In many ways, the National Football League is still a “quarterback league.” However, it is also very much a “get after the quarterback league.”
There was some major movement when it came to pass rushers this offseason, starting with the stunning trade of the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year to Sean McVay’s team, as well as the recent addition of ageless Von Miller by the Dallas Cowboys.
Whittling the list down to five players, which includes a pair of 2026 first-round draft choices, certainly wasn’t easy.
Power ranking the 5 best offseason moves at edge rusher
5. Rueben Bain Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
While the popular knock on the former Hurricanes’ defender was his short arms, the 6’3”, 270-pound defender was long in production during his three-season stay in Coral Gables. In 38 contests, Bain totaled 20.5 sacks (a career-best 9.5 in 2025), one interception, and four forced fumbles. In 2025, the Buccaneers finished with a mediocre 37 sacks, this after six consecutive seasons of totaling 45-plus quarterback traps.
4. David Bailey (New York Jets)
The second overall pick in April’s selection process was the first of three first-round picks by the franchise in the midst of the longest current playoff drought in the league. Bailey spent his first three collegiate seasons at Stanford before joining Texas A&M in 2025. Over the past four years, the 6’3”, 251-pound defender has amassed 42.0 sacks in 46 contests (19.5 in ’25), as well as an impressive 10 forced fumbles.
3. Bradley Chubb (Buffalo Bills)
He was the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, and after four-plus years in the Mile High City was dealt to the Miami Dolphins during the 2022 season. You could argue that Chubb’s stint in South Florida has been more successful despite sitting out 2024 with a knee injury. In 41 regular-season games with the ‘Fins, he totaled 22.0 sacks, nine forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
2. Trey Hendrickson (Baltimore Ravens)
Earlier this year and just when it looked like defensive end Maxx Crosby was headed to Baltimore, the Ravens pulled the trade off the table. Instead, they opted for a four-time Pro Bowler who has spent the past five seasons in the AFC North. Hendrickson has amassed 81.0 sacks with the Saints (20.0) and Bengals (61.0), but does come off a 2025 season in which he totaled only four quarterback traps in seven contests.
1. Myles Garrett (Los Angeles Rams)
Was there any doubt about the top spot on this list? The first overall pick in the 2017 draft has certainly lived up to that lofty status. A total of 134 regular-season games with the Browns added up to 125.5 sacks (including the recognized NFL record of 23.0 in 2025), 23 forced fumbles and a pair of NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. The Rams gave up plenty, including edge rusher Jared Verse, to get Garrett.
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