Free agent notes: Barry Cofield fully recovered from shoulder surgery

Giants DT and likely unrestricted free agent Barry Cofield told the NY Post that his shoulder is fully recovered from January surgery. More importantly, Cofield again acknowledges that his days with the Giants are over, significant only because he has a preference to return to New York. He may get a small does of the Giants, if the St. Louis Rams make a run at him in free agency and reunite with with Steve Spagnuolo.

Defensive linemen have been on top of Jerry Reese's draft shopping list in recent years. This year, they added DT Marvin Austin in the second round. Last year, they added DT Linval Joseph in the second round. Cofield sees himself as last on the Giants' priority list of free agents, citing the team's preference for defensive ends. 

Chris Canty played next to Cofield last year in the middle, and the Post throws out his deal as the high range for Cofield. Canty received a six-year, $42 million contract with $16 million guaranteed. As a 4-3 defensive tackle, Cofield seems unlikely to get that kind of money. If he were looking for deals in that range, I would have to wonder whether or not the Rams would make a play for him, given that defensive tackles are not as a high a priority under Spagnuolo. 

Fred Robbins, who is six years older than Cofield, received a three-year, $11.25 million deal from the Rams last year. 

Carolina LB and unrestricted free agent James Anderson was one of the league's best in stop rate against the pass last year. He had a 47 percent stop rate on passing plays last year, allowing an average of 4.7 yards per play. Farrar notes in the piece Anderson's ability to "blow up" the kind of quick passes that killed the Rams last year. 

The reality is that Carolina will probably work hard to keep Anderson, especially if the CBA includes a higher cap floor for teams. If he does hit the market, reuniting him with his former position coach and now Rams DC, Ken Flajole, would be a big time fix for the weakside.