Fantasy Index

Factoid

March 11, 2014

Productive pass rushers available

When free agency opens this afternoon, teams in need of a top pass rusher may be in luck. Or at least, they'll be able to find players who have been top pass rushers in recent years. It remains to be seen if they're still getting that same level of performance.

Only 12 players have recorded at least 6 sacks in each of the last four seasons, and four of them may be available today. Jared Allen is a free agent, and DeMarcus Ware, Julius Peppers and Osi Umenyiora all make big money on teams with salary cap concerns -- each faces the possibility of being cut. (Peppers definitely will be released; the others are less certain.)

The dozen pass rushers with at least 6 sacks in each of the last four seasons, sorted by total sacks, are presented below. Players likely to be available as free agents are in bold.

TOP PASS RUSHERS, 2010-2013
PosPlayer, TeamSacks
DE Jared Allen, Minn.56.5
OLB DeMarcus Ware, Dall.52.5
OLB Robert Mathis, Ind.48.0
OLB Tamba Hali, K.C.46.5
DE John Abraham, Atl.44.0
DE Charles Johnson, Car.44.0
DE Chris Long, St.L.41.5
OLB Clay Matthews, G.B.40.0
DE Cliff Avril, Det.-Sea.37.0
DE Julius Peppers, Chi. 36.5
DE Osi Umenyiora, NYG-Atl.34.0
DE Calais Campbell, Ariz.29.5

--Andy Richardson

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