The potential cost to the St. Louis Rams of a Barry Cofield trade
by Ryan Van Bibber on May 17, 2011 12:17 PM CDT
in 2011 NFL offseason
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PrintWhen and if the 2011 league year actually gets started, with free agents and trades ready to go, remains to be seen. Personally, I have my doubts. One target that gets continually linked to the St. Louis Rams is New York Giants DT Barry Cofield, a former Spagnuolo player and one that would fit a big need along the defensive line.
Cofield is in limbo right now. He should have been an unrestricted free agent last year, but the no-cap season and the six-year rules for free agency got him a one-year tender from the Giants. Faced with the unknowns around this season, the Giants tendered Cofield another RFA offer in the spring, a second-round tender to boot. Cofield is pretty adamant about not playing on one-year tender again, as he made clear recently. That leaves the Giants with two options, trade him or release him. Of course, they could take the chance of a holdout, but that seems unlikely.
Given that the Giants and the Saints had worked out a trade last year for Cofield, it stands to reason that they'll try to move him and get some return on their investment. Cofield rejected the offer based on the contract New Orleans was offering him. What the potential cost be for the Rams to make a deal for Cofield?
Going back through recent history isn't exact science, but it does offer some guideposts. Last year, the Cleveland Browns traded DT Corey Williams to the Detroit Lions a 5th and a 7th round pick in the 2010 draft. Williams started just 2 games with Cleveland in 2009 after starting all 16 the year before, but he did get 4 sacks, the same sack total as Cofield had last year.
With a second-round tender, it's safe to say that the Giants value Cofield more than the Browns valued Williams. And why wouldn't they? A five-year starter with an excellent track record for staying healthy...that counts for something.
Another trade of note is the move by Detroit to swap DL Corey Redding and a fifth-round pick to Seattle for LB Julian Peterson. Peterson has since been released, but at the time of the deal he was coming off three Pro-Bowl seasons and 14.5 sacks over that same span. At the time it was considered more of a dump-off trade for the Seahawks, getting out from under a massive contract for a declining player. Redding spent a year in Seattle. Baltimore signed him as an unrestricted free agent last year.
The Rams don't have much in the way of players to trade. Of all the positions where they have depth, wide receiver might be the easiest to include a player to sweeten the pot. The tendency to rule out the top players on the roster at that position should be ignored. The Rams have a new offensive coordinator, which means turnover. I'm not sure what kind of value Donnie Avery would have after missing a full season (not much) but he could be attractive to the Giants who face questions on Steve Smith's health.
As far as straight draft picks go, with second-round tender, it's hard to imagine the Giants entertaining offers for much less than a third-round pick. But motivations can change. And the pace at which the lockout is getting resolved should give teams plenty of time to think about it.
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I would argue Amendola would fit them well if Steve Smith has concerns
he’d be what they need and personality wise could deal with playing in a market like New York. I’d be sorry to see him go, however Salas looks like an heir apparent to a young talented WR like Amendola, so the FO/McD may see him as expendable with regards to upgrading a position as pivotal as DT.
I am pulling a round out of my butt here, but I think a 5th and 6th would be the asking price for Cofield, as a trade for a player with no contract can’t hold much worth?
Corey Williams was a classic case of not fitting within the scheme in Cleveland – like Carriker, thus wasting his talent. As soon as he got back in a 4-3 he showed how good he was. I’d have loved to see him in STL alongside Robbins, now he and Sammie Lee Hill may get frozen out as Suh and Fairley are above them in the depth chart (at least figure to be)
Bradford to Onobun!
From a Lions fan's perspective, I think you will see a heavy DT rotation.
I would expect Suh and Williams to be the starters, with Fairley and Hill getting at least 300 snaps each. Last year Suh had just under 1,000 snaps which was seventy more than the next highest DT. Too much in my opinon. I think he wore out a bit during the last few games of the year. Williams also had over 800 snaps which was about seventh most in the league for a DT.
I am looking forward to a great rivalry between my Lions, the Rams, and the Bucs over the next ten years. I really like what each team has done to upgrade their teams. The future looks very bright.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
Is Schwartz like Spags except with DTs over DE's? lol
I read Suh played the most snaps (either excluding QBs or defensive player or something) in the league last year?
I expect with that depth there’d have to be a big rotation just to make sense out of the money invested at the position as well as the dividends it will pay for your team.
I agree entirely! The Lions and Bucs are two teams I am very interested in watching and feel that we’ll be playing each other in the playoffs very very soon.
I’d like to quickly ask, although it’s off subject, whether you feel Stafford will have an injury free season or if he really is just injury prone? I like to feel he’s just been very unlucky as I’m a huge fan of his talent.
Bradford to Onobun!
Infermous-I notice you didn't get a reply on Stafford-
If you think we hold our breath when DX is running a route, The Big Blue has a butt grip on their seats when Stafford takes a hit. That bad luck on him has really been a downer for them. Maybe this year we will get to see him play to his potential.
Holy crap, give me some time to respond for crying out loud!
Stafford, I really believe he has just been unlucky. I see other QBs get belted around more than him and just get bruised. Hopefully he will make it through all sixteen games this year. I don’t feel like our O Line is anywhere near as bad as the national media makes it out to be. Now that we have some depth at RB and a defence that can stop the other team, I think you won’t see the Lions pass as much as they did the last two years. That alone should slow down the pass rushers and reduce the shots that Stafford [and any NFL QB] will have to take during the season.
As I said above, Suh played over seventy snaps more than the next most busy NFL DT [Kyle Williams of Buffalo]. That is pretty much a full game difference.
Schwartz wants to rotate every position on the D Line. He was forced into it more in 2010 when KVB got injured, but Lawrence Jackson and Turk McBride were excellent in relief last year. I hope they continue with the heavy rotation there too.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
HAHA! We have no mercy on here!
But I have the Patience to wait for your answer-As long as you give it NOW!!
sounds good
so many questions that will only be answered by the start of the season. BOY AM I ANXIOUS AND EXCITED FOR THAT DAY
Stafford is a fantastic talent and I am really hoping he can stay healthy so that rivalry we envision can become a reality!
That DLine is something we envy, although your LB corps is almost as bad as ours right? lol
Bradford to Onobun!
Yeah, we each have one real NFL Linebacker and the other two will be whoever looks good in practice that week.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
Just to clarify the Corey Williams trade to Detroit......
Detroit gave up a fifth round pick and received Williams and a seventh round pick. Corey had a pretty sizeable contract to boot so the Browns got some relief there too.
The Lions also traded with Seattle for DE Lawrence Jackson. Detroit gave up a 2011 sixth round pick for the former first round pick. That was an excellent deal for the Lions.
I don’t mean to slight Cofield, but I would think he would be able to be picked up for a fourth round pick. A third round pick seems a little excessive.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
As a Giants fan
I can tell you that we probably would be interested in draft picks only instead of adding players to the mix. We drafted Jerrel Jernigan in the 3rd this year to replace Smith and have excellent depth at WR, so not sure if Amendola/Avery would work.
I can possibly see something like giving up Cofield and a 6th for your 3rd or something like that. Cofield has been a healthy, productive, starter, and while I view him as a 2nd round value, I know that probably won’t fly with non-homer logic haha.
I think giving up Cofield and a 6th would be fair for a 3rd. Also you got to think about the cost of signing him as well, which is going to be hefty. He wants a big payday.
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by BigBlueIntervention on May 17, 2011 1:22 PM CDT reply actions
I mean if you guys don't want to give up draft picks
we’d be happy to take Laurinitis off your hands hahaha jokes
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by BigBlueIntervention on May 17, 2011 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
who wouldn't :P
Do you not feel that the expired contract would mean that we’d have to pay less to acquire him, even more so than the non homer perception of his worth? :D Like a 4th/5th for Cofield and a 6th?
Bradford to Onobun!
nope because like GhostDini says below
he was traded for a 2nd round pick, but the Saints could not agree on compensation for him and Giants refused to take anything lower.
His value is firmly in the 2nd round territory. I said 3rd round because of the expiring contract plus the fact that he’s let it be known that he wants out, which increases negotiating leverage in the Rams’ favor
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by BigBlueIntervention on May 17, 2011 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions
I see
thats a shame, kind of hoping we’d have so much leverage you’d ‘give’ him to us.
In all honesty, I’d do the trade, but only if we were guaranteed a full season. Obviously it’s a moot point because trades will be allowed when there is a new CBA, but for the hypothetical situation we are in right now I’d have to wait before I said yes.
I place a lot of value in a 3rd round pick and while Cofield would be a phenomenal addition, should we not have an entire season I’d rather we load up for the season after with a potential impact rookie in the 3rd.
Bradford to Onobun!
I agree with all of this
the lockout just screws with everything. Barry is not old, but that’s a year of productivity gone, while you could groom your 3rd rounder.
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by BigBlueIntervention on May 17, 2011 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Cofield is definitely worth a 2nd-round pick
At he very least, he’s worth an early 3rd. The Saints were willing to give up a 2nd for him last year and that was before his breakout season.
I'd be on board with a 3rd rd pick
to get Cofield and a 6th. 3rd rd picks have their value, but the drafted player will have yet to play a snap in the NFL and in my opinion, I’d rather take a young player who is proven—and particularly one who is familiar with the head coach and defensive approach—than a younger, equally talented, yet unproven player. In addition, the draft is also a crapshoot in terms of who will be available when. I’d rather the team secure a valuable player at a position of great need now, rather than wait for the draft and see the FO yet again leave the position undrafted. It would also be nice to see Kroenke open the books, seeing as how he has enough money to buy teams on the other side of the pond!
Anyway, it's starting to look like there won't be a 2011 season anyway. Certainly not a 16 game one.
I actually think it would be advantageous to miss the first four games on the schedule. Right now that looks like a 1-3 run for us at best.
Buyer beware!
Just because we lucked out with 1 Ex-Giant DT doesn’t make it a formula for success. They should do their due diligence before giving up valuable draft picks for next year.
there is tommie harris out there as well...
i dont know if he got over, whatever his injuries were, but i wouldnt mind seeing tommie “return” to form with the rams!
by Mark Jaramillo on May 17, 2011 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Harris may be an interesting solution
I’m not sold on trading anything above a 5th for Cofield. Somehow the relief of monetary burdon by Cofield’s departure from the Giants has no value? That another team is willing to pay him and open up capital to secure draft picks and players that figure into their future. He’s going to want a long term contract from whatever team that wants him and that is where his overall trade value hits a skid.
On another note, I’m glad to see commenters from other teams here. Sergy went to the the Sea Buzzards site and before he posted a thing he got a “Ban” warning…
Seeing how it now appears there will not be a season without a CBA..
Cofiled will probably end up being a UFA anyway so no trade will be neccessary.
I am an optomist
I think a CBA will get done (the players just got more incentive to deal) and Cofield will be a free agent.
The question is......
Do you want to give him Chris Canty money (6 yrs $42 million)? Because reportedly $7 mil per year is what Cofield wants.
he'd certainly be more deserving than Canty was.
Unfortunately that’s what it takes. He’d be my 2nd highest rated FA DT this year. First being Ngata of course
Creator of the NFC East Eternal Threads
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by BigBlueIntervention on May 18, 2011 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Marvin Austin
Will be the replacement for Canty. Jerry Reese just put Canty on notice that he better stay healthy and produce or 2011 will be his last year in blue.
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