2019 NFL free agents: The top 20 players available

Taking a look at the top 20 2019 NFL free agents. Which players are going to hit it big this offseason and load up their bank accounts?

The 2019 NFL Draft is going to be loaded with defensive line talent, and the 2019 NFL free agent class is no different.

This year’s crop is led by a remarkable group of pass rushers, especially edge players, with some very good interior linemen sprinkled in.

Aside from Le’Veon Bell, this year’s offensive group pales in comparison to its defensive counterpart, and teams will certainly be lined up to pay top dollar for these pass rushers if some of them are not franchise tagged.

Let’s take a look at the top 20 free agents — regardless of position — in 2019.

1. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Cowboys

The top overall spot on this list was a toss-up between Lawrence and Clowney, so don’t get your pants in a bundle over the ranking. Lawrence had 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles for the Cowboys a season ago, establishing himself as one of the premier edge players in football. He has 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble through the first half of the 2018 season and will be just 27 next year.

2. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Texans

Only 25 years old and in his fifth NFL season already, Clowney seems to have merely scratched the surface of how dominant he can be at this level. He’s not yet cracked double-digit sacks, but he’s on his way to doing so in 2018 and is one of the best all-around defenders in the NFL when healthy. He’s got just one full 16 game schedule under his belt, however.

3. Trey Flowers, DE, Patriots

Flowers has become a weapon inside and outside for the Patriots’ defensive line. He has yet to crack double-digit sacks but he makes a significant impact on games every week he’s active. He will be just 26 years old in 2019 and the Patriots love him. It will be hard for them to stomach if he walks away.

4. Frank Clark, DE, Seahawks

Drafted in 2015 with some off-field concerns, Clark has gone about his business in Seattle and stayed out of trouble, racking up 29.5 sacks since he came into the NFL.

At just 25 years old, Clark is one of the most underrated edge players in football and will be in consideration for the Seahawks’ franchise player designation.

5. Dee Ford, EDGE, Chiefs

When healthy, Dee Ford is a very, very good edge player and pass rusher specifically. He has one of the highest pass rush productivity rates in the NFL in 2018 after an injury limited him to just six games in 2017. He will be 28 in 2019, however, which might limit the total guarantees teams are willing to give him outside of Kansas City.