Ranking The Best NFL Free Agents (Defense)

NFL free agency. Who doesn't love it? It gives fans a sense of false hope going into the season that their favorite team is going to be better because [INSERT HOT FREE AGENT NAME HERE] has arrived to save the day!

So, as we head into the start of the NFL off-season everyone wants to know....

"WHO ARE THE TOP FREE AGENTS IN THE NFL?"

Your prayers have been answered as I have not only gone through the troubles of listing the free agents for you, but I also went ahead and ranked them so you know just how good each and every player on this list is in comparison to his competition.

ENJOY!

Ranking The Best NFL Free Agents

Defense

*Only UNRESTRICTED free agents are ranked. These are guys who can sign with anyone they wish with no restrictions (obviously). 

Defensive Ends:

1. Olivier Vernon (Miami Dolphins)

2. Derek Wolfe (Denver Broncos)

3. Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets)

4. Robert Ayers (New York Giants)

5. Malik Jackson (Denver Broncos)

6. William Hayes (St. Louis Rams)

7. Greg Hardy (Dallas Cowboys)

8. Jason Pierre-Paul (New York Giants)

9. Derrick Shelby (Miami Dolphins)

10. Cedric Thornton (Philadelphia Eagles)

Defensive Tackles:

1. Damon Harrison (New York Jets)

2. Ian Williams (San Francisco 49ers)

3. Jaye Howard (Kansas City Chiefs)

4. Nick Fairley (Detroit Lions)

5. Terrance Knighton (Washington Redskins)

6. Haloti Ngata (Detroit Lions)

7. Mike DeVito (Kansas City Chiefs)

8. Brandon Mebane (Seattle Seahawks)

9. Pat Sims (Cincinnati Bengals)

10. Alex Carrington (Buffalo Bills)

Outside Linebackers:

1. Von Miller (Denver Broncos)

2. Tamba Hali (Kansas City Chiefs)

3. Aldon Smith (Oakland Raiders)

4. Nick Perry (Green Bay Packers)

5. Junior Galette (Washington Redskins)

6. Dwight Freeney (Arizona Cardinals)

7. Courtney Upshaw (Baltimore Ravens)

8. Mike Neal (Green Bay Packers)

9. LaMarr Woodley (Pittsburgh Steelers)

10. Calvin Pace (New York Jets)

Linebackers:

1. Jerrell Freeman (Indianapolis Colts)

2. Danny Trevathan (Denver Broncos)

3. Derrick Johnson (Kansas City Chiefs)

4. Bruce Irvin (Seattle Seahawks) 

5. Mark Barron (St. Louis Rams)

6. Rolando McClain (Dallas Cowboys)

7. Michael Morgan (Seattle Seahawks)

8. Zach Brown (Tennessee Titans)

9. Craig Robertson (Cleveland Browns)

10. Steven Johnson (Tennessee Titans)

Cornerbacks:

1. Josh Norman (Carolina Panthers)

2. Sean Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)

3. Trumaine Johnson (St. Louis Rams)

4. Janoris Jenkins (St. Louis Rams)

5. Brandon Boykin (Pittsburgh Steelers)

6. Adam Jones (Cincinnati Bengals)

7. Patrick Robinson (San Diego Chargers)

8. Prince Amukamara (New York Giants)

9. Leon Hall (Cincinnati Bengals)

10. William Gay (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Safeties:

1. Eric Berry (Kansas City Chiefs)

2. Reggie Nelson (Cincinnati Bengals)

3. Husain Abdullah (Kansas City Chiefs)

4. George Iloka (Cincinnati Bengals)

5. Walter Thurmond (Philadelphia Eagles)

6. Chris Conte (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

7. Tyvon Branch (Kansas City Chiefs)

8. Eric Weddle (San Diego Chargers)

9. Rashad Johnson (Arizona Cardinals)

10. David Bruton (Denver Broncos)