2014 Interior Defensive Lineman Free Agent Breakdown
By: Matt Harmon
High-end starters
1) Jason Hatcher, Dallas Cowboys. Age: 32 *signed with Redskins*
2) Randy Starks, Miami Dolphins. Age: 30 *re-signed with Dolphins*
Good starters
1) Antonio Smith, Houston Texans. Age: 32 *signed with Raiders*
2) Linval Joseph, New York Giants. Age: 25 *signed with Vikings*
3) Paul Soliai, Miami Dolphins. Age: 30 *signed with Falcons*
4) Red Bryant, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 29 *signed with Jaguars*
Solid Contributors
1) Jonathan Babineaux. Atlanta Falcons. Age: 32 *re-signed with Falcons*
2) Pat Sims, Oakland Raiders. Age: 28 *re-signed with Raiders*
3) Arthur Jones, Baltimore Ravens. Age: 28 *signed with Colts*
4) Corey Peters, Atlanta Falcons. Age: 26 *re-signed with Falcons*
5) B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers. Age: 28 *re-signed with Packers*
Role players
1) Tony McDaniel, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 29 *re-signed with Seahawks*
2) Tyson Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs. Age: 28 *signed with Falcons*
3) Kevin Williams, Minnesota Vikings. Age: 34
4) Clinton McDonald, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 27 *signed with Buccaneers*
5) Vance Walker, Oakland Raiders. Age: 27 *signed with Chiefs*
6) Earl Mitchell, Houston Texans. Age: 26 *signed with Dolphins*
7) Johnny Jolly, Green Bay Packers. Age: 31
8) Adam Carriker, Washington Redskins. Age: 29
9) Cam Thomas, San Diego Chargers. Age: 27 *signed with Steelers*
10) Ryan Pickett, Green Bay Packers. Age: 34
Diamond in the Rough
1) Henry Melton, Chicago Bears. Age: 27 *signed with Cowboys*
2) Al Woods, Pittsburgh Steelers. Age: 27 *signed with Titans*
3) Nate Collins, Chicago Bears. Age: 26 *re-signed with Bears*
QB--RB--FB--WR--TE--OT--OG--C--Int. DL--Edge Plyr.--LB--CB--S--K/P
High-end starters
1) Jason Hatcher, Dallas Cowboys. Age: 32 *signed with Redskins*
- Jason Hatcher rose from relative obscurity to the national stage this season. There were plenty of games early on where Hatcher was flat-out dominant, sometimes on a J.J. Watt level. He wore down as the season progressed, but came back to end the season on a high note. He excelled when the Cowboys switched to the 4-3, but has experience in a 3-4 as well. Teams should ignore Hatchers age and bring him in at once, as they would be getting a very good player. Dallas salary cap issues should see that he plays elsewhere come 2014.
2) Randy Starks, Miami Dolphins. Age: 30 *re-signed with Dolphins*
- The Dolphins tried and failed to faze Randy Starks out of the picture this season. A curious decision, because Starks flashes anytime you put on Dolphins’ game tape. His ability to push the pocket in any scheme is invaluable. Another aging player, Starks can still give a team a few very good years. After apparently giving the sideline the middle finger in 2013, that team probably is not going to be the Dolphins.
Good starters
1) Antonio Smith, Houston Texans. Age: 32 *signed with Raiders*
- He gets overlooked because he plays alongside a non-human force named J.J. Watt, but Antonio Smith is a good player in his own right. He began to decline this season, especially against the run. However, Smith can still put some heat on opposing quarterbacks. If you keep him on a pitch count, Smith will drastically improve any team’s 3-4 defensive line.
2) Linval Joseph, New York Giants. Age: 25 *signed with Vikings*
- Linval Joseph has long gone unnoticed among the Giants defensive lineman over the years. Yet, he is just a solid overall player. He does not really excel in any one area, but won’t get embarrassed in any way either. At just 25 years old, and not set to break the bank, he is the perfect free agent target.
3) Paul Soliai, Miami Dolphins. Age: 30 *signed with Falcons*
- The Dolphins know Paul Soliai’s role, and he fills it well. He is a big run stuffing defensive tackle. His true home is probably as a 3-4 nose tackle, but he has been competent in a 4-3 as well. If a team is switching schemes this offseason, bringing in Soliai to be the pivot man is a wise first move.
4) Red Bryant, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 29 *signed with Jaguars*
- One of the more uniquely deployed players in the NFL. At over 320 pounds, Red Bryant was often used at defensive end by Pete Carroll and company in Seattle. Bryant's speciality is obviously stuffing the run, and he could help any team in that regard. It'll be interesting to see how he fares in a more traditional defensive tackle role, if his new team signs him to play as such. Hopefully, Bryant ends up with another creative defensive coach.
Solid Contributors
1) Jonathan Babineaux. Atlanta Falcons. Age: 32 *re-signed with Falcons*
- A once great and underrated player, Babs has begun to decline. He can still provide a little interior push, but gets washed away against the run. Babineaux probably logged a bit too many snaps for the Falcons in 2013. He could make a much bigger impact on another team where he would not be forced into action so often.
2) Pat Sims, Oakland Raiders. Age: 28 *re-signed with Raiders*
- Pat Sims is a bit of a one-dimensional player, but is pretty darn good in that dimension. He clogged up running lanes with authority for the Raiders this season. Sims has always had the talent, but just needed to play with more consistency. He did so in 2013, but can he carry that over into multiple seasons? That is the question for teams interested in signing him.
3) Arthur Jones, Baltimore Ravens. Age: 28 *signed with Colts*
- One of the lesser-known players on the Ravens defense, Arthur Jones quietly enjoyed a very good season. He is a versatile and well-rounded player who is solid in all regards. He is the type of free agent you sign, and plug into your system for three or four years, without hesitation or much flash.
4) Corey Peters, Atlanta Falcons. Age: 26 *re-signed with Falcons*
- Corey Peters has always been a really nice player for the Falcons. He was probably their best defensive lineman this season. Peters is another example of a player you can plug right in and not worry about for several seasons to come. He won’t bring the headlines, but he will be a good get for some team. He's lower than he should be after some nasty injury issues.
5) B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers. Age: 28 *re-signed with Packers*
- What to do with B.J. Raji? Based on his talent level, and some past play, he should be in a much higher tier. However, his rough display in 2013 should see him pushed into a lower tier, or off the list completely. For a man with his size, getting pushed around the way he does is simply inexcusable. Signing him to a short, prove it type deal would be a prudent move. Still, will that be enough? Raji obviously was not very motivated by being in his contract year. It might also help him to go to a team running a 4-3 scheme. He has never looked comfortable rotating between five-technique and nose tackle in Green Bay.
Role players
1) Tony McDaniel, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 29 *re-signed with Seahawks*
- He did not get the headlines like some other Seattle defensive lineman, but Tony McDaniel was a quality addition. He excels while playing multiple roles on the unique Seahawks defensive front. McDaniel has some great tape, but it would be a mistake to try and expand his role too much.
2) Tyson Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs. Age: 28 *signed with Falcons*
- Having just turned in his best season to date, Tyson Jackson has come a long way as an NFL player. He is incredibly one-dimensional, however. He is great at clogging running lanes, but does little good as a pass rusher. As long as you don’t try to force him out of his comfort zone, this former top three draft pick can be of service.
3) Kevin Williams, Minnesota Vikings. Age: 34
- Kevin Williams used to be at the very top of his position, but age has caught up to him. No longer a dominant player, Williams is merely adequate in the run and pass game now. Ideally, he goes to a deep contending roster. That way he can be put on a pitch count, and utilize the remaining pass rushing skills he has.
4) Clinton McDonald, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 27 *signed with Buccaneers*
- Another guy who came out of nowhere to have an impact with the Seahawks. Clinton McDonald was an unknown, but had some very bright moments in Seattle this season. He would be wise to remain there, and stay in their deep tackle rotation.
5) Vance Walker, Oakland Raiders. Age: 27 *signed with Chiefs*
- Vance Walker was just another veteran cast off who contributed with the Raiders in 2013. He logged a good amount of snaps and gave the Raiders more than they could have hoped for. Walker can be an asset on a defensive line, but is by no means a star.
6) Earl Mitchell, Houston Texans. Age: 26 *signed with Dolphins*
- The former third round pick is an interesting free agent. Earl Mitchell has never been a great player, but also is a bit miscast in his current role. He plays the more penetrating, Jay Ratliff style of nose tackle in Houston's 3-4 defense. With a coaching change taking place, the Texans may opt to look for a more traditional gap-plugger at nose tackle. Mitchell could a be a better player in a 4-3 type of scheme, or he might always just be a decent early down role player.
7) Johnny Jolly, Green Bay Packers. Age: 31
- In a reclamation year, Johnny Jolly put a number of personal and legal issues behind him. He was not a dominant player, but he gave the Packers some solid play at times this year. For a guy whose career looked all but over, that was a really nice step. Jolly might even be better with another year back in an NFL program.
8) Adam Carriker, Washington Redskins. Age: 29
- The former first-round pick of the Rams really seemed to be turning his career around early on during his time in Washington. He had moved from a 4-3 three-technique to a 3-4 base defensive end, and really took to that role. Carriker is a really good run defender who can occasionally push the pocket. His issue has been staying healthy, as he hasn't seen much action since 2011. He is a late free agent signing, who could pay off if he stays healthy.
9) Cam Thomas, San Diego Chargers. Age: 27 *signed with Steelers*
- Nothing particularly special, Cam Thomas is an adequate rotational nose tackle. He does have enough innate talent to make a big play now and again. However, his inconsistency makes him a hard player to build around.
10) Ryan Pickett, Green Bay Packers. Age: 34
- Ryan Pickett looks near the end of a very good career. He was a part of too many defensive breakdowns in Green Bay this season. Pickett might have something left to give, but you will have to squeeze it out of him.
Diamond in the Rough
1) Henry Melton, Chicago Bears. Age: 27 *signed with Cowboys*
- You have to feel terrible for Henry Melton. A dynamite interior pass rusher, he was set to break the bank this offseason after being franchised by the Bears. However, he tore his ACL early on in 2013, and never returned. If he can rehab back close to his old form, he could be a steal for a team running a one gap 4-3 front. Melton might come much cheaper than he should with his injury status. It’s scary to think he was still learning the position during his exceptional 2012 campaign.
2) Al Woods, Pittsburgh Steelers. Age: 27 *signed with Titans*
- He only saw a handful of snaps this season with the Steelers, but Al Woods put up some nice tape. His play during the Steelers win over the Bengals was a big reason they won that game. He has been slow to develop, but it might be Wood’s time. A team with a need at nose tackle should take a look.
3) Nate Collins, Chicago Bears. Age: 26 *re-signed with Bears*
- Nate Collins was set to fill the massive void left by Henry Melton, but also fell victim to injury. The tape is limited, but Collins has had his share of bright moments. If he can return to full health, there might be a place for Collins in a defensive line rotation.
QB--RB--FB--WR--TE--OT--OG--C--Int. DL--Edge Plyr.--LB--CB--S--K/P
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