJ Schulte

Three best fits: 49ers, Bears, Commanders

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 61

11. Las Vegas Raiders DE Malcolm Koonce

Koonce has battled injuries throughout his career, but he’s been productive working as part of the rotation with the Raiders. He’s more of a DPR-type than a three-down player, but he brings a good blend of explosiveness and length and can translate speed-to-power well to collapse the pocket. Koonce will need to be part of a rotation, but he can be a productive contributor for a team who could outplay his contract. – AJ Schulte

Three best fits: Patriots, Broncos, 49ers

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 68

12. Carolina Panthers EDGE D.J. Wonnum

When the Vikings selected Wonnum in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, then defensive line coach Andre Patterson thought they had found the next Danielle Hunter.

It didn’t turn out that way, but he did become a solid EDGE 2/3 in the NFL. He eventually signed with the Carolina Panthers, and was a solid rotational piece who was elite at securing unblocked sacks. After he got hurt in 2024, the Panthers drafted Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, meaning they were likely going to move on. The next team Wonnum plays on will likely use him as a rotational piece, either in and even or odd front. – Tyler Forness

Three best fits: Titans, Commanders, Cowboys

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 69

13. Cincinnati Bengals EDGE Joseph Ossai

An inconsistent defender for much of his time in Cincinnati, Ossai finished his rookie deal with the Bengals strong, leading the team in pressures with 43 and posting five sacks. However, it’s clear that Ossai shouldn’t be a consistent starter with a team and should remain as part of a rotation. In that role, his quickness and motor can help wreak havoc on opposing offenses as a DPR. – AJ Schulte

Three best fits: Colts, Bears, 49ers

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 85

14. New Orleans Saints DE Cameron Jordan

Cameron Jordan is a very intriguing pass rusher in this year’s free agency class, as he’s coming off an age-36 season that saw him put up 10.5 sacks.

To put last season into context: It was his first year since 2021 where he recorded double-digit sacks and he amassed just 14.5 takedowns over the last three years, combined.

Jordan still has the strength to hold his own and his veteran savvy helps make up for the lost athleticism and explosiveness. He could easily put another double-digit sack season if he ends up in the right spot. – Evan Winter

Three best fits: Saints, Jaguars, Vikings

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 91

15. Detroit Lions DE Al-Quadin Muhammad

Muhammad has been a journeyman edge rusher during his career, but had somewhat of a renaissance season in 2025 playing opposite of Aidan Hutchinson with a whopping 11.0 sacks.

In the previous eight years, Muhammad notched just 15.0 sacks, with his best year being in 2021 with 6.0 sakcs as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Some of those sacks are the direct result of Hutchinson, but he made plenty of plays on his own. He would be at his best in a four-man front and a rotational rusher. – Tyler Forness

Three best fits: Lions, Titans, Cowboys

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 94

16. Buffalo Bills EDGE A.J. Epenesa

When Epenesa came into the league, he was a fascinating prospect as a bigger edge rusher with mostly a power profile. He put together six good seasons with the Buffalo Bills, but wasn’t spectacular in any of them. The most pressures he had in a single season was 33 in 2023, while also having 6.5 sacks in both 2022 and 2023.

He is a rotational player who would be best suited as an early down player who can kick inside on passing downs in an even front. – Tyler Forness

Three best fits: Bills, Bears, Bengals

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 99

17. Tennessee Titans EDGE Arden Key

Coming in at the final spot of our top 100 is Titans edge rusher Arden Key. Key was a player multiple teams monitored ahead of the trade deadline, but ultimately remained in Tennessee. Now he is set to hit free agency, and teams can sign him without giving up draft compensation.

Key has flashed the ability to be a game-wrecker as a pass rusher, but he just hasn’t been consistent enough to turn it into a season with more than 6.5 sacks. His best role would be as a rotational edge rusher, where he would play fewer snaps than his typical game day with the Titans and provide a real spark off the bench. – Destin Adams

Three best fits: Titans, Patriots, Raiders

A to Z Sports’ top-100 rank: 100

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