2010 NFL Free Agents: Defensive Ends

MISSING

2010 NFL Free Agency: Star rating is out of five. Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2010.

Julius Peppers, DE, Panthers. Age: 30.
Signed with Bears (6 years, $91.5 million; $42 million guaranteed)

Julius Peppers had 11 sacks in 2009, marking the fifth time in six seasons that he has accumulated double-digit sacks. Peppers just turned 30, but he has at least four more very productive seasons left in the tank.
Elvis Dumervil (RFA), DE/OLB, Broncos. Age: 26.
Re-signed with Broncos (1 year, $3.1 million)

Elvis Dumervil led the NFL in sacks with 17. He’s a 5-star player in the 3-4, but wouldn’t be nearly as effective in the 4-3 because of his struggles in run support.
Aaron Kampman, DE, Packers. Age: 30.
Signed with Jaguars (4 years, $26 million; $11 million guaranteed)

Aaron Kampman compiled 38 sacks between 2006 and 2008, but struggled to transition into Green Bay’s new 3-4 last year. Kampman is one of the top unrestricted free agents on the market, and the only reason why he’s not a 5-star player is because he’s coming off a torn ACL (though he claims he should be fine for training camp.)
Ray Edwards (RFA), DE, Vikings. Age: 25.
Re-signed with Vikings (1 year, $2.5 million)

Counting the playoffs, Ray Edwards had 11 sacks in his final 11 games of the season. Some may argue that he thrived because offenses were paying attention to Jared Allen and the Williams Wall. We’ll never know for sure until Edwards signs elsewhere, but he’s not going anywhere this spring.
Aaron Schobel, DE, Bills. Age: 33.
Announced retirement

Leave it to the Bills to screw this up. They’ve inexplicably dumped Aaron Schobel, who can still get to the quarterback at age 33, as evidenced by his 10-sack campaign in 2009. Schobel is currently favored to go to Houston, where he and Mario Williams would wreak havoc upon opposing passers.
Marcus Spears (RFA), DE/DT, Cowboys. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Cowboys (1 year, $1.2 million)

Marcus Spears never lived up to his billing as a first-round pick, but he has been a solid player for the Cowboys over the years. Dallas is lucky that it can keep him at a cheap value for one more year because of the CBA implications.
Darryl Tapp (RFA), DE, Seahawks. Age: 25.
Re-signed with Seahawks (1 year, $1.1 million)

Darryl Tapp had seven sacks back in 2007, but hasn’t been able to match that total since. Tapp had 5.5 sacks in 2008 and only 2.5 in 2009. What saves him, however, is his ability against the run.
Tyler Brayton (RFA), DE/DT, Panthers. Age: 30.
Re-signed with Panthers (3 years)

A solid starting left end for the Panthers, Tyler Brayton had five sacks in 14 games. He can play end in the 3-4.
Alex Brown, DE, Bears. Age: 31.
Signed with Saints (2 years, $6 million)

Alex Brown is good for about six sacks a year. He’s good against the run.
Anthony Hargrove (RFA), DE, Saints. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Saints (1 year, $1.2 million)

Anthony Hargrove is decent against the run but doesn’t bring any pass rush.
Stephen Bowen (RFA), DE/DT, Cowboys. Age: 26.
Re-signed with Cowboys (1 year, $1.7 million)

A young 3-4 end who has played well in a reserve role. Has potential.
Darren Howard, DE, Eagles. Age: 33.
Darren Howard is a pass-rushing specialist only. He had 10 sacks in 2008.
Adewale Ogunleye, DE, Texans. Age: 33.
Adewale Ogunleye had 6.5 sacks last year, but only two sacks since the Bears’ Week 5 bye. At 33, Ogunleye’s skills will begin to erode quickly.
Leonard Little, DE, Rams. Age: 35.
Leonard Little just had 6.5 sacks. However, he’ll be 36 in October. He can’t be anything than a rotational pass rusher going forward.
Mark Anderson (RFA), DE, Bears. Age: 27.
Signed with Texans

Mark Anderson had a great rookie campaign, but hasn’t done anything since. Maybe his release will serve as a wake-up call.
Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE, Titans. Age: 31.
Signed with Lions (4 years, $26 million)

Both age and Albert Haynesworth’s departure ruined Kyle Vanden Bosch’s 2009 campaign. He registered only three sacks.
Greg Ellis, DE/OLB, Raiders. Age: 35.
Greg Ellis had seven sacks last year, but he’ll be 35 in August. The tank’s nearing empty.
Dewayne White, DE, Lions. Age: 30.
Dewayne White has missed 10 games in the last three years, but he’s a solid rotational defensive end.
Jimmy Wilkerson, DE, Buccaneers. Age: 29.
Signed with Saints (1 year)

Jimmy Wilkerson had six sacks in 2009, but tore his ACL in December. He probably won’t be ready for the start of the 2010 season.
Charles Grant, DE, Bears. Age: 31.
Still solid against the run, but offers absolutely no pass rush. Tore his triceps in Week 17.
Jason Hunter, DE, Lions. Age: 27. — Signed with Broncos
Jason Hatcher (RFA), DE/DT, Cowboys. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Cowboys (1 year, $1.7 million)
Bobby McCray, DE, Saints. Age: 29.
Raheem Brock, DE, Titans. Age: 32. — Signed with Seahawks
Jevon Kearse, DE, Titans. Age: 34.
Ryan Denney, DE, Bills. Age: 33. — Signed with Texans
Reggie Hayward, DE, Jaguars. Age: 31.
Chris Wilson (ERFA), DE, Redskins. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Redskins (1 year, $1.6 million)
Victor Adeyanju (RFA), DE, Rams. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Rams (1 year, $1.1 million)
Dave Ball (RFA), DE, Titans. Age: 29. — Re-signed with Titans (1 year, $1.8 million)
Phillip Daniels, DE, Redskins. Age: 37. — Re-signed with Redskins (2 years, $2.1 million)
Frostee Rucker (RFA), DE, Bengals. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Bengals (2 years)
Michael Montgomery, DE, Packers. Age: 27. — Signed with Vikings (1 year)
Jared DeVries, DE, Lions. Age: 34. — Re-signed with Lions (1 year, $1.7 million)
Dave Tollefson (RFA), DE, Giants. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Giants (1 year, $1.6 million)
Copeland Bryan (RFA), DE, Lions. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Lions
Jeff Charleston (RFA), DE, Saints. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Saints (1 year, $1.1 million)