With the combine over, we turn our minds away from these rookies and their limitless potential back to players we know a whole lot about. We’ve looked at budding superstars hitting the market on offense, the frontline and the back end of the defense and we’ve gone over the best veterans available to shore up your team’s offense. Now it’s time to look at some old guys on the front seven that can still play.
The Defensive Linemen
Kevin Williams, 34, DT, Seattle Seahawks
2014: 30 tackles, 3 sacks, two passes defended
Williams is a far cry from the rookie that stormed the league in 2003 with the Minnesota Vikings and recorded double-digit sacks in his first two seasons, but he’s still a productive interior defensive lineman and for teams looking for a second tackle in a 4-3 scheme, you’d be hard-pressed to find a guy better to plug into your line.
Where he should end up: Atlanta Falcons
Dan Quinn may end up with a lot of former Seattle defensive free agents just because they already know his system. Quinn is especially in need of defensive tackles as he’ll be converting Atlanta’s defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3 and probably doesn’t have a quality starter returning on his team next season.
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Mathias Kiwanuka, 31, DE/OLB New York Giants
2014: 28 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles
Kiwanuka hit the market early on Tuesday as a cap casualty and there’s a chance he won’t even clear waivers, but if he does, the consistent and talented pass-rusher should land on a team looking for a bargain-priced guy to get after quarterbacks. Kiwanuka has played both outside linebacker and defensive end equally well in his career. As long as he’s healthy, he’s a plug-and-play type guy that can fit into any scheme.
Where he should end up: Atlanta Falcons
While Kiwanuka works best as a pure pass rusher and situational player, Quinn has to be desperate to get quality linemen into Atlanta both in free agency and the draft. The Falcons’ starting front four produced all of 7.5 sacks last season and four of those belonged to Kroy Biermann, who is a free agent this season and isn’t likely to return.
The Linebackers
Lance Briggs, 34, OLB, Chicago Bears
2014: 34 tackles, three passes defended, one interception, one forced fumble
Briggs is one of the last holdovers from a formerly dominant Bears defense but, after being healthy for just eight games in 2014 and nine in 2013, will likely exit Chicago this offseason. Briggs is a smart player and a leader that a young team could use, especially those looking to make a move to the postseason next year.
Where he should end up: St. Louis Rams
The Rams need an upgrade over Jo-Lonn Dunbar, though they should keep him as a backup since he can play both outside and inside linebacker. Briggs would not only be a better player, he can help develop the younger guys in the Rams linebacking corps.
Larry Foote, 34, ILB, Arizona Cardinals
2014: 83 tackles, two sacks, three passes defended, one interception
Foote contemplated retiring last year before joining the Cardinals and having another tremendous year in a career where he’s had many. Foote was invaluable, not only as a player, but also a leader for Todd Bowles defense and its why head coach Bruce Arians isn’t letting him go, even if he’s done playing, already signing him up as a linebackers coach.
Where he should end up: Arizona Cardinals
If Foote does play, he’s playing for Arians and Bruce will need him as he’ll be breaking in a new defensive coordinator to step in where Bowles left off.
David Harris, 31, ILB, New York Jets
2014: 123 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one pass defended, two forced fumbles
Harris has never played for a team other than the Jets in his career and has been a force to be reckoned with in their 3-4 scheme. He’s only recorded fewer than 123 tackles three times and of those three “lean” years, his lowers total was 75 and that was in 2008 when he missed five games. His “second worst” tackling season came in 2011, and the reason his tackles were down was because he defended eight passes and picked off four and scored a touchdown. Harris is your prototype 3-4 inside linebacker, with both pass-rushing and safety skills.
Where he should end up: Buffalo Bills
I don’t see how Rex Ryan doesn’t bring his tackling machine to Buffalo with him. The Bills main competition will be from the Jets, because I can’t imagine new head coach Todd Bowles is too eager to let Harris walk away, especially to a division rival.
