2005 Free Agents: Defensive Tackles

Scout.com

02/16/2005

With the Browns shifting to a 3-4 defense at some point in the future, the team will need a new type of player at defensive tackle. A nose tackle will be expected to clog up the middle while linebackers focus on the runners and attacking the quarterback. Could a future nose tackle come out of this group of free agents? Here's the list, and analysis by Scout.com

2005
Free-Agent Defensive Tackles

A listing of the defensive tackles scheduled for NFL free agency
in 2005. UFA=Unrestricted
Free Agent; RFA=Restricted Free Agent; ERFA=Exclusive Rights Free
Agent. For
definitions of free-agent terms, click
here. The "Best of the Bunch" is sorted by rankings
from Scout.com's
Lane Adkins. The "Rest of the Bunch" is sorted by
free-agent type,
then by most recent team. Comments provided for unrestricted free
agents.

Comment:
With the Eagles¹ Corey Simon getting the franchise tag last week,
Williams
moves up to the top defensive tackle scheduled for free agency
this year. With
474 tackles and 13 sacks, he has proven to be a very productive
interior player,
but the Bills might not be able to afford Williams and Sam Adams.
Chances are
he¹ll land with another team for decent money.

Comment:
The Jets would probably like to re-sign Ferguson, but their top
priority on
the defensive line in free agency will lie with getting John Abraham under
contract before he hits the open market. That could mean an
opportunity for
another team to swoop in and steal Ferguson.

Comment:
Quick defensive tackle that has struggled to disengage from
blocks recently.
In the right system, he could get his career back on track, but
the last two
years have been an outright bust with the Vikings. Won¹t be back
in Minnesota.

Leonardo Carson

UFA

Cowboys

Comment:
Character issues could be a concern for some teams after an
opening-game suspension
in 2003 because of an incident involving an ex-girlfriend.

Comment:
In his first go-round in unrestricted free agency, Smith¹s career
was on the
rise with a career-high 42 tackles in 2003, but he tore a rotator
cuff in training
camp last year and was placed on injured reserve. He can play
both end and
tackle.

Comment:
Played in 15 games with the Cowboys in 2003 and spent time with
the Jets and
49ers.

Monsanto
Pope

UFA

Broncos

Comment:
The former seventh-round pick has blown hot and cold. He was on
the roster
bubble at the end of last year¹s training camp, but wound up
climbing the depth
chart before a sprained wrist limited his time.