Last year, defensive end/outside linebacker Matt Roth put up 86 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year for the Cleveland Browns. He was also called the best defensive player on the team by head coach Eric Mangini. However, he's just now getting some major interest his way given the overly crowded free agent market. Welcome to the zany 2011 NFL off-season.
After the furor of the last week, Roth remains standing as the best available free agent on the market -- good news for teams still looking to upgrade their pass rush with a solid two-way player who has experience at both OLB and DE. Roth will turn 29 this season in October, so he still has a few productive years left, but he's shown the ability to stop the run or rush the passer throughout his career with 20 career sacks and 6 forced fumbles.
ProFootballWeekly.com is reporting that the Cardinals and Saints and Broncos are among the teams showing interest in Roth right now, and with the ability for players who sign free agent contracts to now practice, you can expect Roth to move quickly now that teams are in on him. Whoever signs him will be getting a player who can help immediately and turn a weakness into a position that's covered enough. In Denver, he would be particularly valuable on a defense seeking to reinvent itself.