Malcolm Koonce, 25, has shown promise as a pass rusher. After a strong finish to the 2023 season, he suffered a knee injury before the 2024 season, causing him to miss the entire year. A short-term "prove-it" deal would allow Koonce to reestablish his value.
Mack will be 35 years old when the new season begins. However, he is still a very valuable contributor to any defense and brings a lot of experience. A 13.7% pressure rate and six sacks last season are more than respectable, and when you add in a 12.7% tackle rate, there is a lot to be impressed about. Mack has some scheme versatility, being able to line up as a conventional defensive end or as an outside linebacker. He is unlikely to be too expensive at this point in his career, but should still command a contract in excess of $10 million a year.
Drew Dalman missed eight games on injured reserve with an ankle injury in 2024, but otherwise has started all 40 games he’s played the last two seasons at center for the Falcons. Dalman returned for the final six games of the season, indicating he shouldn’t have any limitations for 2025. When he did play, Dalman had his best season in pass protection. He allowed a career-best 3.7% pressure rate, a big improvement from his 5.7% pressure rate allowed in his first three seasons.
In 2024, Davis allowed just two touchdowns and a 55.3% completion rate when targeted. He only managed two interceptions. Davis is a potential high-reward free agent. He is coming off the best season of his career, with a 77 passer rating allowed. we could see teams hesitant to commit big money over multiple years with those injury concerns.
D.J. Reed is perhaps the top option in free agency. While his passer rating allowed (87.1) ranked just 50th this season, it is his consistency that is key. That was the highest passer rating allowed by Reed since his second year in the league. That is five years with a passer rating allowed of 87.1 or lower. Reed has allowed more than two touchdowns in coverage only once in his career, back in 2021.
Bobby Wagner just keeps marching on, and he remains among the very best at the middle linebacker position. He finished with a 22% tackle rate on run plays. In terms of the passing game, Wagner finished with a 27.4% pressure rate, with two sacks and five QB knockdowns. In coverage, he had an 89.3 passer rating allowed, with just a 65.8% completion rate allowed. He did give up a touchdown in coverage and 8.6 yards per completion, but the numbers were still more than respectable.
Baun had an impressive 23.8% tackle rate on run plays and finished with 151 total tackles, which was fifth among linebackers. In coverage, Baun was solid, allowing just an 80.5 passer rating against and just 5.6 yards per target. When he did blitz, he had a 19.3% pressure rate and 3.5 sacks. His main impact was certainly felt in the run game, but he was far from a liability in the passing game, either. Baun could easily continue to be an every-down linebacker and should get a multi-year deal in free agency or remain with the Eagles.
A long-time starter for the Seahawks, Packers, and Chiefs, Reed turned 32 in December but still played all 17 games for the third time in the last four seasons (eight starts). Reed regressed from 7.5 sacks in 2023 to 4.5 sacks in 2024, but actually increased his total pressures (43 to 48) and pressure percentage (9.5% to 12.9%). He averaged 37.4 snaps per game, down from 48.5 last year and his fewest since his rookie season in 2016.
Coleman Shelton started all 17 games for the second consecutive season. After serving as a utilityman for the Rams, Shelton has settled in and played every snap at center for the past two seasons. Shelton’s second season as a starter was better than his first in terms of pass protection. He cut his pressure rate allowed from 5.5% in 2023 to 3.8% in 2024. He also cut his QB hits allowed from 11 in 2023 to five in 2024 and committed only three penalties after getting flagged five times in 2023.
The longtime Colts center was limited to 10 games in 2024, his fewest since 2017 (his second NFL season). Kelly allowed a 3.6% pressure rate, which ranked 17th among 31 centers with at least 300 pass-blocking snaps. “League-average starter” is likely an apt description for Kelly as he turns 32 this offseason, though that holds plenty of value when combined with his experience.
