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NFL free agency 2019: Best defensive linemen available

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 02: Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) rushes during a regular season game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions on December 2, 2018 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 02: Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) rushes during a regular season game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions on December 2, 2018 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. DE Ziggy Ansah (Detroit Lions)

He’s one of two players on this talented list that played under the franchise tag and 2018. But it turned out to be a very disappointing year for Detroit Lions’ defensive end Ziggy Ansah. A shoulder injury sidelined him twice this past year and limited him to just seven contests. The talented defender finished the season with just 11 tackles and four sacks.

Still, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft has played in a total of 80 regular-season games. The former BYU product has amassed 48 quarterback traps, totaled 10 forced fumbles and recovered three fumbles. Ansah has finished with 10 or more sacks in twice in his six seasons.

So will he be back in the Motor City in 2019? Lions’ general manager Bob Quinn explained in early January that there is a lot to consider. “I think that remains to be seen,” said the team executive to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. “As I mentioned before, we go through our extensive personnel meetings here in a couple weeks with our entire team and part of that is the medical.

“Part of that is the, ‘How long is he going to be out? What do we think, when he gets recovered, is he going to be the same?’ All of these things kind of factor in, so I don’t have an answer today.”

If he is indeed healthy and Quinn and the organization opt to let him test the market, Ansah could very well be the most interesting defender on this list.

Next: No. 2

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