On Tuesday, we revealed Adam Caplan's list of the top remaining free agent offensive players on the market. Here is a look at his top free agents available on defense and where the Eagles could possibly make a move, if one at all ...
Adam Caplan's Top Three Remaining Free Agent DEs
1. Andre Carter
2. James Hall
3. Luis Castillo
Our Take: While it's not likely the Eagles would address this position in free agency because it's one of the deepest on the roster, former Redskin and Patriot Andre Carter would be intriguing. He's a linear defensive end (6-4, 255 pounds) who had 10 sacks last season for the Patriots in their hybrid scheme. Two years earlier, Carter had 11.0 sacks for Washington as a true 4-3 end. He'll be 33 and suffered a quad injury in the playoffs that required surgery. Carter contemplated retirement last year, but player nearly every down for the Patriots in 2011 according to Pro Football Focus.
Adam Caplan's Top Three Remaining Free Agent DTs
1. Aubrayo Franklin
2. Shaun Rogers
3. Antonio Garay
Our Take: Franklin was a dominant run stuffer as a nose tackle in the 49ers 3-4 scheme. However, Franklin wasn't as effective in the Saints' 4-3 alignment last season and New Orleans turned its attention to former Eagle Brodrick Bunkley. In fact, each of these defensive tackles has been primarily a 3-4 nose tackle.
Adam Caplan's Top Three Remaining Free Agent MLBs
1. Curtis Lofton (*Agreed to terms with Saints)
2. David Hawthorne
3. Gary Brackett
Our Take: Needless to say that the Eagles are not going to be shopping for a middle linebacker after acquiring DeMeco Ryans. Still amazing that Lofton and Hawthorne have generated interest, but neither have put the pen to paper yet. Hawthorne can play on the outside as well.
Adam Caplan's Top Three Remaining Free Agent OLBs
1. Leroy Hill
2. Jo-Lonn Dunbar
3. Manny Lawson
Our Take: Like DeMeco Ryans, Hill returned from an Achilles injury and started in all 16 games on the weak side for the Seahawks recording 4.0 sacks. Hill was a pivotal reason the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl in 2005 as he had 7.5 sacks as a rookie. Dunbar started 14 games last season on the strong side. Lawson offers immense size at 6-5, 240 pounds and also plays the strong side. The Eagles did not make any guarantee who will start at either of the outside linebacker positions, so the Eagles could look to still add to the roster.
Adam Caplan's Top Three Remaining Free Agent CBs
1. Terence Newman
2. Marcus Trufant
3. Chris Carr
Our Take: These three players were all under contract for 2012, but released by their former teams. Newman and Trufant were once among the better cornerbacks in the game. Carr was released after just one year after he signed a four-year contract extension.
Adam Caplan's Top Three Remaining Free Agent Ss
1. O.J. Atogwe
2. Yeremiah Bell
3. Abram Elam
Our Take: Atogwe and Bell were cut to get on the open market. Atogwe was once a ballhawk free safety in St. Louis. In fact, Atogwe played under the franchise tag for the Rams in 2009. Bell is a smart, veteran strong safety, but is getting up in age at 34. Obviously, if anyone knows Bell it's new Eagles secondary coach Todd Bowles, who was Miami's interim head coach at the end of last season. The Eagles have three very young safeties, would they want a veteran who would essentially be a stopgap?
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