Free Agent Defensive Ends: Why No Suitors?
The New England Patriots had Adrian Wilson, John Abraham, and Dwight Freeney come for visits, and the only one to come out with a contract that has a signature on it is Adrian Wilson. In addition, Elvis Dumervil's contract never went through, so he is a free agent. The final big name defensive end available is Osi Umenyiora (who I wrote about signing a while ago).
John Abraham and Dwight Freeney are now visiting Denver after Dumervil was unimpressed by the Denver offer, Dumervil is looking into Pittsburgh, Miami, Tennessee and Baltimore, and Umenyiora is visiting Atlanta.
The Patriots cap situation in-depth can be found here, but essentially they have $10 million that they are willing to spend. That is an ample amount to spend on a good lineman (either Sebastian Vollmer or Eric Winston I am assuming) and a good defensive end.
I would be up for any of the four aforementioned targets. Umenyiora says he will be defensive player of the year, but after a down year and being on a defensive line that has players on an equal plane as him, he may not be as effective if offensive lines can double him. Abraham and Freeney are both great options who would not be as expensive, but I would rather have a younger guy to help this already young defense, and they could learn from veteran Vince Wilfork. That leaves Elvis Dumervil, who I would most prefer just because he is young and after the Broncos took Welker, I would love to steal him away at a discounted price.
The Patriots cap situation in-depth can be found here, but essentially they have $10 million that they are willing to spend. That is an ample amount to spend on a good lineman (either Sebastian Vollmer or Eric Winston I am assuming) and a good defensive end.
I would be up for any of the four aforementioned targets. Umenyiora says he will be defensive player of the year, but after a down year and being on a defensive line that has players on an equal plane as him, he may not be as effective if offensive lines can double him. Abraham and Freeney are both great options who would not be as expensive, but I would rather have a younger guy to help this already young defense, and they could learn from veteran Vince Wilfork. That leaves Elvis Dumervil, who I would most prefer just because he is young and after the Broncos took Welker, I would love to steal him away at a discounted price.
