bubba9497 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Top defensive restricted free agents By Pat Kirwan Special to NFL.com http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7074832 (Feb. 9, 2004) -- As I said when I reviewed the offensive restricted free agents, this is a pool of talent that is being studied differently since the Washington Redskins hit the restricted free-agent market hard last offseason. I have spoken with a number of personnel people who feel they will have to protect their restricted free agents with a higher tender than they might have if the Redskins hadn't hit the Jets so hard last year. As I finish up looking at the defensive players who are available, it appears there is potentially less talent than on the offensive side of the ball. But make no mistake about it, there are some very interesting candidates. NFL teams have a few levels of evaluation they go through as it relates to restricted players: Can they play at a high level? Were they drafted at a low enough round that the "home" team has to consider a high tender to protect their investment. Is the home team under enough salary-cap stress that they potentially can't afford to offer a high tender to protect from losing their good restricted free agents. Even if they do put a high tender on a restricted free agent, are there ways to structure a contract proposal that could be impossible to match by the home team. Any player that meets all four of these criteria is a top priority restricted free agent. As I promised at the end of the offensive player review, I would start the defensive player report with Miami Dolphins defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. He meets all four criteria with a big emphasis on No. 1. Adewale Ogunleye will be a sought after restricted free agent. Adewale Ogunleye, defensive end, Miami Dolphins: Ogunleye is an emerging star in the NFL, registering 106 tackles and 24½ sacks over the last two years. He plays opposite Jason Taylor and collected 15 sacks and five passes defended passes in 2003. Ogunleye was an undrafted player out of Indiana, which will force Miami to put a high tender on him, but according to a pair of clubs I spoke with, that will not stop them from making a contract offer. The Dolphins are up against the top of the salary cap, and even though Miami does one of the best jobs in the NFL of managing the cap, a team could construct a deal which would be hard to match. As much as I like Ogunleye, teams interested have to ask themselves, "If we don't have someone like Jason Taylor opposite him, can he produce the same numbers as the top defensive lineman or are his numbers a result of teams sliding pass protections to Taylor?" A big question with big money at stake. There are some other interesting names that NFL teams are taking a close look at in case they come free by not signing before restricted free agency starts in March. Here are the players I think will get some action if they are available. Edgerton Hartwell, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens: Hartwell was a fourth-round pick who had 93 tackles, three sacks, one interception and three passes defended this season. He filled in last year for Ray Lewis and this season lined up next to him. I watched the Ravens' win against the Steelers in the season finale when he had nine tackles and 1½ sacks. He could start for a lot of teams in the NFL. Matt Stewart, linebacker, Atlanta Falcons: Stewart is a smart, 6-foot-2, 232-pound player out of Vanderbilt and a former fourth-round pick. He was in on 77 tackles and 2½ sacks, and after watching the Falcons' game against the Saints in October when he had eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, there's little chance Stewart won't get an offer if the Falcons put a low tender on him. Renaldo Hill, cornerback, Arizona Cardinals: Hill, a seventh-round pick three years ago, started 13 games and had five interceptions this past season. I watched him in the Cardinals' game against St. Louis in November when he was in on three tackles, had two interceptions, a touchdown and two passes defended. Hill can play, and with the 2003 Cardinals coaching staff now scattered around the NFL, he will have interest. Reggie Hayward, defensive end, Denver Broncos: Hayward, a 6-5, 270-pound pass rusher, was credited with 11½ sacks, but is more than just a pass-rush specialist. The two games that convinced me he belongs on this list were in September against the Raiders and in December against the Packers. In those two games, Hayward had seven tackles, 3½ sacks and a pass defended. A former third-round selection, a number of teams are studying Hayward. Nick Harper, cornerback, Indianapolis Colts: Harper was an undrafted player, so unless he gets a first-round tender, there is no compensation for him. He was in on 98 tackles, had four interceptions and defended 10 passes. There are some questions about him, but a young corner with production is hard to find. Zeke Moreno, linebacker, San Diego Chargers: Moreno replaced Junior Seau this season after Seau left the team. The former fifth-round pick was in on 96 tackles in 12 starts in 2003, and he's been in on 154 tackles in three years. At 6-2 and 245 pounds, if you are looking for a run stopper for just a fifth-round pick, Moreno's your guy. Will Peterson, cornerback, New York Giants: He was injured and lost for the season after Week 5, but prior to that Peterson was making a name for himself as an excellent cover corner. In the five games he did play this year, he averaged six tackles and three passes defended. If Peterson gets a clean bill of health from the medical staff, a lot of teams would love to have him. If he doesn't get a high tender, then third-round compensation would be a bargain. Ifeanyi Ohalete, safety, Washington Redskins: A lot of people feel the Redskins started the signing of restricted free agents, but the most important restricted free agent signing in the NFL was Bill Parcells bringing Curtis Martin to the New York Jets in 1998. At any rate, a number of teams would love to take a player from owner Dan Snyder, and Ohalete is a good place to start. The 6-2, 222-pound starter was undrafted and his 103 tackles, three interceptions and five passes defended makes Ohalete a guy to go after. I watched the Redskins' game against the Bears in Week 16 when he had 10 tackles and the only question I had was, "What team couldn't he help?" Some other players who may get some play from teams when March comes along are Dallas defensive tackle Willie Blade, Dolphins linebacker Morlon Greenwood, Saints linebacker Sedrick Hodge, Saints defensive end Kenny Smith and Cardinals defensive tackle Marcus Bell. Finally, this offseason saw a number of coaching changes and that means volatility on many rosters. Coaches always want players they know and there could be more restricted free agent movement than expected. A number of these players could agree to contract extensions with their present club and that would eliminate them from free agency, while others will choose to wait and see what the market looks like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankbones Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 We need to resign Iffy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Almost forgot iffy is a RFA I wonder if we will grab any defensive RFAs this time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WM_Marylander Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I wouldn't mind seeing Hayward come to the Skins. He'd be a nice end to put across from Kearse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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