Top Five Free Agent Defensive Ends

1. Jared Allen - UFA- Two facts make Allen’s league leading 15.5 sacks even more impressive: 1) He did it in only 14 games after serving a two game suspension. 2) He did it with absolutely no threat to complement him on the other side. Tamba Hali may have had 7.5 sacks in 2007, but he was the beneficiary of Allen being double teamed on the other side more than anything else. The Chiefs should do all they can to sign him to a multi year deal, but with Dwight Freeney’s outrageous contract and ensuing injury plagued 2007 setting the precedent, the Chiefs will only barter within their means. Franchise Tag anyone?

2. Terrell Suggs- UFA- Suggs is this year’s Adalius Thomas and has all the versatility that Thomas brought to the table. He did pick a bad year for a career low in sacks (5) but his overall ability to fit into any defensive scheme one way or another will bring him some serious dough from many potential suitors. Over the previous four years he averaged 10 sacks per season.

3. Justin Smith- UFA- Speaking of DE’s who picked a bad time for a down year in sack totals, Justin Smith only had two in 2007 after averaging just under seven during the previous six seasons. The Bengals Franchise Player a year ago, Smith will probably end up somewhere other than Cincinnati in 2008.

4. Antwan Odom- UFA- “Who is Antwan Odom, Pau?” “Oh, I don’t know. Some 6-5, 274 pound beast of a man who burst onto the scene in 2007 accumulating 8 sacks in limited duty.” A former second round pick, Odom will be a hot prospect in an otherwise sorely limited defensive end free agent class.

5. Chris Canty- RFA- Being a DE in a 3-4 alignment doesn’t do much for statistical output. But at 6-7, 299 pounds and only 25 years old with three years of NFL service under his belt, Canty will draw attention from interested clubs because of his as yet untapped potential.

Best of the rest:

6. Travis LaBoy- UFA

7. Marques Douglas- UFA

8. Bobby McCray - UFA

9. Mike Rucker - UFA