Free agency preview: defensive line

Top 5 UFA defensive ends: 1 - Charles Johnson 2 - Ray Edwards 3 - Cullen Jenkins 4 - Jason Babin 5 - Raheem Brock

At just 24, Johnson, Julius Peppers' replacement in Carolina, already has an 11.5-sack season under his belt, but should be a top re-signing priority for the Panthers. Like Johnson, Edwards was one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL last year, with 8.5 sacks. Despite that, Minnesota's not expected to try hard to re-sign him. Jenkins' 7 sacks were very impressive for a 3-4 end. Babin came from out of nowhere with 12.5 sacks last year, but he's 31, and that nearly doubled his career sack total. Where's that been? Brock had 9 sacks for Seattle in the regular season and two more in the playoffs, and he abused Jason Smith in the division title game in week 16. But he's also 33, and has been in off-the-field trouble twice since November.

Top 5 UFA defensive tackles: 1 - Brandon Mebane 2 - Aubrayo Franklin 3 - Anthony Adams 4 - Pat Williams 5 - Barry Cofield

Based on the current rumor mill, two of the Rams' biggest rivals might be a lot easier to run on next season. Mebane's been one of Seattle's best defensive players, a fine run-clogger with some ability to penetrate upfield. The 26-year old would look perfect next to Fred Robbins. Franklin's 30, but is similarly a fine run-clogger, pocket-collapser and playmaker in the box. Neither is expected to be re-signed by their current teams at the moment. Adams is a high-motor player who worked his way into the Bears' starting lineup last year, excels at chasing plays down from the backside. Williams should still be able to get it done as a mountain-sized run-stuffer at age 38. The Giants don't seem to want Cofield back even though he's just 27, has missed just one game in his career due to injury, and is coming off his best season as a pro, with 54 tackles and 4 sacks. Gee, I wonder where an ex-Giant could find a new home for himself in this league?

Sleepers: Andre Carter had double-digit sack seasons in 2009 and 2007, then was shoved into a 3-4 OLB position in Washington. Chalk up another epic fail in the career of Jim Haslett. Carter's potentially an excellent spot pass rusher for a 4-3 team, which would use him properly.

Daniel Muir has 90 tackles the last two seasons for the Colts. He's a wide-body DT with a good motor who can both hold his ground and make plays on the move.

Ron Edwards was very solid for the Chiefs last year on the nose. He's got excellent technique and gets the grunt work done that doesn't show up on the stats page. Also over 30, though.

And for a couple of ex-Rams: Eric Moore jumped from the UFL's Florida Tuskers to the Patriots late last season, and rang up two sacks and two forced fumbles in four weeks.

Then there's, yes, Anthony Hargrove. He's not likely to be back with the Saints, who have drafted Cameron Jordan and signed Shaun Rogers (note to self: pencil in Saints for NFC rep in Super Bowl XLV). He wants to play DE anyway, and has dropped 20-25 pounds to get down to 270. If you take him for any skill as an edge pass rusher, and add that to the experience he's gained in New Orleans as a decent interior lineman, that's a skillset that would work well in Steve Spagnuolo's defense, isn't it? Essentially, Hargrove would be C.J. Ah You, except he could stop the run from an inside position, ever. Ah You and George Selvie ranked as two of the NFL's LEAST productive pass rushers, btw, so neither should be considered a mortal lock in the Rams' rotation, especially C-JAY, though I just made him a lot harder to discard now that I've figured out a cool nickname for him. C-JAY. It's all his initials, see?

Out of the running: Richard Seymour (franchised by Oakland), Shaun Rogers (signed by New Orleans), Marcus Stroud (signed by New England), Haloti Ngata (franchised by Baltimore), Paul Soliai (franchised by Miami), Brian Robison (re-signed by Minnesota), Kevin Vickerson (re-signed by Denver), Shaun Cody (re-signed by Houston), John Henderson (re-signed by Oakland), Trey Lewis (re-signed by Atlanta)

Voting present:
DE: Shaun Ellis, Dave Ball, Mark Anderson, Turk McBride, Jonathan Fanene, Jimmy Wilkerson, Ray McDonald, Marcus Spears, Jacques Cesaire, Justin Bannan, Jacob Ford, Adewale Ogunleye, Keyunta Dawson, Jeff Charleston, Tim Crowder, Jay Richardson, Jayme Mitchell, Jason Hatcher, Kedric Golston, Demetric Evans, Stephen Bowen, Ryan McBean, Dave Tollefson, Derreck Robinson, Ryan Denney, Ryon Bingham

DT: Gerard Warren, Tommie Harris, Jamal Williams, Derek Landri, Alan Branch, Leger (DOOZER) Douzable, Remi Ayodele, Gabe Watson, Nick Hayden, Nick Eason, Travis Johnson, Chris Hoke, Louis Leonard, Fred Evans, Kenyon Coleman, Thomas Johnson, Atiyyah Ellison

The doctor will see you now: Mathias Kiwanuka, Kenny Iwebema, Robaire Smith, Victor Abiamiri, Reggie Hayward, Antonio Johnson, Junior Siavii, Tim Bulman, Jared DeVries, Cliff Ryan

The financial planner will see you now: Bryan Robinson (expected to retire, ending 14-year career that started in 1997 with... the Rams, remember?); Trevor Pryce (retiring at last word); Chris Hovan (out all 2010 with back injury, already has job on local high school coaching staff for 2011); Kris Jenkins (retired 7/20/2011)

Gawd no: Tony McDaniel (assaulting his girlfriend, repeat offender); Ronald Fields (Plaxico Burress minus the self-inflicted gunshot wound); Johnny Jolly (indefinitely suspended by NFL, codeine possession); Marcus Thomas (ballooned to 340 after shoulder surgery in November, drug history from college, is always going to be trouble); Greg "Stylez" White (off my list just because "Stylez" is his doofy legal name, but he's also run afoul of Bucs HC Raheem Morris for loafing in practices); John McCargo (bust draft pick); Vernon Gholston (all-time bust draft pick); Shaun Smith (accused multiple times of grabbing opposing players' junk during games)

RamView's move: Chris Long appears to be arriving right on schedule now that he's the left end, James Hall showed he could still get it done at 33, and the Rams drafted Robert Quinn in this year's first round; no big free agency move should be necessary at DE. Plan for a good training camp roster battle between Selvie, Ah You and Kenneth Sims.

Defensive tackle's where the Rams' problems are. Robbins had a fine 2010, but like Hall, he'll be 34 this season. Gary Gibson's good enough to re-sign in free agency, but not really good enough to start. He's best used, as is Jermelle Cudjo, as a rotational guy. That's still better then Darell Dorell Scott, who I expect to become the Rams' newest draft washout this training camp. The Rams need an infusion of talent here, not just to improve their lack of depth, but also to give them a run-stuffer.

RamView would go right to the top of the class and go after Mebane, who the record will show I wanted to draft in the 2nd or 3rd round in 2007 (the Rams took Brian Leonard in the 2nd, Jonathan Wade in the 3rd; Mebane went the pick after Wade). Seattle tried to turn him into a pass rusher last season; I'd let him put 15 pounds back on and do what he does best, command double-teams and stuff the run. Remembering the Rams' record last year when they allowed over 120 rushing yards (0-7), and that their last decent run-stuffing tackle was Ryan Pickett, Mebane's exactly the kind of player they need. And he's not just stout against the run; he's quick off the ball and penetrates into the backfield well. He's just not going to chase anybody down.

Seattle fears that Mebane will be too expensive to re-sign, a very legitimate issue, and not worth the cost because he didn't prove to be a great fit in Pete Carroll's system last year. But if I'm the one wielding Stan Kroenke's checkbook, Mebane's probably the player I'm willing to write the biggest check out to this offseason. Just let him do what he does best. He's the rock against the run the Rams need, and should be able to be that guy another 5-6 years.

Shoot the moon: One new DT probably isn't enough when you get right down to it. Why not sign Mebane or Franklin as your run-stopper, and add another quality DT to keep Robbins fresh? But where could the Rams find a player who might be reasonably affordable and would fit well in their system?

Prediction: Barry Cofield has to be an odds-on favorite to be a Ram in 2011. It's not just that the Rams need a DT, and that Steve Spagnuolo's his former defensive coach; he's also pretty darn good at what he does. His sack and tackle totals last year were career highs, he's durable, he can be moved around on the line, he doesn't get run over by run-blockers, he's smart, he's only 27; what's not to like? He's not a run or pass specialist - I'd still try to add a run-stuffer - but assuming the Rams don't break the bank going after him, Cofield should be an effective boost to the Rams' talent and depth in the middle of the line.

Up next: linebacker.

Photo: Newark Star-Ledger