NFL free agency 2020: Best defensive linemen available

Who doesn’t love and need an ample amount of pass rush in the NFL? See the five defensive linemen who will garner the most interest in free agency below.

Like starting pitching in baseball and three-point shooting in the NBA, NFL teams can’t live without a consistent pass rush. We see it every year with the league’s worst teams. I

Therefore, every free agency we see teams across the league pony up a ton of money to nab the market’s best. So, who are the five best defensive linemen in free agency this offseason?

5. D.J. Reader

For years, J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney were the two players people would talk up on the Houston Texans defense. Rightfully so, with Clowney’s three Pro Bowls and Watt’s long list of accolades.

There was always another player who didn’t get nearly the same amount of love though: D.J. Reader.

Yes, Reader isn’t of the same ilk as Watt and Clowney as far as Pro Bowls and yearly awards go. However, he is still a very good player who does a lot of things on the defensive line.

Reader was given an overall player grade of 86.7 by Pro Football Focus. He plays primarily on the interior part of the defensive line, but he is dynamic enough to line up at defensive end quite a bit.

Reader has molded himself into an every-down player. Last season, he had seven quarterback knockdowns, 12 total pressures and two hurries, according to Pro Football Reference.

One argument that may arise is that “Reader is a product of his environment.” That would be a fallacy.