Kyle Van Noy landing spots: Free agent EDGE open to Ravens return, eyes 49ers as possible destination

Van Noy became a free agent at the end of his three-year run in Baltimore

Carter Bahns

May 5, 2026

7:37 pm ET

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5 min read

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With the NFL Draft complete, opportunities to fill roster needs between now and the start of the 2026 season are dwindling. Teams in search of edge rushers only have a few directions in which they can search. One of those options is a proven havoc-wreaker in Kyle Van Noy, who said Tuesday on "Up & Adams" that he has "never been more motivated to play football" and is eyeing a couple of specific teams.

Among those squads is the Baltimore Ravens, with which Van Noy spent the last three seasons and took his game to new heights with a career-best 12.5-sack campaign in 2024. Van Noy said the door to a return remains open and that he has a "great relationship" with team leadership. With the summer approaching and no deal in place, though, the free agent is keeping his options open.

"I'm just motivated for all the people that think I'm done and all those things," Van Noy said. "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. You could say whatever you want. 'No one wants a 35-year-old. I promise, you want this 35-year-old."

Here are six ideal landing spots for Van Noy as he gears up for his 13th NFL season.

Baltimore Ravens

Van Noy gave the Ravens every reason to not bring him back as he finished the 2025 season with two sacks and four tackles for loss, both of which were his fewest since 2016. The first two years of his stint in Baltimore, however, featured some of the best football of his career. He would not be the first veteran to bounce back from a down year if he did so in 2026, and the Ravens would benefit greatly from that as they seek an elusive breakthrough.

"I know they're going to try to go for it," Van Noy said. "Lamar, his situation with his contract, who knows what they got going on with that. I think they should go all-in again, and I want to be a part of that. But I'm excited for this process. I really am. I'm just gonna be ready to go. I'm in the gym all the time. I'm the best I've ever been in shape. I'm excited."

One major offseason move made Van Noy expendable, though. The Ravens acquired Trey Hendrickson in a division-rattling signing. He represents a massive influx of pass-rushing ability, which reduces the need to re-sign Van Noy.

"I love my teammates that I played there with," Van Noy said. "The relationship that I've grown with Lamar and Derrick Henry and Mark Andrews. Nate Wiggins, I'm super excited to see him and this new defense and how he's going to play. Just so many guys that I've grown with over the last three seasons and kind of took on that 'big bro' role."

San Francisco 49ers

Last year's bevy of injuries made apparent the need for more depth on the edge in San Francisco. With season-ending ailments to defensive ends Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams and linebacker Fred Warner, the 49ers saw tons of firepower on the defensive front go on the shelf and struggled to pressure the pocket as a result. Even if that trio returns to full strength early in the 2026 season, the unit could still benefit from an addition.

Joey Bosa remains on the market and would be an enticing target because of his familial ties to the roster, but Van Noy made it very clear he wants to join this squad.

"I'd really like to play with my little brother Fred Warner with the Niners," Van Noy said. "I think they got something cooking over there. I know they love Joey Bosa because of Nick and all that. I get that. But I would love to play with my little brother. That's my guy."

Pittsburgh Steelers

T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer offer plenty of production to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson is not so convinced this edge rusher group is complete. He tabbed the Steelers as the top landing spot for Van Noy because of his versatility and the prospect of him adding veteran leadership to the locker room amid a coaching change.

"They don't have a ton of depth," Wilson said on CBS Sports HQ. "Steelers fans would tell you they do at edge rusher. They don't."

The path to the lineup is murkier in Pittsburgh than in other places, which appears to be a roadblock in Van Noy's potential signing with the Steelers.

"I would like the thought of that, but I don't know how much I would play with all those guys they have," Van Noy said about the idea of playing in the Steel City.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals just watched Hendrickson leave to join the Ravens, so they need help on the edge. They might not have to look far to find his replacement.

"How crazy would that be; Trey Hendrickson and myself switch teams?" Van Noy said. "It could work."

Cincinnati has been in rough shape defensivel