After spending the last three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy is a free agent, and finally spoke on where he wants to land for his NFL team. With the NFL Draft over, it allows veterans like Van Noy to explore where he wants to land, and there are plenty of teams still in need of edge rushers. Kyle Van Noy explained he’s “more motivated than before to play football” despite the veteran being 35-years-old. It might take a while before he finds a home, but Van Noy made a huge statement to teams:
“I’m gonna get double-digit sacks for whoever picks me up. That’s my energy and that’s my mindset, and I’m excited to do it with whichever team wants to come pick me up,” Van Noy said on the Up & Adams Show. “You could say whatever you want. ‘No one wants a 35-year-old. I promise, you want this 35-year-old.”
Meanwhile, ever since hiring Jesse Minter as their new head coach in the years after parting ways with John Harbaugh, the Ravens have embraced the rebuild on defense. The team signed Trey Hendrickson to a long-term blockbuster deal while selecting a high-stakes draft pick in the second round, Zion Young. Minter is a defensive wizard who saw tremendous success during his first year with the Chargers as the defensive coordinator, and with that, the priority for him was to rebuild the defense he wanted.
Kyle Van Noy
Main Photo: James Lang-Imagn Images
Free Agent Kyle Van Noy Breaks His Silence to Four Teams
This leaves Kyle Van Noy searching for a new opportunity. Originally selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the former BYU product began his career with the Detroit Lions. He also played with the Patriots, Dolphins and Chargers before recently joining the Ravens in 2023. Here are four teams that could take a chance on the veteran on a one-year contract.
Potential Destinations
San Francisco 49ers
While Kyle Van Noy is open to reuniting in Baltimore, he also picked the San Francisco 49ers as one of his preferred destinations. It’s easy to see why the team would benefit from Van Noy. San Francisco lost several pass-rushers, including Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams and Fred Warner, to season-ending injuries last year.
The 49ers needed depth, but even with them returning, Van Noy could be a reliable depth piece. He won’t start, but it should give Kyle Shanahan more confidence heading into the 2026 season if they sign the veteran.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have plenty of pass-rusher depth, but no one has emerged as a true veteran presence. While they have Cameron Heyward for that reason, they need one for the pass-rush. TJ Watt, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer are enough for this group, but it wouldn’t hurt to add Van Noy in the mix to complete this talented package.
Chicago Bears
Last season, the Bears had one of the most complete defensive secondaries, but stats can’t say the same for the pass-rush. The team lost Tremaine Edmunds to the Giants, and even though they signed Devin Bush while drafting Keyshaun Elliott in the fifth round of this year’s draft, there’s still a need at the position. Montez Sweat could use a running mate in the edge rush, and Kyle Van Noy could be what they’re looking for to forget about Edmunds.
New Orleans Saints
Negotiations in New Orleans have not progressed with veteran free agent Cameron Jordan this offseason, so they may resort to Van Noy. The Saints have yet to sign a true veteran edge-rusher. Despite the team trading for Tyree Wilson during the draft, he hasn’t lived up to his potential in his last three years in Las Vegas. There’s a chance for him to save his career, but Van Noy could be the most dominant signing for the Saints and team up with Chase Young in this defensive unit.