Plenty of defensive talent still looking for work in NFL free agency

NFL free agency has slowed to nearly a standstill. There’s still a smattering of quality veteran players out there, and their agents are working the phones looking to drum up some interest. For the most part, front offices are playing the waiting game. After the draft -- about a month from now on May 12 -- free agents signed by teams no longer impact the compensatory pick formula, so pick-conscious GMs and front offices know it makes the most sense to primarily stand pat, for the time being.

Nonetheless, there are still players out there that could contribute to new teams in 2015, and a few that could even play key roles. I broke down some offensive players recently, so this week, we move to the defense. Let’s take a quick look at a few.

Anthony Spencer

Spencer is 31, but he’s a long way from the microfracture surgery on his knee. That’s less of a major concern for potential suitors. He came on strong for the Cowboys late last year, notching seven QB pressures and a sack in the Dallas’ two playoff games, so in a limited, rotational role as a 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 weakside defensive end, he could provide some value as a pass rusher.

Osi Umenyiora

Umenyiora is 33, but like Spencer, could be used in a part-time rotational role as a pass-rush specialist for a team looking to add some depth to that area. He’s obviously not the player he was in his heyday, but his experience could be valuable for a young team.

Dwight Freeney

Sensing a theme? Freeney, like Spencer and Umenyiora, is well past his prime, but in the right spot could play the role of a pass-rush specialist. Freeney was actually pretty productive in that role last year for the Chargers, notching nine quarterback hits and 40 hurries in 372 pass rush snaps (per Pro Football Focus).

Da’Quan Bowers

This would be more of a flier than anything. At one point, the former Clemson star was talked about as a potential No. 1 overall pick, but fell to the second-round because of injury concerns, and he’s not lived up to even that modest investment in his four-year career. He has only career 7.0 sacks and played in just 11 games last year, but some team, or some defensive line coach, may feel that they can squeeze some of that potential out of him in a rotational role.

C.J. Mosley

The 32-year-old has somewhat surprisingly not signed with anyone after playing a key role for the Lions last year, but he may just be waiting things out to find the best fit. He may not find a job as a starter going forward, but as a rotational base player in some defense, he could provide some value.

Kevin Williams

Williams played a key role in Seattle’s base defense last year, and showed his value when he moved from the three-technique spot to replace an injured Brandon Mebane at nose tackle down the stretch. It’s unclear if he wants to continue playing in 2015 or hang up his cleats, but you could do a lot worse than having Williams in your rotation. He’s got length, power and tons of experience, and he can still play.

Barry Cofield

When healthy, Cofield’s a solid player, but recently he had surgery on an injured hip labrum, so teams are obviously waiting out his rehab before they make a move on him. His return date to action is scheduled for some time in June or July, so he should have a shot to catch on with a team at that point, and he feels that he can revive his career after playing “on one leg” last year.

Red Bryant

Bryant started all 16 games for the Jaguars last season at the strongside defensive end spot, and for a team that’s looking for solid veteran leadership and a run-stopping defensive end on base downs, Bryant could be an option. He didn’t have a great season in 2014 but going back a couple of years to his Seattle days, he was very solid and stout as a run defender and had a part in helping Seattle build their elite defense as a former captain of that group. He’s got crazy length at 6’4 and very long arms, and he’s been super dependable over his last four seasons, starting 63 out of a possible 64 regular season games.

Tommy Kelly

There hasn’t been much in the form of scuttlebutt when it comes to Kelly over the last couple of months, but the big 6’6 defensive end should find himself a home once the dust clears from the Draft. He played over 700 snaps for Arizona’s elite defense last year and was solid in his role, so I’m guessing he’ll have some suitors.

Brandon Spikes

Spikes played a part-time role in the Bills defense last year, and while they’ve expressed some interest in bringing him back for an encore, they’ve also allowed him to test his market and it hasn’t been particularly strong. That said, a 4-3 team that’s looking for a base-downs linebacker in the middle could find some real value here for the fifth-year player.

Lance Briggs

The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker still believes that he can play at an elite level, but injuries have been an issue the past couple of seasons. Nonetheless, he’s drawing some interest on the open market and could still play outside in a 4-3 or perhaps on the inside in a 3-4. The 49ers reportedly have interest in Briggs after losing Patrick Willis and Chris Borland to retirement.

Philip Wheeler

Wheeler’s best season was in 2012 in Oakland but after getting a big contract the next year in Miami, he did not live up to his billing there. He’s gotten a little bit of interest -- again, the Niners are in need of help at the linebacker spot so they reportedly hosted him -- but he’ll have to rehabilitate his career, likely on a lower, veteran deal.

Joe Mays

The six-year veteran is a base-downs player that could fill a role for a team looking for depth at middle linebacker. He played over 500 snaps for the Texans in 2013 but found himself on the injured reserve/recall list Kansas City last year until mid-season. He ended up playing in eight games and started three when injury forced him into the starting lineup.

Colin McCarthy

At one point early in his career, McCarthy looked like a real up-and-coming middle linebacker for the Titans, but injuries derailed that train and he’s since struggled to get back to form. He’s a flier type of player -- and if he can stay healthy, it could pay dividends for the signing team -- but his injury history is also why he’s still a free agent.

Carlos Rogers

First of all, the cornerback position is all but picked over at this point. Okay, now that I have that out of the way ...

Rogers followed up a strong couple of years for the Niners from 2011-13 by signing in Oakland, but after playing in only seven games in 2014, he suffered a knee injury and his season was over. The soon-to-be 34-year old could catch on somewhere as a depth move at best, most likely.

Tarell Brown

Brown, like Rogers, played very well in San Francisco but couldn’t carry that success to his new team in Oakland in 2014.

Jarrett Bush

Bush enters his 10th NFL season, and if he gets much interest on the open market, he will probably be viewed as a core special teams contributor.

Like the cornerback position, the safety spot has been pretty well picked over with Devin McCourty headed back to New England, Antrel Rolle headed to Chicago, and Ron Parker staying in Kansas City. However, there are still a few teams with needs at that spot.

Dawan Landry

The 32-year-old veteran recently met with the Bills for a potential reunion with Rex Ryan, and remains one of the more solid options still available at the safety position. He’s posted three straight 100-tackle seasons and is very dependable, starting 94 of a possible 96 games over the past six years.

Stevie Brown

The Giants are reportedly trying to get Stevie Brown to return, at the right price (low). Brown had a very strong 2012 season but missed 2013 with a torn ACL. His return in 2014 yielded up and down results.