“2026 NFL IDP Free Agency will have a dramatic effect on players and their 2026 projected outcome. Here are the defensive linemen whose stock has risen!”
We have had a very exciting and busy 2026 NFL IDP Free Agency period that will dramatically impact several players’ value. In this edition, we will be looking at the Defensive Linemen who have benefited from either going to a new team or situation, or having a teammate do so. We will look at Defensive Tackles, Defensive Ends, and Edge Rushers that you want to add or drop from your roster. This can be done via waivers or trade. These Defensive Linemen will have their Stock Up for 2026.
1) Edge – Jaelan Phillips – Carolina Panthers
Phillips signed with the Panthers for 4-Years and $120 million with $80 million guaranteed. Nic Scourton will now have a very large presence on the other end of the Panthers’ defensive line. Add in Defensive Tackle, Derrick Brown, and you have a very formidable three to rush the passer and tackle the runner. The 27-year-old Brown had 73 tackles and 5 sacks in 2025. The second-year player, Scourton, had 47 tackles and 5 sacks as a rookie. Phillips posted 53 tackles and 5 sacks with two different teams in 2025.
Phillips was traded halfway through the 2025 season, so he played nine games with the Dolphins and eight games with the Eagles. Getting out of Miami had Phillips looking rejuvenated with his snaps and play. In one less game, he posted high tackles, tackles for a loss, passes defended, QB hits, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries per game. Phillips was not the only threat on the defensive line with the Eagles. He will not be the only threat on the defensive line with the Panthers. Look for Phillips to set new career highs in sacks of 9+, tackles of 62+, tackles for a loss of 10+, QB hits of 26+, and forced fumbles of 2+.
2) Edge – Trey Hendrickson – Baltimore Ravens
The 31-year-old Hendrickson is coming off his worst statistical year since 2019 because of injury. He had only missed a couple of games in the prior three seasons. This is proof that Hendrickson does not have an injury history; it was just bad luck last season. In his previous two years with the Bengals, Hendrickson produced a combined 89 tackles (61 solo), 35 tackles for a loss, 61 QB hits, 35 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 9 passes defended. Hendrickson signed a 4 year, $112 million contract with $60 million guaranteed with the Ravens.
The Ravens had zero players produce more than 5 sacks during the 2025 season. Their highest-producing tackler was Travis Jones with 47 tackles. The Ravens were once known as the most dominant defense in the league. Hendrickson will play a substantial role in helping to bring that title back to the Baltimore franchise. Teaming up with Tavius Robinson will help both players excel. Robinson was the leading sack producer, even though he played in just 10 games in 2025. Expect Hendrickson to once again compete for the league lead in sacks for 2026.
3) Edge – Joseph Ossai – New York Jets
The Jets have focused their entire free agency plan on the defense. Ossai is one of six IDP free agency signings in the past couple of weeks. The Jets’ defense will be improved in 2026, and Ossai will be a key ingredient to their success. He played nearly 70% of the defensive snaps last year with the Bengals. Ossai posted career highs in games started, pressure percentage, and pass rush win rate according to ESPN.com. The Jets traded Jermaine Johnson to the Titans, so Ossai has his spot in the lineup.
Will McDonald led the Jets in sacks with eight for the 2025 season. The next closest was Johnson with 3. Ossai will line up opposite McDonald, and the pass rush should improve quite a bit. In the middle of the Jets’ 3-4 defensive line will be Harrison Phillips. He is not a great pass rusher, but he did have 60 tackles, which was tops among the Jets’ DL. Phillips will tie up the middle of the offensive line, which will open up lanes for Ossai and McDonald. This will allow Ossai to set new career highs in sacks, tackles for a loss, and tackles.
4) Edge – Bradley Chubb – Buffalo Bills
Gregory Rousseau has been a consistent Edge rusher for the Bills since 2021. They have tried multiple different avenues to get help in rushing the QB from the opposite side. This has included A.J. Epenesa, Von Miller, and Joey Bosa. Epenesa has only had productive games rarely. Miller and Bosa were definitely on the backside of their careers in terms of age. The Bills needed a multi-year player to line up opposite Rousseau. The 29-year-old Chubb fits the description of a player needed to fill a hole in the line.
Chubb tore his ACL and missed the entire 2024 season. In his 2023 and 2025 seasons combined with the Dolphins, Chubb played 33 games and posted 19.5 sacks in those games, which is higher than any recent Bills player over the past few seasons. On top of the sack numbers, Chubb also produced his best two years of production in tackles, tackles for a loss, QB hits, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, and passes defended. Chubb is going to fit in very nicely and complement the high-powered Bills offense perfectly. Look for career numbers out of Chubb in 2026.
5) Edge – Kwity Paye – Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have taken a similar path in free agency signings as the Jets, with the focus on defense. Five of the eight free agency signings have been defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback. The huge move was the reversal of the Maxx Crosby trade to the Ravens. Getting to keep Crosby on one side of the Raiders’ defensive line was a huge win for the team. Second on the team in sacks was Malcolm Koonce with 4 1/2 in 2025. The Riaders have tried to find that complementary piece to Crosby for years. The most recent was the first round selection of Tyree Wilson, which has not panned out at all.
The Raiders signed another first-round player in Paye, who is just 27 years old. The contract was for 3-years, and $48 million. Paye had a little bit of a down year last year with the Colts while playing about 65% of the defensive snaps. He posted just 4 sacks and 39 tackles in 2025. He should rebound quite nicely with the Raiders, and Crosby on the other side, dominating the offense’s attention. The two new linebackers behind him, Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, will also help the production of Paye.
Thank you for checking out my NFL IDP Free Agent stock up article! You can read all of my articles on my IDP+ author page. Be sure to follow me on X at @OldMan_FF and @IDP_Plus (we have offense, too), and please consider becoming a subscriber.
