According to Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post, free agent DE/OLB Dwight Freeney has reportedly informed interested NFL teams that he willing to lower his asking price to what the Atlanta Falcons gave DE Osi Umenyiora.
Freeney was believed to be seeking as much as $8 million annually just a few weeks ago, but he appears to be willing to sign for just over $4 million per year, considering that Umenyiora received a two-year, $8.5 million contract from the Falcons.
It was assumed that Freeney’s market would pick up after the draft, but the Broncos elected to sign DE Shaun Phillips over the weekend. Phillips, 31, signed a one-year worth $1 million with another $1.2 million available through sack-based incentives.
This likely takes the Broncos out of the market for a defensive end and to make matters worse for guys like Freeney and John Abraham, the Dolphins also walked away with a new defensive end this weekend after the traded up for Oregon DE Dion Jordan.
The Patriots have shown interest in both players, but it seems doubtful that they’re willing to pay a lot of either player at this point in time. Atlanta could also add another defensive end, but they too are unlikely to offer much in terms of salary.
We have both Freeney and Abraham listed in our Best Available Free Agents list.
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