The first few waves of free agency have washed over us, but there have been barely any ripples since early last week. A few surprising names have yet to sign, but as soon as they do, I’ll update this article (so be sure to bookmark it and check back).
How do the recent signings of the defensive players impact their IDP value for 2025? Let’s take a look at the best and worst landing spots for this year’s free agents.
Added Azeez Ojulari (3/17/2025)
BEST: Haason Reddick, EDGE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Haason Reddick had a tumultuous 2024 season. It started with a trade from the Eagles to the Jets, and then a holdout that spilled over into October. Unfortunately for Reddick, he went from the penthouse to the outhouse in the deal, as the Jets were, once again, the dregs of the NFL and the Eagles won a Super Bowl.
(Yes, I’m aware of the irony of me, as a Browns fan, calling the Jets the dregs. It’s not lost on me. But, I digress.)
Reddick made his first appearance in Week 8, and started out hot. He generated a 21.6% pressure rate and a half-sack over his first two games. He’d slow down for the remainder of the year, finishing with a 10.8% pressure rate and 1.5 sacks. More than likely, it had to do with Reddick not being in ideal football shape after missing an entire offseason of workouts and training camp. However, Tampa Bay needed an edge rusher and gave him a one-year, prove-it deal.
He should fit into Todd Bowles’ scheme, as Bowles likes to feature four-man rushes supplemented by creative blitzes, which should suit Reddick’s skill set. I’m expecting him to primarily play opposite YaYa Diaby and rotate with Chris Braswell, to allow the second-year edge rusher to get his feet wet.
If Reddick arrives in Tampa motivated and in football shape, he could reclaim his elite status, and playing alongside Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea could open up some holes and one-on-one matchups. Tampa’s 2024 defense faced a 35.6% pass-play rate (league average), and Reddick’s snap count might hover around 60-70%. He should be available as a DL3.
BEST: Robert Spillane, LB, New England Patriots
I might be one of the few that doesn’t mind Robert Spillane signing with the Patriots.
When he left Pittsburgh, questions arose whether Spillane could handle a three-down role since he’d never appeared in more than 580 defensive snaps. Well, he answered those questions and more. Spillane enjoyed two highly productive seasons with the Raiders, producing a 13.9% tackle rate that resulted in 306 tackles and 17 TFLs. From a durability standpoint, he appeared in 2,196 snaps. He was the captain of the Raiders defense and wore the dot as the defensive signal caller.
I figured the Raiders wouldn’t let their defensive anchor get away, but they did. Spillane signed a three-year deal with the Patriots. I think he aligns with head coach Mike Vrabel’s vision for a tough, physical defense. New England has historically operated out of a hybrid defensive scheme under past regimes, often blending 3-4 and 4-3 principles, and Vrabel—a former linebacker himself—brings a similar adaptable approach. But, I think Vrabel is going to be more deliberate with his defense and not deploy inconsistent rotations, which is a staple of Bill Belichick’s defenses.
New England’s defense was gashed for 4.8 yards per carry and Spillane excels as a downhill run-stuffer, making him an ideal fit to shore up this weakness. 2024 PFF run-defense grade of 87.3 ranked 3rd among 53 qualifying linebackers, reflecting his ability to diagnose plays and meet ball carriers at the point of attack. The Patriots have mitigated this in the past with situational substitutions and could pair Spillane with Kyle Dugger or a sub-package LB like Elliss on obvious passing downs.
The Patriots faced a 35.6% pass-play rate in 2024, and their offense may not control games, keeping the defense on the field longer. If Spillane maintains a 90-95% snap share (1,000-1,100 snaps), as he did in Vegas, and the run-defense emphasis persists, he’s poised for another high-output year. Spillane might come at a discount in IDP leagues this year. I like the spot for him and expect him to wear the dot.
WORST: Divine Deablo, LB, Atlanta Falcons
Divine Deablo had a solid 2023 season on the heels of an injury-shortened 2022 season. However, it became clear he was losing snaps in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, I don’t like the spot in Atlanta as the path to snaps isn’t as clear since a few roadblocks are standing in his way. Troy Andersen and JD Bertrand will compete for a starting role, as they were drafted by the team, so there’s still an investment into their development.
Andersen is a speedy, athletic linebacker; however, health has been his primary deficit. He’s played just 907 career snaps over his 3 seasons. Bertrand had some struggles as a rookie, but showed some flashes and should also have the opportunity to contribute.
I’m not as high on the spot here, but he can open my eyes with a good training camp and preseason.
BEST: Cody Barton, LB, Tennessee Titans
It’s still an ugly LB room in Tennessee, but Cody Barton’s IDP usefulness looks to be inevitable, once again, in 2025. Barton ended up in a bad spot with the Broncos, but an injury to Alex Singleton opened a full-time role and he ended up wearing the dot, allowing him to record his third-straight 100-tackle season.
Barton signing a three-year deal is a big deal and signals he could be in line for significant snaps, and that was before the Titans decided to move on from incumbent starter Kenneth Murray, trading him to Dallas.
Barton brings a proven track record as a run-stopper and tackler. Last season, he earned an 87.0 PFF tackling grade and a 76.9 run-defense grade, so in that respect, he fits Dennard Wilson’s style. With Murray out of the picture, this leaves James Williams and Cedric Gray to compete for the nickel LB/LB2.
On the surface, it appears Barton has a three-down role and could wear the dot. Although Barton’s coverage grade has been shaky, he’s recorded 5 INTs and 12 defended passes over the last three seasons. I think it’s a good spot for Barton and his prospects of a good 2025 season. He’s looking like an LB3.
WORST: Christian Rozeboom, LB, Carolina Panthers
Here was my reaction when I saw Christian Rozeboom’s final tackle numbers:
He parlayed the production into a contract with the Panthers; however, the money doesn’t scream three-down money. Rozeboom has familiarity on his side, as Ejiro Evero was his DC in 2021, but Rozeboom played just 2 defensive snaps that year.
Rozeboom’s role increased in 2024 due to injuries and he appeared in a career-high 956 snaps while recording 135 tackles. He did struggle a bit in coverage and opposing offenses exploited that weakness. According to Next Gen Stats, he had a +24.9 coverage EPA (not great). His PFF run defense grade wasn’t great either at 58.6.
Carolina’s defense wasn’t great, with just one defender who played 600+ snaps earning a 70+ grade. Rozeboom will probably contribute on special teams, and should compete with Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace, but I see them as incumbents heading into 2025.
BEST: Josh Sweat, EDGE, Arizona Cardinals
Josh Sweat leaves Philadelphia on a high note with a ring and heads for the desert in Arizona, reuniting with former defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon. Sweat has had a productive few years post-Gannon, generating a 12.6% pressure rate and 14.5 sacks. He’s been a dependable DL2/3 in most IDP formats.
I like the move to Arizona and his pairing back with Gannon. Although his pressure rate was slightly lower (11.6%), he had a higher pressure-to-sack conversion (19.1%) and more sacks (18.5) when Gannon was his DC. I think Gannon is going to put him in optimal pass-rush situations, which should allow him to maximize his output, resulting in similar points/snaps during his 2021/22 seasons.
Gannon’s scheme in Arizona mirrors his approach from Philadelphia, frequently deploying four-man rushes with occasional linebacker stunts. Sweat’s 59.4% snap share in 2024 (about 40 snaps per game) suggests he’ll be a focal point on passing downs, likely playing 60-70% of snaps. Arizona’s 2024 opponents threw on 36.8% of plays, and if he can maintain a 70% snap rate while drawing fewer double-teams thanks to Zaven Collins and Baron Browning, he’s shaping up to be a DL2/3.
BEST: Jeremy Chinn, S, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders lost their two starting off-ball LBs; however, Jeremy Chinn is in a good spot for production after signing with the Raiders. Patrick Graham is known for his creative and adaptable approach, often utilizing players who can fill multiple roles in the secondary and beyond.
Chinn is nothing if not versatile. He played in the box (39%) and the slot while being deployed deep when needed (31%), so he fits right into Graham’s scheme. Chinn should serve as the strong safety or hybrid linebacker/safety, pairing with Isaiah Pola-Mao at free safety. His speed and physicality make him a candidate for blitzing off the edge, as well. Last season, he recorded his highest number of pressures (7) since 2021 (10), due in part to his 36 pass-rush snaps.
Considering the Raiders lost their off-ball LBs to free agency, I wouldn’t be surprised if Chinn was called on to play more in the box this season, taking over the Trevon Moehrig role. He should be called on to cover tight ends and play some deep zone.
Chinn’s tackle numbers rebounded nicely in 2024, as he recorded a 9.7% tackle rate, resulting in 117 tackles. His tackle numbers with Las Vegas will depend on his deployment and the Raiders’ defensive health. If Graham uses him primarily in the box or as a linebacker hybrid near the LOS, similar to his 2024 alignment, he could approach or exceed 100 tackles again, especially with Spillane and Divine Deablo gone. I’d target Chinn as a DB2 in 2025.
WORST: Chauncey Golston, EDGE, New York Giants
I would have liked Golston to return to Dallas to capitalize on his 2024 season. With him landing with a division rival instead, I’m torn on his 2025 outlook.
On one hand, he gets to play alongside Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence, where he could be kept clean and see more single-team blocking. On the other hand, his path to snaps is muddled a bit playing behind Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The signing of Golston could be a referendum on Thibodeaux’s play and production since being drafted. Thibodeaux saw a dip in production in 2024 thanks to an injury that limited him to 593 snaps.
Golston is coming off a strong year, but a breakout season could be limited due to playing time. The contract (3 years, $19.5 million) doesn’t scream elite edge rusher money to me. I like Golston as the player, but I’m not sure how he sees more than 500 snaps. He could’ve been a DL2 with a better landing spot, but in New York, he’s more of a DL3/4.
BEST: Patrick Jones, EDGE, Carolina Panthers
Don’t overlook this signing. Patrick Jones was going to be roadblocked for snaps in Minnesota, but in Carolina, he should see close to a full-time role.
Jones was a boom-or-bust edge rusher with Minnesota. He set a career-high in sacks (7) thanks to three multi-sack games. He started strong, recording sacks in three of four games. However, he recorded sacks in just one game the rest of the year.
His metrics were inconsistent throughout the season, as he had 5 games of goose-eggs and 6 games of multiple pressures. The goose-eggs brought his pressure rate down, but in games where he generated multiple pressures, he produced a 13.3% pressure rate. In the games where he produced one or fewer pressures, he averaged just 18.3 pass-rush snaps. In games where he was productive, he averaged 25.
To summarize: just get him on the field and let him get after the QB.
In Carolina, Ejiro Evero’s defense similarly emphasizes pressure, often using creative fronts and stunts to disrupt offenses. Jones’ quickness and effort level—traits highlighted by analysts—make him a natural fit for this approach
Jones isn’t a finished product. At 26 years old, he’s still developing, but he fits as a scheme-flexible depth piece with the traits to carve out a significant role if he builds on his 2024 momentum. There’s sleeper/breakout appeal here.
WORST: Justin Reid, S, New Orleans Saints
I’m usually not enamored with Saints safeties for IDP, and Reid’s landing spot in the Big Easy doesn’t move the needle.
With the Chiefs, Reid averaged 88 tackles/game over the last 3 seasons, while producing 3 INTs and 23 defended passes over that period. Although he wasn’t a big tackle producer, New Orleans is where safety tackles go to die.
Last season, Saints safeties averaged 8 solos/4 assists per game and Jordan Howden had the ceiling game with 10 tackles (the lone double-digit performance of the season).
I’ll be passing on Reid in IDP drafts.
BEST: Dre Greenlaw, LB, Denver Broncos
It looks like Drew Sanders SZN might have been taken away from us, as Denver added Dre Greenlaw to their LB room. I like the spot here for Greenlaw, as he should slot in opposite Alex Singleton (if he’s ready) in their defense.
Greenlaw, when 100%, is one of the better off-ball LBs in the league, and he and Fred Warner formed a formidable LB duo in San Francisco. A torn Achilles after halftime of Super Bowl 58 caused him to play just 34 snaps during the 2024 season.
However, before that injury, Greenlaw had appeared in 2,033 snaps over the 2022/23 seasons, and recorded a 12.1% tackle rate, resulting in 247 tackles.
Greenlaw should fit right into Vance Joseph’s system with his skill set. He can play sideline-to-sideline, cover tight ends, and disrupt the run game with force. Joseph’s defense thrives on players who can handle multiple roles, and Greenlaw fits that mold. With the 49ers, he logged significant snaps in various alignments, but also in coverage, where PFF graded him at 77.6 in 2023 and produced a -8.2 coverage EPA according to Next Gen Stats.
We’ll have to see how his health shapes up heading into 2025, but with the length and money given, it seems Denver is confident he’ll be ready to go. As long as he has a three-down role, Greenlaw should be a solid LB2 target.
WORST: Jack Sanborn, LB, Dallas Cowboys
We got about five minutes of Jack Sanborn SZN until our dreams of a three-down role were wiped away. After all, with DeMarvion Overshown recovering from a major knee injury (his second since 2023), and Damone Clark not usurping the role, it looked like a slam-dunk spot for Sanborn, who was highly efficient during spot starts in Chicago.
Then Dallas made the (questionable) move of trading for Kenneth Murray from the Titans. I can just imagine the Jones family looking at Murray’s run defense and coverage grades and said, “Yup, we need that.”
While it’s not ideal, I do think reuniting with Matt Ebrflus is in Sanborn’s favor, as there’s familiarity with his defense, and could potentially run it. So, on the surface, while not a great landing spot, Sanborn is a good buy-low in hopes he earns a starting spot this offseason or eventually takes the lead role from Murray.
BEST: Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Seeing Akeem Davis-Gaither’s landing spot in Arizona, my reaction was like Papi from the Dan Le Batard Show back in the day: “Si, si, I’m very intrigued.”
The Bengals lost defensive captain Logan Wilson at about the midway point of the 2024 season. Germaine Pratt and ADG held down the fort during Wilson’s absence. He had a few shaky games over 6 starts, but held his own. He recorded 82 tackles and ended up wearing the dot for a few games down the stretch.
The Cardinals run a dynamic, aggressive defense that emphasizes speed, versatility, and adaptability from its linebackers. Jonathan Gannon, with his background as a DB coach, and Nick Rallis, a former LB coach, prioritize athleticism and coverage ability in their LBs. ADG has flashed coverage ability, and although he’s inconsistent, he’s shown he can hold up to a full-time role and is a rangy, athletic LB.
As of now, Mack Wilson is the only returning “starter” and Kyzir White is still a free agent, so ADG has a clear path to snaps and three-down role. Davis-Gaither fits Arizona’s scheme as a versatile, athletic linebacker who can cover, play the run, and contribute on special teams, and if he earns a three-down role, he’ll have LB3 value as the Cardinals are a nickel-heavy/2-LB defense.
WORST: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles
I think I’m leaning towards Ojulari’s signing with the Eagles as a bad spot, even though Howie Roseman always has something up his sleeve with former Giants players.
Nolan Smith is projected to their top edge rusher, but there looks to be a rotation or camp battle for the second spot opposite Smith. Even if there’s a stand-out #2, Vic Fangio figures to deploy a rotation.
Ojulari battled adversity throughout the season as injuries limited him to just 391 defensive snaps. He improved upon his pass rush metrics in 2024. He went from an 8.4% pressure rate in 2023 to an 11.2% in 2024, while also improving his 2023 win rate (11.1%) to 14.5%. He also had a solid pass-rush get off of 0.88 seconds.
He was a boom-bust edge rusher with two games of multiple sacks, but a toe injury caused him to miss the final 6 games. Injuries, in general, have caused Ojulari to miss 22 games over the last 3 seasons.
Look at what Vic Fangio did for Zack Baun. The Eagles have a robust defensive line, featuring stars like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, which could draw attention away from Ojulari and give him more one-on-one opportunities to rush the passer. However, there’s a massive roadblock for snaps in his way. Hunt, and the newly signed Josh Uche are going to see snaps. Plus, I’m sure Philly wants to recoup some ROI from the Bryce Huff contract.
I don’t see how he reaches 600+ snaps in this rotation. At the very least, he’ll be a worthwhile streamer for the two revenge games against the Giants.
WORST: Willie Gay, LB, Miami Dolphins
Willie Gay lands on the worst list for the second straight year with his landing spot in Miami.
Willie Gay, for the most part, has been roadblocked for his entire career from a full-time role, yet alone a three-down one. Things looked on the rise after his 3rd year, where he played 69% of the snaps, and then KC brought in Drue Tranquill. In his final season with the Chiefs, he saw just base downs and played 62% of the snaps.
Gay hit free agency in 2024 with the hopes of meaningful snaps, only to finally land with the Saints. Well, he couldn’t beat out Pete Werner in positional battle and was relegated to the LB3 in their base defense, where he’d see just 27% of the snaps across 15 games. Luckily, his deal with New Orleans was for one year.
So, Gay finds himself a free agent once again, and he didn’t have much of a market. His PFF grades with New Orleans didn’t do him any favors, as he had a 43.9 overall grade. He finally lands with Miami, where on the surface, he’ll be the LB3 behind Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson. He’s a pass in 2025 redraft leagues, and in dynasty, holding on to Gay might be like holding on to that last bit of hair before going bald.
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Love this!!!
Great writeup, keep it up :)