2011 Defensive Lineman Free Agents

As is every year we have some solid defensive lineman ready to hit the open market and a few that have been locked up with a franchise tag before free agency starts. Unlike other years, there is no guarantee that the tags will matter as the league has to decide on if they will count.

I would expect the league to honor all franchise rights for this season to defuse anymore drama once the lockout ends. If franchise tags are not honored that Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata would be the top man to get on this list.

Ngata is one of the best defensive lineman in football and has played at a top level ever since the Ravens drafted him out of Oregon in 2006. Another star who could lose his franchise tag is Chiefs defensive end / linebacker Tamba Hali.

Last season I have Hali pegged as a breakout star for IDP fantasy football and boy did he deliver in big play leagues. Expect Hali to be a top sack man where he ends up, but again, it is likely he will stay with the Chiefs.

One player that would be a great pickup but may not be known by the average NFL fan is Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson. Last season Johnson posted 62 tackles and twelve sacks and is only 25 years old.

We will update you on the players listed below as soon as we get word on what is going on with their situation this off-season.