NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal 40s and Free Agents: Ranking the Defensive Free Agents
Feb 17, 2026
They rank and debate top defensive free agents, from elite edge rushers to mid-tier findable producers. They break down the thin defensive tackle market and discuss linebacker valuations and polarizing prospects. Cornerback upside and volatility gets attention, plus safety fits, versatile defensive backs, and undervalued role players teams might target.
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Depth Over Top-End In This Class
- Free agency often has depth at edge with useful 400–500 snap players later in the market.
- Rosenthal expects more quality depth in the 100–150 range this year than top-end stars.
Use The Draft For Edge Depth
- Expect the edge draft to be loaded, so teams can find value there instead of overspending in free agency.
- Use mid-tier free agents or draft depth to fill rotational pass-rush roles cost-effectively.
Thin Young DT Market
- Defensive tackle free-agent options skew older and scheme-specific this year.
- Rosenthal flags few young ascending DTs, so teams may draft run-pluggers or re-sign veterans.