5 Players the Patriots Could Target to Replace Vince Wilfork

The New England Patriots have decided to take their defense in a new direction.

That was the message they sent Thursday when nose tackle Vince Wilfork posted a message on Twitter, telling fans the Patriots would decline the option on his contract. 

There's still a chance Wilfork could return to the Patriots at a lower price tag, but either way the Patriots should be considering their long-term plan at defensive tackle.

In fact, they already began that process some time ago when they signed nose tackle Sealver Siliga in the midst of the 2013 season, after Wilfork's season-ending Achilles injury. They took another step in that process in the 2014 NFL draft, with the selection of Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley.

But unless the Patriots expect Siliga and Easley to play 100 percent of the snaps—a feat that seems to be reserved for Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich among Patriots defensive linemen—they'll need to add more depth at defensive tackle.

Here are some players available this offseason the Patriots might find to be fits for the Wilfork role. 

Barry Cofield, Washington Redskins

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The Washington Redskins made nose tackle Barry Cofield a salary cap casualty, but the 31-year-old and nine-year veteran still has some football left in him.

The 6'4", 303-pounder is not a carbon copy of Vince Wilfork's massive frame, but he has been a key part of multiple defensive lines in multiple defensive schemes over the years. He starred in a 4-3 front with the New York Giants, notching four sacks in 2010, and immediately made the transition to plugging gaps as a nose tackle in the Redskins' 3-4 defense the very next year. 

The Patriots would love Cofield's experience in multiple schemes—and not just experience, but positive experience. He could impart some of his wisdom on young defensive tackles like Sealver Siliga and Dominique Easley, and would not be asked to bear the full burden of the snap count, but instead to supplement the roles of the two defensive tackles already on the roster.

Dan Williams, Arizona Cardinals

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After cutting Barry Cofield, the Washington Redskins have a hole to fill at nose tackle. Kevin Sheehan of ESPN 980 Washington reports the Redskins will be interested in Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Dan Williams if he hits free agency next week. If Cofield is a fit for the Patriots, Williams should be considered one as well. 

The 6'3", 314-pounder has been a space-eater in the Cardinals' defense for five years, and although the former first-rounder has notched only two sacks since entering the league in 2010, he is exactly the kind of disruptive interior defensive lineman the Patriots would hope to have fill the Wilfork role in 2015.

According to ProFootballFocus.com, he had the seventh-highest percentage of run tackles that were considered stops (unsuccessful plays for the offense). The Patriots were considerably better against the run in 2014 (ninth) than they were in 2013 (30th), and Williams could make sure there's no drop-off without Wilfork this time around.

Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma

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The Patriots used a late first-round pick on Wilfork back in 2004, and they could reload their depth chart with another young, promising defensive tackle 11 years later.

Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips stands 6'5" and 329 pounds, with a frame that is similar to Wilfork's and a skill set to match. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared him to Denver Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton for his ability to stuff the line of scrimmage and soak up blockers like a sponge.

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Nose tackle with desired height, weight and speed. Flashes talent necessary to project a ceiling as a dominant run stuffer best suited for a 3-4 defense. Phillips' ability to eat up blocks should help him earn a high grade, but it's his potential as a big athlete with above-average range for the position that could turn him into a Pro Bowl nose.

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The only concern with Phillips is his history of injuries, which seems to be a hallmark of Patriots draft prospects of late. He had surgery to repair his back in 2013, and according to head coach Bob Stoops, via Rob Rang of CBSSports.com, the surgery wasn't because of "one specific injury."

If the Patriots are looking for a purebred replacement for Wilfork, Phillips may be the closest approximation available in the draft. There is a risk involved, but it would be a calculated risk. The Patriots could run a medical check on him and decide they are comfortable with his injury history and where he is right now from a health standpoint.

Carl Davis, Iowa

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With the Patriots holding the 32nd pick in the first round, it's entirely possible they won't even pick at that spot, but will instead trade down to acquire more picks—as has been their wont in recent years.

If that's their ultimate decision, and they still want to nab a defensive tackle with an early pick, Iowa's Carl Davis could be an intriguing option to fill Wilfork's void. The 6'5", 320-pounder possesses 34.6" arms and 11" hands. From head to toe, Davis is a man's man. 

CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler compared him to Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko, saying "Like Peko, Davis is ideally suited as a one-technique tackle with the power to handle double-teams and the quickness to penetrate the backfield or make plays away from the line of scrimmage." If the Patriots are in the 4-3 base or are running a four-man line, Davis could be the one-technique. If they are in a three-man front, Davis could be either a one- or zero-technique.

Scouts have criticized Davis' lack of explosiveness off the line, which inhibits his pass-rushing ability. But if he's asked to play a more on-the-nose kind of role in the Patriots defense, they won't be as concerned with a lack of sack production.

Eddie Goldman, Florida State

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Like Carl Davis, Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman is not a pass-rushing maven. But if he is asked to fill Vince Wilfork's role as a gaps-stuffing nose tackle, he won't have to be a sack specialist. 

Goldman is being considered a 3-4 defensive linemen by most teams, but in varying roles; CBSSports.com's Rob Rang projects Goldman as a five-technique defensive end, while NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says Goldman's skill set "will have 3-4 teams very excited about their potential nose guard of the future."

The variance in opinion may just be a good thing with regard to Goldman's fit with the Patriots, who are constantly changing their defensive scheme to counter their opponent. With a 6'4", 336-pound frame, Goldman has the ability to play any number of spots and could be just the kind of lineman the Patriots are looking for. 

Unless otherwise noted: all scouting combine information and draft notes provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com; all salary cap and contract information provided by OverTheCap.com; and all advanced stats provided by ProFootballFocus.com.