Top 5 NFL Draftees on Track for Dominance: West-Backed Lineups Sweeping!

Many of the top NFL free agents this offseason have come off the board, with the remaining starters either on the wrong side of 30 or still available due to lingering team concerns. However, there are still plenty of options in NFL free agency for clubs seeking rotational pieces or solid starters for the upcoming season. With that in mind, let’s dive into our latest round of NFL free agency predictions with a focus on landing spots for the top defensive players remaining.

A. J. Epenesa, Edge Rusher: Detroit Lions Mark Konezny-Imagn Images A former second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, AJ Epenesa is now heading into his age-28 season and has proven to be a quality rotational edge defender.

He played 434 defensive snaps for the Buffalo Bills this past season, recording 2. 5 sacks with 9 quarterback hits. The power he brings to the table at 6-foot-6 could prove useful to the Detroit Lions , who are still in the market for pass-rushing help.

Epenesa could see a higher percentage of snaps early in the season opposite Aidan Hutchinson while an edge rusher selected on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is slowly brought along and eventually plays a higher percentage of the snaps for Detroit when the time is right. Cameron Jordan, Edge Rusher: Chicago Bears Stephen Lew-Imagn Images It will certainly feel strange to see Cameron Jordan not playing for the New Orleans Saints in 2026, but that feels destined to happen. Heading into his age-37 season, Jordan certainly isn’t close to the caliber of defensive disruptor that he used to be, and his snaps need to be limited to maintain his effectiveness.