NFL Free Agency: Pass Rushers Take Precedence -

As we head towards the start of free agency in the NFL, there are several names that need to be discussed heavily in the next few weeks.

When February blends into March, the days get longer, and so do the lines of NFL teams looking for impactful free agents. For the longest time, the main focus resides with the quarterbacks. At the same time, attention must be paid to the other positions on the field that could ultimately affect games and a team’s destiny. As a result, teams will pay a pretty penny for someone that doesn’t line up behind the center. Those that rush the passer should also take precedence.

Javon Hargrave (DT)

For NFL eight seasons, many praised the former South Carolina State product. With a perfect blend of power, explosion, and a nasty temperament, Hargrave brings the ability to get home from the interior. Not to mention, he can operate from a zero, one, or three-technique. In the last three seasons, he’s tallied twenty-three sacks. Now, most defensive tackles don’t post that many sacks in a career. Teams like Dallas, Las Vegas, and Cleveland make the most sense. In Dallas, he could supplant DeMarcus Lawrence, who has not played at a high level since 2018. Hargrave places a disruptive force in front of Micah Parsons. Under those circumstances, a realistic run at the sack record could occur. The Raiders need some interior push, as Maxx Crosby looks like their only pass rusher with a pulse. Meanwhile, Myles Garrett will continue to thrive, but not win because of lacking another quality pass rusher.

Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jets
by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am

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Yannick Ngakoue (EDGE)

In what world does a 28-year-old pass rusher, that usually notches eight sacks, continuously change teams? Make no mistake, Ngakoue screams off the edge and brings the quarterback down. In 110 games, Ngakoue tallied sixty-five sacks. Blessed with a quick first step and closing speed, NFL teams normally salivate at the chance to ink a player that looks like a gamechanger. Yet, with Ngakoue, one catch exists. For all of his ability to rush the passer, Ngakoue disappears versus the run. In 5253 snaps during his career, only 202 total tackles exist. If a team like Denver or Chicago could invest in a high-bonus, two-year deal, Ngakoue fits. Denver lacks draft picks and pass-rush abilities. Similarly, the Bears struggle to get home. Twenty sacks in 2022 paint a bleak picture, regardless if they pick an edge with a first-round pick.

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Marcus Davenport (EDGE)

Granted, Davenport’s tenure in New Orleans was an unmitigated disaster, for the most part. Davenport, for all of his ability, reach, quickness, and feel for the passing game, struggled. Despite playing alongside talent up and down the Saints’ defensive line, we only saw an intermittent glimpse. Now, turning twenty-seven in September, Davenport could cash in as strictly a pass rush specialist. Having him focus on just one task, eliminates any distractions for him. Get to the passer. With this in mind, a team like Miami could bring him in as a medium-range option to bolster a defense that needs to keep pace with their offense.