Best Landing Spots for Top Defensive Free Agents Before 2026 NFL Training Camp

Several quality free agents remain available just ahead of NFL training camps. However, they can afford to be patient at this point in the offseason since the market isn't saturated with alternative options.

Because of this, free agents still available in the summer often wait for the right opportunity instead of agreeing to the first strong financial offer. Sometimes, that means waiting until an injury or other roster development makes an opportunity impossible to ignore.

None of this means that the following defensive free agents won't land with a new team before camp. They're good enough to fill prominent roles on most rosters, though factors like team needs, scheme fit, and roster construction make some landing spots better than others.

A look at the best landing spots for the top offensive free agents from Bleacher Report's Moe Moton can be found here.

Edge Jadeveon Clowney: New England Patriots

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

Jadeveon Clowney has never quite played up to his status as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. However, he's become a very disruptive run defender and a solid late-career pass-rusher-for-hire option.

He joined the Dallas Cowboys for 13 games last season and finished with 12 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and 22 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Reference. While he's never reached double-digit sacks in any one season, he's recorded at least 5.5 in each of the last three.

Even at age 33, Clowney could boost just about any defensive front as a rotational player. However, he would be a very strong fit for his former Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, and the New England Patriots.

The Patriots added to their pass rush by signing Dre'Mont Jones and drafting Gabe Jacas. However, they recorded just 34 sacks as a team last season, and that was before parting with K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency.

CB Trevon Diggs: Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Cornerback Trevon Diggs looms as an intriguing boom-or-bust option on the free-agent market. He hasn't played consistently well since suffering a torn ACL in 2023, and he was very much a risk-reward coverage man before that.

As a breakout star with the Cowboys in 2021, Diggs led the NFL with 11 interceptions and was named a first-team All-Pro. However, he also surrendered 907 yards in coverage. He was a Pro Bowler again in 2022 but also allowed a completion rate of 65.5 percent.

Still, Diggs has flashed big-play ability in the past and doesn't turn 28 until September. He's worth a flier to a team in the early stages of a rebuild like the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders are entering a new era with head coach Klint Kubiak and quarterback Fernando Mendoza. However, they aren't expected to be top-tier AFC contenders right away.

If he can stay healthy and play with more consistency, Diggs could boost the impact potential of a defense that recorded just eight interceptions last season. Diggs is also young enough that, if he can rebound on a short-term prove-it deal, he could become a long-term contributor for Las Vegas.

Edge Von Miller: Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Von Miller turned 37 in March and wouldn't make a ton of sense for a team like Las Vegas. However, he continues to be an effective rotational pass-rusher, as he showed last season with the Washington Commanders.

Miller played just 37 percent of the defensive snaps in 2025 but managed to log nine sacks, six tackles for loss, and 19 quarterback pressures. He'd be a great addition to a defense that is ready to chase the Super Bowl right now.

According to Miller, he's hoping he can find that perfect fit by returning to the Denver Broncos.

"I lobbied, I do lobby, I lobbied publicly, privately, so I lobbied,'' Miller said, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold.

However, a return to the Los Angeles Rams would make even more sense. Denver has a deep pass-rushing rotation that recorded 68 sacks in 2025. While the Rams traded for Myles Garrett earlier this offseason, they traded away Jared Verse as part of the deal. Adding Miller to the rotation behind Garrett and Byron Young would be very sensible for L.A.

DT DaQuan Jones: Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones will turn 35 in December and missed multiple games with a calf injury this past season. However, he remains a starting-caliber interior defender who has started every game in which he has appeared since his sophomore season in 2015.

Jones started 12 games for the Buffalo Bills last season, finishing with 22 tackles, three sacks, and three tackles for loss. He still possesses a strong anchor in run defense with penetration ability to boost an interior pass rush.

Jones would make a lot of sense for the Minnesota Vikings, who are hoping to leap back into NFC North contention this season. While much of the offseason focus has been on the looming QB battle between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray, Minnesota faces the challenge of reloading its defensive front.

The Vikings parted with both Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen early this offseason. While they did sign Isaiahh Loudermilk while drafting Caleb Banks and  Domonique Orange, adding DaQuan Jones would round out the defensive rotation while adding veteran leadership to the group.

S Donovan Wilson: Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Safety Donovan Wilson struggled in Matt Eberflus' defense last season, as did many Dallas Cowboys defenders.

The 31-year-old allowed an opposing passer rating above 120.0 in each of the past two seasons but was much more reliable earlier in his career, never allowing a QB rating above 97.0 before 2024.

Wilson is a versatile defender who can play deep and in the box. He also brings special teams value, having logged 398 special teams snaps across seven seasons with Dallas.

His best statistical season came in 2022, when he finished with 101 tackles, five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and a 69.0 opposing quarterback rating.

While not every team values positional versatility and special teams ability, the Pittsburgh Steelers typically have. They have also done some offseason shuffling at safety while losing backup and core special teamer Miles Killebrew in free agency.

Wilson could help fill multiple roles in Pittsburgh, and he also has experience playing for new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. Adding the Texas A&M product at this point in the offseason would be a strong value move for a squad looking to make a deep playoff run in 2026.

Edge/LB Kyle Van Noy: San Francisco 49ers

AP PhotoTerrance Williams

Kyle Van Noy has done a bit of everything during his 12-year NFL career. He was primarily a special teams contributor early on with the Detroit Lions and was largely an all-around linebacker during his time with the New England Patriots.

Over the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, he's morphed into a very productive rotational edge-rusher.

In three seasons with Baltimore, Van Noy recorded 23.5 sacks and 54 quarterback pressures.

Adding Van Noy would be a sensible move for the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers recorded just 20 sacks last season, and they have Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams both recovering from season-ending injuries. While both could be back early in the season—and the team added Romello Height in Round 3—San Francisco is a playoff contender that shouldn't take chances with its edge rush.

Van Noy has also made it clear that he views San Francisco as an attractive landing spot.

"I would really like to play with my little brother Fred Warner with the Niners," Van Noy told Kay Adams of Up & Adams in May. "I think they got something cooking over there."

LB Bobby Wagner: Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Linebacker Bobby Wagner continues to win the battle against Father Time. The 36-year-old remains a high-volume starter and a productive player in every facet of his game.

The reigning Walter Payton Man of the Year just wrapped his 14th straight season with 100-plus tackles. He started all 17 games for Washington in 2025 and finished with 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

If Wagner is willing to join a former division rival, Dallas could provide a logical landing spot. The Cowboys are working to rebuild a defense that ranked 30th overall last season, and Wagner has a fan in head coach Brian Schottenheimer—who previously spent time alongside Wagner as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator.

"You're looking at one of the biggest Bobby Wagner fans in the world," Schottenheimer told Kay Adams of Up & Adams in March. "...I love that guy."

Wagner would bring some much-needed ability and leadership to the second level of Dallas' defense, potentially completing the unit's offseason rebuild.