Top Five Defensive Impact Players From NFL Free Agency

Defensively, 2025 was the year of the DB. Several high-caliber defensive backs switched teams, and a few, including Derek Stingley Jr. (Texans) and Jaycee Horn (Panthers), broke the bank with new contracts. Typically, a team doesn't want to be active in free agency.

Still, organizations can restructure their cap outlook by letting high-profile players walk or taking advantage of someone letting their players hit the open market.

New Head Coaches also impact roster building. Whether aligning the 'culture' for their sophomore season (Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks) or establishing a new one (Mike Vrabel and the Patriots), NFL teams were ready to spend in 2025.

Well, except for the Cowboys.

#5 CB DJ Reed | Jets to Lions

The Lions' new lockdown CB has been one of the most underrated players in the NFL for several years. Playing opposite Sauce Gardner (CB42) in New York, Reed (CB44) gets a high volume of throws his way. Reed primarily plays on the right side of the defense in the Jets' defense.

Last year, like most of the Jets defensive unit, wasn't his best. Field Vision's Havoc Ratings had him as the 19th-best CB in 2023 (Sauce was eighth). There is high variability at the CB spot from year to year, but Reed has proven to be a bonafide starter in the league. The loss of Carlton Davis to the Patriots stings less with Reed on board.

Former Lions' defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is now the head coach for the Jets, and LB Coach Kelvin Sheppard will step into the role. Look for Detroit to stay the course with their man-dominant scheme. Reed will fit nicely opposite rookie Terrion Arnold (CB99) or Amik Robertson (CB53), who also plays Nickel in sub packages.

Plus, the Lions hold arguably the best Safety duo in the NFL.

#4 Edge Josh Sweat | Eagles to Cardinals

Arizona needs production from Edges, and the Eagles' Josh Sweat was the top free agent to switch teams. The Cardinals run a hybrid 3-4 defense that needs dynamic Edge play that can create a pass rush while holding up against the run. Sweat can do both.

Sweat will play opposite former Broncos Edge Baron Browning (DE136), who Arizona traded for last November for a sixth-round pick, or Zavin Collins (DE52). Browning and Collins are excellent in coverage for Edges because they are converted LBs.

Like Brian Flores used Jonathan Greenard (DE10) and Andrew Van Ginkel (DE20), the Cardinals' DC Nick Rallis will look to do the same. Greenard was a primary pass rusher in Minnesota who rarely dropped into coverage. Opposite him was Van Ginkel, a hybrid Edge that could play multiple roles. Since the Cardinals' defense is unique in its structure, having two types of players, one pass rush-centric like Sweat and one hybrid like Browning/Collins, gives them more flexibility.

#3 CB Carlton Davis | Lions to Patriots

Carlton Davis was a top-10 CB in Field Vision's Havoc Ratings from '19 to '22. In '23, he struggled, but the Lions took a chance on him on a one-year deal. He again ascended to top-30 status.

Over his career, Davis has been better at zone than man coverage, though he was the #1 rated man coverage CB in '22. Moving to New England and Mike Vrabel's Quarters/Cover 1 scheme, he will return to a style similar to the one he played in Tampa.

Davis will play opposite rising star CB Christian Gonzalez (CB33), who will most likely play the 'boundary' CB position or opposite the passing strength. That should take the pressure off the 29-year-old CB and allow Davis to do what he does best: playing with vision to the field. The Patriots have complementary pieces at CB and Safety to fit what Vrabel will want to play on defense.

#2 DT Jonathan Allen | Commanders to Vikings

During the NFL Combine, it came out that Jonathan Allen was seeking a trade since the team would not resign him on a long-term contract. With no suitors willing to fork out a high draft pick and take on a contract extension, the Commanders cut the veteran star interior lineman.

It didn't take long for Allen to find a home. One of the issues in Minnesota last year was the lack of dynamic play inside. The Vikings' blitz-centric scheme became stagnant with no interior pressure.

Brian Flores was forced to send everything off the edges. Predictability in the NFL will get you beat, and for the second straight year, the Vikings' defense fell off as the season went along.

Allen and the edition of 49er Javon Hargrave (DT27 in '23) will give Minnesota a dynamic inside presence in Flores' 3-4 defense. Nose Harrison Phillips (DT39) can now focus more on run-downs. Elite defensive line play requires all parts to be fresh. Minnesota now has a nice rotation to go along with their Edge play, with Allen being the dominant focal point inside.

#1 Safety Tre'von Moehrig | Raiders to Panthers

If you haven't heard of Tre'von Moehrig, you aren't alone. Outside DJ Reed, there might not be a more underrated defensive player in the NFL. Moehrig, a '21 second-round draft pick from TCU, has been the starting Safety for the Raiders since his rookie season. It took him two years to adjust to NFL play, but in '23, he had a breakout year, finishing 30th in Field Vision's Safety Havoc Ratings.

In 2023, Moehrig played mostly back in coverage as the Post Safety in Patrick Graham's defense. This past season, he transitioned to playing more of a Down Safety role in the Slot and near the box. In both seasons, he excelled as one of the better Safeties in the NFL.

That kind of diversity in play makes him a perfect fit in Panthers' Ejiro Evero's defense. Carolina plays mainly from a two-high shell, meaning both Safeties start in a deep position. Evero plays a majority Cover 3, similar to what Moehrig played in Las Vegas.

Carolina needs a hybrid Safety that can play deep and near the box. Moehrig has proven he can do both at a high level. Who his partner will be is unclear. The only other Safety on the roster is the undrafted rookie Demani Richardson. Look for Carolina to draft a Safety in the first or second round to pair with the hybrid Moehrig and star CB Jaycee Horn (CB11) in their rebuilt secondary.

Honorable Mentions

Edge Donte Fowler (DE39) | Commanders to Cowboys: Fowler might not be a sexy free agent pick-up, but he is a known commodity in Dallas. He excelled in his first season as a starter, finishing as the 17th-best DE in Pass Rush Havoc. He will replace DeMarcus Lawrence (DE34 in '23), who is off to Seattle. One area of concern is his ability to set an edge versus the run, which Dallas has been trying to figure out for several seasons and Lawrence excelled at. Still, the duo of Micah Parsons (DE6) and Fowler should create some fireworks.
Safety Cam Bynum | Vikings to Colts: With Theo Jackson waiting in the wings behind him, Minnesota let Bynum hit the open market. He lands with former Bengals' DC Lou Anarumo in Indianapolis and will replace the current free agent Julian Blackmon (S23), who finished the year on IR. With Blackmon, the Colts' coverage Safety gone, Bynum steps into that role. His partner, Nick Cross, had a breakout year, finishing fourth in Field Vision's Safety Havoc Ratings. Adding 49ers CB Charvarious Ward (CB59) into the mix makes this an intriguing secondary, especially under the seasoned Anarumo.
Safety Justin Reid | Chiefs to Saints: Similar to Bynum, Reid's contract was replaced by a younger player, rookie Jaden Hicks (S61). Reid was a hybrid Safety that could play near the box. He's one of the best blitzing Safeties in the NFL. Reid will be paired with the Saints' Tyrann Mathieu (S54), likely the primary Down Safety in Brandon Staley's Fangio-adjacent scheme, playing on top of the TE. Staley needs two Safeties to play a hybrid role, and Reid and Mathieu excel at that.
Safety Talanoa Hufanga (S67) | 49ers to Broncos: As the season went along, it became clear that Denver needed to find a Safety to play opposite Brandon Jones (S8). PJ Locke (S50) was serviceable, but DC Vance Joseph needs quality Safety play from both positions because of how aggressive his scheme is. Hufanga is a hybrid Safety that can play coverage and support the run. Pairing him with Jones gives the Broncos two high-quality Safeties with Locke as a serviceable backup. Hufanga has a history of injuries, so keeping three 'starters' as an insurance policy is good. Hufanga was the 13th ranked Safety in '23 before his injury. Denver is betting on him returning to form.

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