Building a starting defense with remaining NFL free agents

Building a starting defense with remaining NFL free agents: Linebackers

Edge Rushers: Leonard Floyd, Bud Dupree

If Bud Dupree could stay healthy, this could be a solid duo of starting edge rushers.  Leonard Floyd began his career with the Chicago Bears before signing a big deal with the Los Angeles Rams, where he won a Super Bowl.

The Rams cut him after a 2022 season in which he notched 9.0 sacks and 22 QB hits.  He’s got 47.5 career sacks and should still have some solid play left.

Bud Dupree began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing a huge deal with the Tennessee Titans that blew up in their faces.  He was with the Titans for two seasons and had 7.0 sacks combined in those two campaigns, playing in 22 out of 34 possible regular season games.

This could end up being a solid duo, but I think this unit has a low floor as well.

Inside Linebackers: Myles Jack, Zach Cunningham

I’m a big fan of this inside linebacking duo of Myles Jack and Zach Cunningham.  Jack was a high second round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars back in the 2016 NFL Draft and had six decent years for them before signing a two year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was cut after one season.  Still just 27, teams could do a lot worse than Jack.

Zach Cunningham was a second round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and began his career with the Houston Texans.  He spent the last two seasons with the Tennessee Titans but only played in six games for them this year.  He averages over 100 combined tackles a season, so like Jack, teams could do a lot worse than Cunningham.