...and we've probably seen him in a Rams uniform for the last time. He and the team have not agreed to terms on a long term contract, and the Rams don't want to tender him for 2010 for a pretty steep price in the $7 million neighborhood, so he has become an unrestricted free agent.
Even at this point of the football calendar, there's a good market for a quality free safety like Atogwe right now. Dallas, Miami and Cleveland all lack a proven free safety on their rosters. A need may have just opened in Philadelphia with another major injury for Marlin Jackson. Those seem to be Atogwe's most obvious prospective teams.
For some dark horses, I'd include Kansas City - they can use all the help they can get in the secondary. They'd have to be convinced top draft pick Eric Berry can play corner, though. Atogwe would improve Cincinnati's secondary, but he's never been to jail. I also think he'd fit in well at San Diego or Carolina, who don't really convince me with the safeties they have. Denver's mighty old at safety but I doubt they'll look to a 29-year-old for improvement.
The Miami press is talking a lot about Atogwe, so we can feel pretty sure the Dolphins are interested in him. They mention that the Vikings have jumped into the race to sign him, along with the Cowboys. I didn't expect Minnesota's interest but that would certainly be a great place for Atogwe to end up.
One remaining place Atogwe could end up is always St. Louis. I think the Rams have played this about as well as they could. I'm not the first commenter who's going to call Atogwe a good-but-not-great safety. $7 million may be the union's going rate for him, but it's overvaluing him. He's had injury problems, including the sports hernia and shoulder situations he's recovering from right now. He's not a great cover safety or a marked physical presence in the Ram secondary (despite the cool action shot above [picapp.com]).
The question is, can the Rams really afford to lose Atogwe when he's about the only player on the defense who creates turnovers? He's created a third of the Rams' turnovers the last two seasons, even with missing four games last season. He's picked off 15 passes in three years for a secondary whose cornerbacks combined last season for NO interceptions.
Then again, remembering the home loss to San Francisco at the end of 2008, Atogwe plays too much for the turnover at times. That's a game the Rams would have won had Atogwe gone for a knockdown instead of an interception.
Atogwe wouldn't be a bad value here for a moderate contract in salary and length. He's a high-character, skilled player. But free safety isn't a cornerstone position a 1-15 team needs to make a large investment in, and Atogwe's a well-regarded safety, but not a Pro Bowler. And by trading for Kevin Payne, who had 4 INTs as Chicago's full-time FS two years ago, and extending Craig Dahl's contract, the Rams are prepared (how well, we'll see) if Atogwe gets a better offer from a better team.
The guess here is that'll be the case, so best of luck to Oshiomogho in advance. May he get a chance to play on the NFL's big stage wherever he does end up.
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