Three impending free-agent defenders who could flourish on a new team

In sports, situations can sometimes be just as important as talent, and we've seen plenty of instances throughout NFL history of players elevating their game after changing teams.

With free agency set to officially open on March 13, here are three impending free-agent defenders who have had success with their current teams but could take another step forward by signing elsewhere this offseason.

Edge-rusher Bryce Huff, New York Jets

The former undrafted free agent broke out in 2023, racking up a career-high and team-leading 10 sacks for a formidable Jets defense. While sacks aren't necessarily indicative of a player's talent, especially when playing for a team with such a dominant defensive line as the Jets have, Huff wasn't simply a product of his environment. 

Aside from reaching the double-digit sack milestone in 2023, Huff ranked 17th in the NFL in total pressures (33) and was tied for sixth among edge-rushers in pass rush win rate (22%). This marked Huff's second consecutive season posting an impressive pass rush win rate, as he ranked third at his position in the category in 2022 (28.4%). 

Although the Jets could retain Huff, SNY's Connor Hughes says the scenario "seems wildly unlikely" to come to fruition. Additionally, Brian Costello of the New York Post recently reported that he'd rule out a tag-and-trade situation for Huff this offseason. Regardless of where Huff lands, his next team will be getting a budding star, but it won't come at a discount, given that he's projected to sign a three-year, $50M deal in free agency.

LB Frankie Luvu, Carolina Panthers

Despite how disastrous Carolina's season turned out, its defense wasn't all that bad. It ranked fourth in yards per game allowed (293.9), and Luvu played a big part in that.

In just his second season as a full-time starter, Luvu registered 125 tackles, 10 for loss, 11 QB hits, 5.5 sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles. According to Pro Football Focus, the ex-Jet has been one of the top off-ball linebackers since 2022 in terms of rushing the passer, with Luvu ranking fourth at the position in pressures (43) in that span. 

As per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Carolina is expected to attempt to re-sign Luvu this offseason, and talks could accelerate around the time of the NFL Scouting Combine. Even so, the Panthers have several key impending free agents, including edge-rusher Brian Burns, they will need to make decisions on, so they may not be able to offer Luvu the contract he's seeking. Not to mention that with Carolina's bleak 2024 outlook, perhaps Luvu will jump ship to spend his prime years playing for a contender. 

LB Andrew Van Ginkel, Miami Dolphins

It's unlikely that Van Ginkel, who is entering his age-29 season, will solidify himself as a "star" or even a Pro Bowler in 2024. However, he showed enough promise during the 2023 season to suggest that he might just be a late bloomer who still has some potential to unlock.

After playing just 29% of Miami's defensive snaps in 2022, Van Ginkel assumed a prominent role in now-Eagles DC Vic Fangio's defense and made a significant impact. In 17 games, Van Ginkel collected 69 tackles, eight for loss, 19 QB hits and a career-high six sacks, in addition to one interception that he returned for a touchdown.

While the 2019 fifth-round pick recently told "The Joe Rose Show" that he'd "love to be a Miami Dolphin for a long time," he should command plenty of suitors in free agency. It'll also be interesting to see whether Fangio's departure will be a factor in Van Ginkel's decision, considering how well he played in his system. Maybe a reunion between the coordinator and linebacker in Philadelphia will be in the cards this offseason.