2016 NFL Free Agency: The Top 10 Defensive Players Left on the Market

On April 18, the focus was on the best offensive players remaining on the open market. That list was reduced by one when the Denver Broncos re-signed running back Ronnie Hillman (the No. 1 player on the list) Monday.

This is all about equal time. Using 2015 primarily (but not solely) as a guide, here are the top defensive players still available in free agency. They are ranked from 10 to one, and we included some honorable mentions as well.

As stated previously in regard to the offensive market, there is not a lot to choose from here. Free agency has been in play for more than a month, and all 32 NFL teams have turned their primary attention to the draft at this point.

Don’t be surprised if the following players don’t get the call for a few more weeks.

Honorable Mentions

Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

The following four players (listed in alphabetical order) came up just short of the top 10.

DT Dominique Easley (Released by New England Patriots)

After just two seasons in Foxborough, the 24-year-old defensive tackle was let go by the Patriots on April 13, per Ben Volin of the Boston Herald. Easley played in 22 games and totaled only three sacks with the club. Still, this is a young player with obvious potential. The Pats made him the 29th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

“I’m more curious about how many teams claim him than if he gets claimed,” said one-time Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns executive Joe Banner after the news, per Volin. “This is a gift to someone.”

ILB David Hawthorne (Released by New Orleans Saints)

An eight-year pro with the Seahawks and Saints, he was limited to only 11 games with New Orleans this past season. The 30-year-old Hawthorne managed only 33 stops but did force three fumbles. His career numbers include 12 sacks and eight interceptions.

SS William Moore (Released by Atlanta Falcons)

The 30-year-old former Pro Bowler totaled 51 stops and two interceptions in 11 games this past season. Moore has also been less durable lately, missing a total of 14 games the past two years combined. He’s still a heady defender who could help a club in need of depth at safety.

CB Jerraud Powers (UFA: Arizona Cardinals)

The 28-year-old defender has spent the past three seasons in the desert. In 2015, Powers totaled 52 tackles, nine passes defensed and three takeaways for the NFC West champions.

But don’t be fooled by his below-average grade (minus-5.0) at Pro Football Focus. Most of that came from a disastrous performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. He remains a solid corner.

10. DT Sammie Lee Hill (UFA: Tennessee Titans)

Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

In search for a steady performer who could help your team in terms of stopping the run?

Defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill would be an excellent addition for a club that is looking to secure the middle of the defense.

This past season, he finally got back on the field in mid-October after being hampered by a knee injury. He played well against the run, earning a plus-4.6 grade from Pro Football Focus in this department. The 29-year-old wound up starting in five of his 10 appearances in 2015.

A fourth-round selection by the Detroit Lions in 2009, Hill has spent the past three seasons in Nashville. He’s a proven commodity who would help any numbers of teams. He played in Tennessee for defensive coordinator Ray Horton, who is now calling the shots in that side of the ball with Cleveland.

Only two teams in the league allowed more rushing yards this past season than the Browns.

9. ILB Donald Butler (Released by San Diego Chargers)

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

In early March, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune penned a scathing indictment of Donald Butler. He was thought to be one of the better players on the San Diego Chargers defense.

That wasn’t the case in 2015. The staff at Pro Football Focus ranked 130 players at inside linebacker, and it was clear that this Butler didn’t do too much. He finished at No. 121 with a minus-18.7 grade, which was actually an improvement from the previous year (minus-23.1).

Perhaps that’s the real reason that the Bolts opted to part ways with the 27-year-old. A third-round draft choice in 2010, Butler re-upped with the team in February 2014 to the tune of seven years, $51.8 million, per Spotrac. Now, he’s looking for a job.

In reality, his play has been below average the past three seasons, and the situation came to a head this past season. After being in the opening lineup in the team’s first nine contests, Butler did not start the rest of the way.

The talent is there, and Butler is still young enough to turn things around. Perhaps a reunion with former linebackers coach Joe Barry (currently the Washington Redskins defensive coordinator) could get the defender’s career back on track.

8. ILB Curtis Lofton (Released by Oakland Raiders)

Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

After successful stints with the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, inside linebacker Curtis Lofton lasted just one season with the Oakland Raiders.

In 2015, the veteran defender inked a three-year, $18 million contract with the Silver and Black. But he wound up making a career-low nine starts and eventually ended up on the bench. His numbers courtesy of Pro Football Focus are far from inspiring.

However, this is also a 29-year-old player who has not missed a game in eight seasons with three franchises. A team that is looking for a little help on run defense would be wise to ink the hard-nosed linebacker. Lofton’s play in terms of pass defense is a different story, but he is still more than capable of providing depth to a defensive unit.

7. DE Jason Jones (UFA: Detroit Lions)

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

In eight-year pro Jason Jones, a team could get a player who has starting experience at both defensive end and tackle. That versatility is always a plus in this league.

A second-round selection by the Tennessee Titans in 2008, he’s also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

He turns 30 on May 23 but comes off a season in which he earned a solid plus-3.1 grade from Pro Football Focus.

In eight seasons, the 6’5”, 275-pound performer has amassed 28 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and 24 passes defensed. This past Friday, Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk reported that Jones paid the Dolphins a visit.

Signing with Miami would reunite the veteran defender with former Lions teammate Ndamukong Suh.

6. CB Antonio Cromartie (Released by New York Jets)

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

He was part of the league’s fourth-ranked defense this past season.

Now, four-time Pro Bowler Antonio Cromartie remains on the open market, after the New York Jets let him go for the second time in three years.

The team tripled its interception total in 2015 (18) from the previous year (six), although the 32-year-old cornerback did not pick off a pass for the first time since his rookie season with the San Diego Chargers in 2006. Cromartie played in 15 games for New York and not only totaled 29 tackles but led the club with 12 passes defensed.

Perhaps just as impressive is the fact that the 10-year veteran has missed only two games in a career that includes 31 interceptions with the Bolts, Jets and Arizona Cardinals.

In regard to his future, he had plenty to say about that earlier this month. Darryl Slater of NJ.com reported that Cromartie stated via Instagram: “No retirement yet. God told me I wasn't finished.”

5. SS Donte Whitner (Released by Cleveland Browns)

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t let the door hit you on the pads on the way out?

That seemed to be what veteran Donte Whitner was saying about his exit from the Cleveland Browns in early April. When it was all said and done, the 30-year-old strong safety wound up spending only two seasons with the franchise, after signing a four-year, $28 million contract with the organization in 2014.

In 10 NFL campaigns with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and Browns, the three-time Pro Bowler has totaled 11 forced fumbles and a combined 17 takeaways. The hard-hitting defensive back finished second on the team with 81 stops, along with 1.5 sacks and four passes defensed this past season for the 3-13 Browns.

There’s obviously still a lot of playing time left for the former Ohio State Buckeye, who turns 31 years old on July 24.

4. OLB Mike Neal (UFA: Green Bay Packers)

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The overall grade for outside linebacker Mike Neal from this past season doesn’t warrant his somewhat high ranking on this list.

But sometimes the figures can be deceiving. In 16 games (15 starts) with the Green Bay Packers, he totaled 36 stops and four sacks. A second-round pick by general manager Ted Thompson in 2010, his lack of prowess as a pass-rusher earned the “ire” on Pro Football Focus.

But what didn’t escape the watchful eyes of PFF was Neal’s play against the run, as he earned a plus-2.2 mark during the regular season in this department. Add in the fact that the former Purdue University product will be just 29 years old in June, and the 6’3”, 262-pounder is a sound choice for a team that is looking to add some proven depth to its defensive unit.

3. DB Walter Thurmond (UFA: Philadelphia Eagles)

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Will he, or won’t he?

That’s the big question surrounding talented defensive back Walter Thurmond, who spent 2015 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He teamed with Pro Bowler Malcolm Jenkins to give the Birds one of the league’s best safety combinations.

In late March, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reminded us that the 28-year-old pro was still one of the top free agents available. He also mentioned that Thurmond was thinking about walking away from the game after six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants (two games in 2014) and Eagles.

In 2015, he played in all 16 games for the first time and posted personal bests with 71 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. His seven passes defensed tied a career high set during his rookie campaign with Seattle in 2010.

If Thurmond does retire, he appears to be at the top of his game. On Monday, the Seahawks brought back former “Legion of Boom” member Brandon Browner, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Could there be another reunion in the Pacific Northwest?

2. CB Leon Hall (UFA: Cincinnati Bengals)

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this month, James Rapien of WCKY in Cincinnati interviewed Bengals color analyst Dave Lapham, who told listeners that veteran Leon Hall was on the mend following offseason back surgery.

That’s apparently the reason the 31-year-old cornerback has not latched on with a team to date. The Bengals have also not opted to re-sign their first-round pick in 2007. Hall has totaled 26 interceptions in nine seasons with the franchise.

Chris Wesseling of NFL.com reports that the seasoned pro has already visited the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. In early April, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald suggested that the Dolphins could be in the mix, citing Hall’s days playing for coach Vance Joseph—the team’s current defensive coordinator.

In 14 games with Cincinnati this past season, Hall totaled 55 tackles, a pair of interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and nine passes defensed. He earned positive grades for his play.

As for 2016, there doesn’t figure to be any movement until the nine-year pro is completely healthy once again.

1. DE Greg Hardy (UFA: Dallas Cowboys)

Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to ignore the off-the-field issues surrounding Greg Hardy. Earlier this month, ESPN’s Adam Schefter's interview with the controversial defender drew a lot of strong opinions.

In terms of his play on the field, the former Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys defensive end has put up impressive numbers. The latter signed Hardy for 2015, and after the 27-year-old served a four-game suspension, he notched 35 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble and one interception in 12 outings.

Dallas has opted not to bring back the six-year pro, who has totaled 40 sacks in 76 regular-season games with two clubs. His persona is the real issue here, as evidenced by his off-the-field problems and his clashes on the Cowboys’ sidelines in 2015.

Hardy is the most talented defensive player remaining in the free-agent pool. He could also be the one person on this list who does not find a job for the upcoming season.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All 2016 contract terms and 2016 transactions are courtesy of Spotrac.