Pro Football Focus continues their look at the free agent market with the defensive tackles. Big bodied nose tackles are the best players in this group, PFF's Ben Stockwell gives you the inside slant on the interior linemen.
This year’s group of defensive tackles is top heavy with some quality run defenders and space eaters. Teams running 3-4’s will be licking their lips and preparing to open their cheque books, whilst teams running 4-3’s will be assessing whether the top talent can transition to their scheme or hunting around the fringe talent to fill a void in their four man front. As with other positions some decent talent has been lost to the expanded restricted free agent pool with the likes of Tony Brown, Barry Cofield and Johnny Jolly unlikely to see offer sheets. However as with their counterparts at defensive end, there’s some real talent to take a look at in this year’s free agent pool.
1. Vince Wilfork
As with the group of defensive ends, the defensive tackles are topped off by a prime talent who could add a great deal to any team in need of a big run stuffer up front. Ideally you’d get more pass rush from an elite player but with what you’re getting in terms of run defense, whether you’re running a three or four man front, you can look past it. With the Patriots switching back and forth between four and three man fronts Wilfork started at nose tackle, defensive end and defensive tackle this year. It’s noticeable that his game as a 3-4 end was, along with his poor opener against Buffalo (where he completely taken out of the game) and a poor game against the Dolphins in week 13 a rare black spot on an otherwise quality season. Notable performances such as his games at Denver, the Jets and at home to Carolina showed the dominance he is capable of on a fairly consistent basis and it is this ability to be dominant that makes him the top defensive tackle free agent. He’ll do well to escape the franchise tag, but if he is able then we can expect a huge contract to come his way.
2. Aubrayo Franklin
Rumours suggest that Franklin is headed for the franchise tag from the 49ers and it is a mark of how far he has come since signing with San Francisco under former head coach Mike Nolan. Franklin arrived as a bit part player from Baltimore, a useful contributor but a bit part player all the same but has since flourished into one of the better Nose tackles in the league. He had one really bad game last year (at Seattle in week 13) but aside from that he played well or better every week and was a key performer in the continued improvement on the 49ers defense. Franklin consistently pops up with numerous stops against the run (3 or more stops 7 times last season), not merely concentrating on opening things up for the two top quality inside linebackers sat behind him. As with Wilfork (and most other Nose tackles) Franklin offers nothing as a pass rusher but with many 3-4 teams running four man lines in nickel packages (the 49ers included), that isn’t of great concern. Though it looks pretty certain that Franklin is going to get tagged (according to reports) if he doesn’t, his age and abilities should see him get a big offer and make one nose tackle hunting team very happy.
3. Casey Hampton
Again, with nose tackle being such a key spot on the 3-4 defense and the quality of players that could potentially hit the open market, the franchise tag won’t be far away to potentially ruin things for those fans who enjoy seeing top talent changing hands in early March. Hampton has been one of the foundation stones of the Steelers’ defense for not far short of a decade now, and whilst his best days are firmly behind him Hampton is still more than useful in the middle of the defense. The pass rush remains non-existent from this nose tackle but is of little concern with him not being exposed to obvious passing downs (coming out of nickel packages). His solid and consistent season was only tarnished by a pair of truly poor performances in Detroit and Baltimore but apart from that he was a sound contributor inside every week. He never had the one game where he took over and was impossible to block in the heart of the defense (an indication of his declining abilities) but what he brings is someone who will put in a good shift every week at the heart of a defensive line. No doubt that makes Hampton valuable, but valuable enough to warrant a franchise tag in a year where the Steelers are looking to be prudent? Possibly not, but the market may dictate that he be tagged if other Free agent nose tackles are met with the same fate from their teams.
4. Ryan Pickett
The run on nose tackles continues as we move to Green Bay and Pickett (who is, thankfully, someone less likely to receive the franchise tag). The Packers ran a lot of 2 man lines this season as a base package so Pickett’s snaps were limited throughout the year, averaging 26 snaps in the 14 games he played during the regular season and playoffs. Much like Hampton, Pickett hasn’t exhibited dominance in quite some time, 4 stops in each game against Minnesota were his strongest statistical outings of the season though he is a capable performer inside where he is rarely kept quiet and muscled around at the point of attack. While Pickett remains a useful contributor his lesser playing time both in snaps per game and missing games throughout the season requires him to either find a system similar to Green Bay’s (or indeed Green Bay’s if he and the Packers come to an agreement) or he’ll be a marginally inferior consolation prize to the above nose tackles who might find their way on to the open market.
5. Justin Bannan
As mentioned with Dwan Edwards in the defensive end article Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme has brought the best out of a lot of defenders who put their hand on the ground for a living. This could be down to a couple of things; it could be easily (and lazily) dismissed that they are merely system players and wouldn’t be as effective elsewhere or it could be to say that the players were demonstrating their natural talent. Perhaps it’s fairer to give credit to all involved and say that Ryan and Clarence Brooks have done a good job in bringing out the best of their linemen. Like Edwards, Bannan has the ability to be an effective player in a multitude of positions along the defensive line but predominantly as a 4-3 defensive tackle. Bannan isn’t ever going to take over a game and be a dominant force (he never has and that’s unlikely to develop with him the wrong side of 30), however what he does bring is consistent quality run defense for around 25 snaps per game. As with the other free agent defensive tackles this year the interior pass rush is lacking, but Bannan does have the ability to beat blocks and make stops in run game inside. There’s plenty of ailing run defenses around the league and Bannan is one of the more consistent contributors that will be available at a low price to help remedy this.
Diamond in the Rough – Jimmy Kennedy
Kennedy failed to live up to expectations in St Louis after a being a first round pick and subsequently bounced around the league before landing as a back up in Minnesota in 2008. Since then he has gone on to take over the backup role from Fred Evans and was a solid contributor this season, with one really strong performance in week 10 against Detroit (2 pressures and a batted pass in 27 pass plays along with 2 stops on 6 run downs he played). At the age of 30 it is unlikely that Kennedy will be given another opportunity to start in the NFL but if he wants an expanded role on a defense (something he may be unlikely to get playing behind the Williams Wall), he could draw some attention from teams looking to operate a balanced rotation of defensive tackles. Kennedy averaged a relatively slender 20 snaps per game this season, so the challenge will be taking his consistent play into a larger role. This could be his last chance to try and make it as a bigger part of a team’s defense and with defensive tackle at a premium this off-season, someone could give Kennedy a chance.
Wildcard – Hollis Thomas
Thomas was cut by the Rams early this season (after 3 solid games and with their injuries on their line they may have regretted that) and started out with some strong performances after he was picked up by the Panthers. His season with the Panthers was only really tarnished with a couple of poor performances on two road trips to the AFC East (@NYJ, @NE). Those games aside he was a handful or better most weeks, showing that even in his advancing years he is still a guy that can help a faltering defense. The Panthers have just signed former Colts misfit/ malcontent Ed Johnson so Thomas is likely to hit the open market, and having averaged just short of 29 snaps per game last season (over 31 per game in his 13 games with the Panthers) he appears to still have some juice left in the tank. A team is going to need a big guy to anchor a 4-3 line when injuries or realisation of inadequate rosters hit, so Thomas is likely to find demand for his services then.
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