We're a couple of weeks into the annually frenetic financial frenzy that is free agency in the National Football League. And just like every year, it has been madness. Chaos. Anarchy. An orgy of spending that would make Caligula blush. On the first day of the "legal tampering" (again, quite possibly the dumbest term ever) alone, NFL teams handed out over $2 billion in contracts.

That's billion. With a "B."

This year, four players landed contracts in excess of $95 million. Three received at least $80 million in guarantees. Eight landed deals that average at least $20 million a season.

It's nice work if you can get it.

The defensive line was well-represented in that marathon of money movement. The largest deal in terms of total money and average salary, and the third-biggest in terms of guarantees, went to an edge rusher. Of the five biggest contracts signed so far, three played that same position. Fourteen defensive linemen will make at least $10 million a season on their new contracts.

Now that most of the bigger names along the defensive front have found new homes, let's take a look at how the IDP value of those players has been affected by free agency.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Baltimore

The reason why the blockbuster trade that would have sent Maxx Crosby to Baltimore fell through is a matter of some debate. But the Ravens wasted exactly zero time going to Plan B, signing Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter told reporters that he expects the 31-year-old Hendrickson to be a difference-maker for the Ravens.

"When we talk about being able to have a closer mentality and finish games and dominate in the fourth quarter, Trey is the epitome of that [with] how he's played the last four or five years," Minter said.

Hendrickson led the league with 17.5 sacks two years ago, but he's coming off an injury-marred 2025 campaign in which he managed just four sacks, and it will be interesting to see how he fits into Minter's defense. Hendrickson has top-10 upside in IDP leagues, but he also has a low fantasy floor, and the new digs will more likely than not get him overdrafted.

EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Carolina

It was Phillips who got the fattest contract of free agency in 2026—the Carolina Panthers gave the 26-year-old a whopping $30 million a year over four seasons to anchor the team's pass rush. While speaking to reporters, general manager Dan Morgan hailed Phillips' ability as an all-around force up front.

"He's not only a good pass rusher, but he's also really good against the run," he said. And he's a guy who can make an impact just chasing the ball and running ball carriers down. He brings a lot more than just pass rush to the defense. He brings a high motor, his effort is outstanding, and he's physical at the point of attack. He can do a lot of things other than rush the passer."

Phillips was a top-12 pass-rusher in terms of pressures last year per Pro Football Reference, and he's going to get more than a little hype as we move into IDP draft season. But all those pressures turned into just five sacks in 2025. He has never had more than 8.5 sacks in a campaign, and that was his rookie year. Add in a lengthy injury history, and Phillips is another prime candidate to be overdrafted in fantasy.

EDGE Odafe Oweh, Washington

It was no secret that help at edge rusher was near the top of the wish list for the Washington Commanders this offseason, and the team wasn't shy about getting it, handing Oweh a four-year, $100 million deal. Oweh told reporters that he feels the staff in Washington will truly turn him loose.

"They really let me know how they see me fitting in this defense," Oweh said, "being able to find those one-on-one matchups and being able to target those and play fast. They let me know they were going to allow me to do that (play fast and up the field). I just want to get after the passer and produce, and make big plays for my team."

Two years ago, Oweh had 10 sacks for the Baltimore Ravens before logging 7.5 in 12 games with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. But the 27-year-old has never had 45 total tackles in a season, and his career-best fantasy finish in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring was DL23 in 2024. Oweh is a low-floor IDP DL2—don't overpay as the Commanders did.

EDGE Boye Mafe, Cincinnati

With Trey Hendrickson getting a bag to move across the AFC North to Baltimore, the Bengals were desperate to add an edge rusher. That led to a questionable decision to give Mafe $20 million a season despite a career-low two sacks in 2025, but for what it's worth, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald talked up Mafe's 2025 performance while talking to reporters.

"I think Boye played really good football for us," Macdonald said. "I mean, for the guys that we had in our roster, and then him taking the role that he had was great. The way he plays the edge is a great compliment to the rest of the guys. "I'm sure he wanted more sack production, things like that. But he's also probably the guy that wins the quickest on our defensive line. So that's great production, in my mind."

Mafe should see a sizable bump in snaps this season, and the 27-year-old was eighth in pass rush win rate among edge rushers last year, per ESPN. But Mafe also started just four games in 2025, and while he had nine sacks back in 2023, he has just 11 sacks in his other three seasons combined. There's a little upside here, but Mafe isn't a reliable weekly IDP starter.

EDGE Kwity Paye, Las Vegas

The Raiders signed Paye to a three-year, $48 million contract to ostensibly replace Maxx Crosby—only to see the Crosby deal "fall through" (someone get Eric DeCosta some thermal socks). While addressing the media, Paye said he's thrilled to have the opportunity to play opposite Crosby.

"It's going to be crazy, man," Paye said. "Just seeing him pursue and just his relentless pursuit throughout the down, just being to play with him and get after it. I'm athletic enough to play anywhere on the line, so anywhere these guys need me, and I'm going to go out there and play," he added. "Playing opposite of Maxx is going to be great. And yeah, just anywhere they need me."

Paye has a pair of seasons with eight or more sacks under his belt, but he has never been a top-25 edge rusher in fantasy points. His advanced metrics during a four-sack 2025 campaign with the Indianapolis Colts weren't good, and with Malcolm Koonce also back with the Raiders, a loss in snaps could offset the bump Paye will see getting single-teams all the time opposite Mad Maxx.

EDGE Bradley Chubb, Buffalo

The Buffalo Bills managed just 36 sacks last year as a team, so it wasn't surprising to see them add a free agent on the edge. The team inked veteran Bradley Chubb to a three-year, $43.5 million contract, and while appearing on a podcast, former Bills edge rusher (and future Hall of Famer) Von Miller said he expects Chubb and Greg Rousseau to be a formidable duo in 2026.

"Bradley Chubb with Greg Rousseau? That's going to be fireworks," Miller said. "Greg Rousseau is primarily a left defensive end. Bradley Chubb is primarily a right defensive end. Kinda how me and Bradley Chubb were with the Denver Broncos."

Chubb will be 30 when the season starts, and he has a fairly extensive injury history. But Chubb also has two seasons with double-digit sacks and had 73 stops and 11 sacks on the way to a DL6 fantasy finish in 2023. Chubb finished just outside the top-25 edge rushers in fantasy points last year—there could be some IDP appeal here if Chubb falls a bit in drafts.

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