The Detroit Lions are expected to retain the services of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh this offseason, according to Detroit Free Press writer Tim Twentyman, although how they will go about it remains a mystery.
The chances are that the Lions will work very hard to figure out a long-term deal to avoid the hit of Suh's franchise tag number, which still must be determined. Last season Suh was a force to be reckoned with on one of the NFL's top defenses. He finished the year with 54 tackles and 8.5 sacks, and anchored the Lions' run defense.
With Suh's whopping franchise tag in mind, does he rate as the top defensive free agent on the market? Here are the other contenders.
Justin Houston, DE/OLB Kansas City Chiefs
It's hard to say whether Houston is a better player than Suh, but he's easily the most prolific pass rusher in the NFL today not named J.J. Watt. Nobody besides the Watt can touch Houston's 43 sacks over the past three seasons.
He's entering free agency at the perfect time too. The league has become passer-dominated, and if teams do not have a franchise QB the next best thing might be to snag someone whose adept at sacking those QBs. Coming off thee straight double-digit sack campaigns, and falling a half-sack shy of tying the single-season record, Houston has a case as the top dog.
Devin McCourty, S New England Patriots
In the current NFL where passing numbers are exploding, try being the team that tries to win with bad safety play. The Patriots just went to the Super Bowl largely because of an improved defense. Of course adding cornerbacks like Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner helps, but safeties are what keep offenses bottled up.
McCourty is excellent in man coverage because he used to be a star cornerback. He is an excellent tackler-he recorded 78 in 2014-and his 17 career picks tell you all you need to know about whether he can make big plays.
Greg Hardy, DE Carolina Panthers
Hardy's character is of course a major concern, but he's not going to jail, and before missing almost all of last season he was in Houston's class as a pass rusher. Hardy, had put together two straight seasons of double-digit sacks and picked up one in Week 1 of 2014.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB New York Giants
Pierre-Paul was back last season, re-entering the realm of double-digit sacks with a 12.5-sack 2014. Injuries derailed his previous two seasons, but when he's healthy JPP is a force of nature. He's also a bit more well-rounded than Houston or Hardy. Pierre-Paul's calling card is sacking quarterbacks, but he's also very adept at stuffing the run. He'll command a massive contract this offseason, but whichever team signs him will be getting a gem if they keep him upright.
Byron Maxwell, CB Seattle Seahawks
If quarterback is the most important position on the field, then one might think pass rushers are the next most important. They might be-but top cornerbacks might beg to differ. They are the ones tasked with shutting down those quarterbacks' wide receivers, often the most athletic guys on the field.
If that's the case, Maxwell's name needs to make this list. He was overshadowed by the bigger names in Seattle's Legion of Boom, but the Seahawks ranked sixth in the NFL against No. 2 wide receivers. The Seahawks as a whole ranked third in the NFL against the pass, which isn't possible if Maxwell was any kind of a weak link.
His impact was evident in the Super Bowl. When nickel corner Jeremy Lane broke his arm in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLIX Maxwell had to shift inside-his replacement Tharold Simon was torched for three New England touchdowns.
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