Barry

Cofield

Garcon and Williams are unusual restructure candidates in that they’re still young, productive and relatively cheap, but the Skins need to get creative to get under the 2013 cap. That’s thanks to their $18 million penalty for circumventing the cap in the 2010 uncapped year. CSN Washington projects the Redskins are currently $4 million over the salary cap despite having relatively few bad contracts.

Talks fell apart, however, after the Giants used the 46th overall pick on DT Linval Joseph, and Cofield and the Saints were unable to work a long-term deal. Cofield is no longer on the trading block, and will likely retain his starting job. He has yet to sign his RFA tender, but figures to shortly.

Cofield was nearly traded to the Saints during the draft after a disappointing 2009 season on the heels of microfracture knee surgery. He insists he’s now back to full health, and the Giants have taken him off the trading block. Cofield will return as a starter in 2010.

Cofield is out for the rest of preseason, but will sport a club or something like it for the opener if his hand isn’t fully healed. It’s not a major concern.

Cofield agreed to trim his base salary from $4.05 million to $840,000, turning the difference into a “signing” bonus. The 29-year-old is signed through 2016. Cofield broke his right hand this preseason but will be ready Week 1.

Cofield broke his hand during the preseason. He says it won’t affect his performance, but he can’t even buckle his own chinstrap. It can’t be bad news for LeSean McCoy and Michael Vick. The over/under for this game is 51.5, the second-highest total on the board this week. Only Sunday’s Falcons at Saints game is projected to feature more points.

Sports-hernia surgery recovery is typically 1-2 months, leaving Cofield with plenty of time to get ready for camp. Cofield is a plus pass rusher that has struggled against the run throughout his career, which makes him better suited to play defensive end in Washington’s 3-4. The Redskins played him at nose last season, however, and it looks like that will be his position in 2014 as well.

Recovery time is typically 1-2 months, so Cofield should be ready in plenty of time for training camp. Cofield was a top-five pass-rushing defensive tackle at Pro Football Focus last season, but struggled badly against the run, grading out in the bottom eight. He’s missed one game and two starts in eight seasons. Cofield will be flanked by DEs Jason Hatcher and Jarvis Jenkins in 2014.

Cofield has attracted no known interest on the open market since the Redskins dumped him in February. That’s because he’s 31, is coming off a torn labrum and missed eight games last year. Still, Cofield should eventually get a look as a versatile tackle that can both defend the run and push the pocket.

Cofield said he’s simply waiting for a call. His body may not be able to take much more, though. Cofield missed a bunch of time last season with a high-ankle sprain and double sports hernia surgery. He also required offseason surgery for a torn labrum in his hip. Cofield turned 31 this past March.