Free agency catchup: defensive tackle

Futility, thy name is... me. Having missed a lot of this year's free agency fun in the Keys, what I've decided to do is go ahead and finish the previews (yes, previews for something that started a week ago), then catch everything up and get the free agent scorecard posted. So, no, RamView is not your spot for up-to-the-minute free agency news. But here's an old free agency defensive tackle preview if you want one...

Defensive tackle

Top 10 UFA DTs:

1 - Brodrick Bunkley: aggressive, quick penetrator, makes a lot of plays, top 4-3 nose tackle (signed by Saints)

2 – Paul Soliai (re-signed by Dolphins)
2a - Sione Pouha (re-signed by Jets) Sure, PFW, go ahead and leave one of the top UFAs off my free agent list altogether. Thanks.

3 - Marcus Thomas: quick, young DT becoming an increasingly impressive playmaker, appears to have off-field troubles behind him

4 - Pat Sims: rock-solid, strong run-stopper (Re-signed by Bengals, 3/24)

5 – Amobi Okoye: only 24, can get to the QB, ideal 4-3 3-technique (Signed by Bucs, 4/9)

6 - Eric Foster: improving, quick DT who can get to the QB but is coming off a nasty ankle injury

7 - Derek Landri: undersized but makes a lot of plays (Signed by Eagles, 4/9)
7a - John Henderson: failed physical and was cut by the Raiders due to a knee injury suffered at the end of last season, but is still an elite run stopper

8 - Leger "The Doozer" Douzable: only 25, came on strong at end of last season (Signed by Titans, 4/3)

9 - Antonio Garay: 32, huge run-stopper two years ago, still makes a lot of plays (Re-signed by Chargers, 3/30)

10 – Fred Robbins: showing his age but still grading out as a top-20 DT

11 - Aubrayo Franklin: free agent bust for Saints last season

Sleepers: Marcus Thomas was a 40-tackle DT for Denver last season, he'll be a young 27 when the season starts, and his productivity has gone up every year. He also seems to have avoided the off-field problems that knocked him down in the 2007 draft. He's not a pass-rushing threat but will make a lot of plays at nose tackle. Our old buddy DOOZER racked up 21 tackles in Jacksonville's last four games, impressive for a DT. I wasn't going to let that go unnoticed.

Wild card: Albert Haynesworth is only 30 years old, is a two-time Pro Bowler, and has been really lost in the wilderness ever since he left... Jeff Fisher. He plays a defensive line position where the Rams currently appear to have a hole. Has the notorious blow-up with Mike Shanahan in 2010 made Haynesworth too poisonous a player for any team to entertain signing, or is Fisher just the guy to restore Haynesworth to his backfield-destroying glory?

Tag you're it: no defensive tackles tagged for 2012.

Out of the running: Fred Evans (re-signed by Vikings), Kelly Gregg (likely retiring), Letroy Guion (re-signed by Vikings), Chris Hoke (retired), C.J. Mosley (re-signed by Jagwires)

Voting present: Rocky Bernard (re-signed by Giants 6/11), Justin Bannan (signed by Broncos 4/12), Anthony Adams, Shaun Rogers (signed by Giants 4/30), Howard Green, Gary Gibson (signed by Bucs 5/7), Andre Fluellen (re-signed by Detroit 3/20), Brandon McKinney (signed by Colts 4/4), Jimmy Kennedy, Tommie Harris, Tim Bulman, Jovan Haye

The doctor will see you now: Eric Foster (dislocated right ankle in October)

Gawd no: Nate Collins (arrested for marijuana possession in February, signed by Bears 5/23)

RamView’s moves: The Rams were old up the middle last season. It showed in their inability to stop the run, and the Rams confirmed their need to get younger last week by cutting Fred Robbins and Justin Bannan, then signing Kendall Langford. But the moves still leave the Rams a couple of tackles short, and that's if you consider Darell Dorell Scott good enough as a rotational player. (Maybe. At best.) Dontari Poe gets compared to Haloti Ngata by enough people that he almost has to be in the mix for the Rams' first round pick (now at #6 overall), but more likely, they'll have to use one of their second-round picks there, and still pick up a veteran on the cheap. I'm looking at Mike Martin, Alameda Ta'amu or Jared Crick as a 2nd-3rd round pickup, and try for Eric Foster on the sly, a player who's an injury gamble but has good upside.

Shoot the moon: Haynesworth. He fills a need, should be a bargain signing or close, fits the Rams' defensive image, he'd be reuniting with the coach with whom he evolved into a $100-million player. The shoot-the-moon risk here is that he'll blow up on or off the field and be a major distraction to a young, building team. With the number of serious driving infractions Haynesworth has racked up, if he did come to St. Louis, I'd strongly advise everyone around here start taking the bus.

Prediction: Haynesworth will prove, or has already proven, too toxic for the Rams to take a risk on even without a Four Pillars philosophy. They're currently talking to Lions DT Andre Fluellen, who hasn't done a lot in his young career (and won't now, behind Suh and Fairley), but who could have a good reference from Fisher friend/Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. I'd say he's the cheap veteran and the Rams add depth early in the draft.

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Rams sign Kendall Langford

The Rams have signed defensive lineman Kendall Langford to a 4-year, $24 million deal. Langford has mainly been a 3-4 defensive end; it's expected he'll take over Fred Robbins' role and kick inside to three-technique here. 6'6" and 300 pounds, Langford graded out as a top-5 3-4 DE in 2010 (Pro Football Focus). From 2008-2010, he graded out as the second-best tackling defensive lineman in the NFL, totalling 121 tackles while only missing one (PFF). He dropped off significantly statistically in 2011, seemingly because Miami used more hybrid approaches. Langford was still PFF's 24th-ranked free agent overall for 2012.

A quick statistical rundown for Langford:
2008 - 31 tackles, 2 sacks
2009 - 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks
2010 - 47 tackles, 3 sacks
2011 - 20 tackles, no sacks

Scouting report by Scouts Inc.:
Big, strong, athletic defensive end with decent athleticism who is best playing versus the run. He has improved his hand use and pad level to restrict running lanes. He has improved his ability to push the pocket as a pass-rusher but continues to struggle with his counter moves. He is a limited-area defender and doesn't show much range to the sideline.

Scouts Inc. grades Langford 75 out of 100, at the "good starter" level.

This deal has a certain amount of gamble to it. RamView didn't rank Langford highly because he's converting from 3-4 DE, which doesn't seem to work a whole lot, and because of his statistical dropoff last year. But Langford is young, a super tackler and is potentially a run-stopping force in the middle of the line for a franchise that traditionally lacks one. As much as the move can be considered a gamble, it looks like the Rams took a good one.

Reports indicate the Rams are also still pursuing Titans lineman Jason Jones. Hey, you've got to be strong up the middle in football. The Rams have been notoriously week there in recent years, but the new front office is taking strong strides in 2012 to remedy that.

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Rams sign Scott Wells

The Rams have just made themselves a lot stronger up the middle, adding a Pro Bowler to their offensive line by signing Packers center Scott Wells to a 4-year, $24 million deal Friday evening. The 31-year-old had been in Green Bay the past eight seasons and played in his first Pro Bowl in January.

Wells is 6'2", 300 and has probably been the Packers' best lineman the past two seasons. He's considered a smart, tough player who should take the pressure off Sam Bradford to make the right line adjustments. I would also guess that means he won't blow the snap count or get pushed around like a shopping cart as often as previous Rams center Jason Brown. He's also highly durable and in excellent shape. He started every game the last two seasons and has 100 starts as a Packer. He is an excellent pass protector with great technique and tenacity. He rarely gets beaten - he gave up two sacks of Aaron Rodgers last season. He's rarely caught out of position. Wells has been one of the secrets to Rodgers' success. The Packers thought of him as another coach on the field. His excellent skill at making line adjustments and chemistry with Rodgers are the heart of the Packers' high-tempo offense.Wells is a better pass-protector than a run-blocker, but he has strong hands, has good footwork and is good at getting leverage. He's quick enough to take the play to his opponent and he walls defenders off well.

Scott Wells' signing is a coup for the Rams front office. He was one of the top two centers available in a year where the free agent class at center is very strong. He is a mega-upgrade over Brown or Tony Wragge, who the Rams could bring back now to pair with Harvey Dahl as a mauler guard and to back up Wells. And I'm not the first fan to remember fondly what happened the last time the Rams front office made a splash and signed a Green Bay free agent lineman.

In other free agent news, the Rams are reportedly close to signing Giants wideout Mario Manningham (per Howard Balzer), while cornerback Ron Bartell has already moved on to the Raiders, signing a 1-year deal.

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Amendola to Patriots?

Remember how bad the Rams' picture at wide receiver is looking? Hang on, it gets even worse - the Patriots have their sights set on Danny Amendola, the only decent receiver the Rams have left right now. He was seen at the Patriots' facility last night.

Amendola's not being a traitor or anything - he is a restricted free agent the Rams tendered at the second-round level. If the Patriots make him an offer, the Rams have the option to match the offer, or to let him go to the Patriots in return for second-round compensation (which would only be pick #63, practically a third-rounder).

At this rate, the only passes the Rams are going to complete this season are shovel passes to Steven Jackson. The Patriots' interest in Amendola is at a minimum curious. Sure, he played for Josh McDaniels, for like a quarter. The Patriots do have the extra draft picks to spend, but they just dropped franchise money on a very, very, very similar player in Wes Welker, they have Julian Edelman who can already do most of the same stuff, and Brandon Lloyd is practically begging to go there. I don't get it. Drop a second-round pick on someone who'd be your fourth receiving option? That's why Belichick is a genius, I guess.

Who went into this offseason thinking the PATRIOTS would want to raid the Rams' entire receiving unit? Hey, you guys want Stephen Spach? We'll make you a deal. (I know, he's a free agent).

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The picture at wide receiver

appears to be no picture.

Besides the big signings yesterday - Vincent Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Marques Colston - Robert Meacham has signed with the Chargers and Reggie Wayne with the Colts. The Rams can't even lure Les Snead's familiar receiver Harry Douglas to town. I believe he stayed with the Falcons.

Furthermore, Jim Thomas this morning reports the Rams are "lukewarm" about re-signing Brandon Lloyd. Since he said just "lukewarm", and not "lukewarm because he wants unreasonable money for a 31-year-old", that's a rather idiotic stance on the Rams' part. I never thought Lloyd would stay here anyway with New England as a very viable option, but it's stupid of the Rams to say "eh, we don't want the guy" when he performed like a top-15 receiver for a dreadful offense last year.

Furthermore, you're not going to get Justin Blackmon in the draft at #6 - who the hell is Sam Bradford supposed to throw to if he doesn't have Blackmon OR Lloyd? You're seriously going to go into 2012 with Danario Alexander or Greg Salas as your #1 receiver?

The Jeff Fisher Friends and Family Plan is going to be activated yet again - former Titan lineman Jason Jones is reportedly on the verge of signing with the Rams. The JF3P is great and all - Jones and Courtland Finnegan are nice players - but it isn't going to do a hell of a lot for the Rams at wide receiver.

What's Fisher's plan, bring back Kevin Dyson? The team's current plan certainly sucks.

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Breaking news: Rams sign Cortland Finnegan

The Rams' first free agent signing of 2012 is a big one: they have signed one of the top two cornerbacks available, bringing the Jeff Fisher Friends and Family Plan to the active roster by signing former Titan Cortland Finnegan, to what is believed to be a 5-year, $50 million deal.

Even as they're getting beaten out at wide receiver, with Vincent Jackson (Bucs), Pierre Garcon (Redskins) and Marcus Colston (re-signed with Saints) coming off the free agent board already today, after Finnegan and Carlos Rogers, the market at corner drops pretty far off, so this is a good signing.

RamView would rather have signed Rogers given a choice. Finnegan is known best for committing personal fouls and for being a dirty player. By all means, let's continue to foster this kind of reputation in St. Louis with the Gregg Williams fiasco buzzing. Finnegan's also far from the size of defensive back I prefer at 5'9" 177.

However, and much more importantly, Cortland Finnegan is everything Ron Bartell is not. He's durable. He actually catches interceptable balls - 14 career INTs. He makes big plays - three career pick-sixes. He forces turnovers besides those - 3 forced fumbles. Ron Bartell did none of that. He's also a solid tackler and run defender, and a physical force jamming receivers at the line. He's also a blitzing weapon from just about anywhere on the field. Bartell didn't blow a lot of tackles, and was all right against the run, but he still doesn't give a team a lot of what Finnegan does. Cortland Finnegan should be a major upgrade to the Ram defense. He's been to a Pro Bowl (2008). Bartell sure didn't do that.

I have a fair concern that Finnegan is going to be one of those guys who'll play to get the big contract and then let up and suck after he gets it. He's considered a me-first player. He loses his temper and commits stupid penalties. Hopefully with Jeff Fisher and secondary coach Chuck Cecil already being familiar with him, they can continue to get a high level of play out of him.

Cortland Finnegan's already the best corner to play for the Rams since Aeneas Williams. Let's see him aspire to those kind of heights here in St. Louis.

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Rams tender ERFAs; other free agents not re-signed

The Rams have retained the following exclusive rights free agents to one-year contracts:

* Darian Stewart
* Brian Mattison
* Brit Miller
* Jermelle Cudjo
* Dominique Curry

Some pretty good players there, though I hope the Rams will look for a better option at fullback than Miller. I get that he does all right on special teams, but the Rams need a fullback who can play special teams, not a special teamer who can play fullback. Too many roster spots are getting used like that. For instance, Curry, a good special teamer who can play wide receiver. The Rams really need a WR who can play special teams. Get it?

Restricted free agent C.J. Ah You will not be tendered. He and ALL of the Rams' other unrestricted free agents will hit the open market today. That includes Brandon Lloyd, Chris Chamberlain, Jacob Bell and punter Donnie Jones. Those were about the only free agents the Rams showed any interest in re-signing.

So good-byes also seem in order to:
* James Butler
* Gary Gibson, leaving the Rams Cudjo and Darell Dorell Scott at DT
* Brian Kehl
* Justin King, hallelujah
* Mark LeVoir
* Jerious Norwood
* Brady Poppinga
* Cadillac Williams

Other than the Rams having nothing in the middle of their defensive line at the moment, I can't say any of those moves bother me too much.

Hopefully Les Snead has plenty of Mountain Dew and/or Red Bull on hand this weekend, with the Rams seemingly needing to replace half the team.