It's time for the St. Louis Rams to start thinking about plan B. Prior to last night, it was widely believed that Giants DT Barry Cofield would be added to the roster in order to bolster the defensive tackle spot. However, the Washington Redskins beat the Rams in the Cofield sweepstakes, agreeing to terms with him last night.
Now what?
Seattle's Brandon Mebane is the best 4-3 defensive tackle available in free agency. Mebane's current team has been his most ardent suitor according to reports, and it's believed that if he gets a good offer, he'll stick with Seattle. Cofield got a six-year deal worth $36 million with $12.5 million guaranteed. That's more total money than the Rams spent for Quintin Mikell, which makes you wonder if that wasn't their priciest free agent.
Washington's acquisition of Cofield and reported interest in Cullen Jenkins means Albert Haynesworth is all but gone, giving teams a high risk, high reward player who used to be one of the best 4-3 DTs in the league. Beyond that, look for names that aren't as well known but can be effective in Spagnuolo's system.