This is the concluding column of the analysis I am doing on market conditions around the NFL. Part I focused on the offensive skill positions, while Part II focused exclusively on the offensive line. This column looks at what is out there on defense.

Standard disclaimer: All assumptions made will be based on the “uncapped year” premise. Additional disclaimer: because the Redskins defense is hardly lacking in talent, the analysis here is going to be much more context heavy than the other two. You may noticed I didn’t look at the TE market, and there’s a good reason for that. The Redskins have needs at every level on defense, but if the needs are minor and can be easily fixed, I’m not going to spend 1,500 words trying to say that.

NFL Defensive Lineman Market

Truth is, these days, that all of the positions in the front seven sort of get overlapped in the market. Albert Haynesworth is not capable of playing the same position in a defense as Brian Urlacher is, but some team might decide to try an Urlacher-type at OLB where he replaces a Jason Babin-type. Then another team might decide to take that Babin type, and try him at defensive end to replace a Richard Seymour-type. Of course, Richard Seymour and Albert Haynesworth might actually be quite similar players. So by extention, the market value of an Urlacher-type will not be unrelated to a Haynesworth-type.

But for the analysis of the front seven, I’m going to look at it from a standard 4-3 perspective to keep things simple, even if there’s really not a true 4-3 defense anymore.

What we’ve seen in past years is that the defensive line is becoming ever so critical to defensive success, and yet, the market is softening considerably. There’s a simple reason for this: the market is being flooded by young, cheap defensive line talent. In the NFL draft, every year, you can find a starting quality rookie DL in the fifth or sixth round having just a mediocre scouting department. First round defensive lineman sell really high every year, but that’s because of the dynamic that changes when you get that one dominant defensive lineman. The Raiders dealt a future first round draft pick for Richard Seymour, and it really wasn’t a bad trade at all (in a vacuum, at least. Most of what the Raiders do is done for faulty reasoning). Seymour is still worth a first round pick, although he’s not cheap. Brian Orakpo has been everything the Redskins wanted in the 13th pick and more. Jeremy Jarmon cost the team a third round pick, and he looks like a future defensive cornerstone. Kedric Golston was a 6th round pick, and he’s now a bona fide third DT in the NFL

Because defensive lineman tend to have longer careers than their offensive counterparts, any team who isn’t receiving adequate DL play isn’t trying hard enough. The Broncos were awful on the DL last year, then they threw out all their name brand players, and became one of the best units in the league without spending a single draft pick there. The problem with that strategy was exposed against the Redskins last week: the talent might be inadequate, and a depleted Redskins OL needed to find a team like the Broncos to get healthy. The Broncos DL fit the underdog role well: scheme around them as a weakness, and they will surprise and make plays. Saddle them with additional responsibility, and they can be exposed.

The Redskins don’t have to worry about their DL being exposed, because it’s strong and deep. What the Redskins have to worry about is the knowledge that with every one of the $41 million they invested in Albert Haynesworth guaranteed through 2011, he’s never going to be more productive than he is right now. The development of Orakpo and Jarmon will help to offset his slow decline, but come the 2012 season, if the Redskins have just sat on the current makeup of the DL and haven’t brought in additional talent on the cheap, they’ll be left with a poor unit with a stud at RE, and above average swing lineman at LE, and a bunch of dead weight in the middle and on the bench

In the short term, the line can be bolstered through free agency. There will be some talented pieces out there, and some more pieces at the end of the draft. The Redskins can use a situational pass rusher who can play the Chris Wilson role in the event that Wilson becomes a two-down LB under our next coordinator. The interior line also needs more bodies. But the strength of the DL figures to return next year: Orakpo and Jarmon in full-time roles, and Haynesworth and Carter in a more limited capacity. Cornelius Griffin will probably be back for one last go around as a nominal starter, assuming the team keeps the 4-3 defense. Anthony Montgomery is likely to be non-tendered (assuming 4-3 defense), and Kedric Golston will return along with Lorenzo Alexander, but that’s seven guys, and the team likes to have 8 or 9 players. There are a couple of open spots here, and all solutions will have to come cheaply. In a non-competitive market, that will not be an issue.

NFL Linebackers Market

Here’s where the Redskins offseason gets interesting: their needs at the LB position figure to be determined entirely by the defensive scheme that the team will play at this time next year. The biggest name schedule to hit the market right now is Aaron Kampman, whose 4 year deal that he signed back in 2006 is set to expire. But in a 4-3 defense, Kampman is not a linebacker. Same with Arizona veterans LB Betrand Berry and Chike Okeafor, who are just package-specific players at this point. Again, this is tricky stuff.

The overall best player on the market at the position is probably Kansas City’s Derrick Johnson, who, naturally is not on schedule to be an unrestricted free agent, but could be a trade candidate. Ultimately, this is just a dead year for linebackers and though Johnson and Shawne Merriman will set the trade market, it’s not going to matter much with the value of a quality linebacker at an all time high. That’s the tradeoff for the adequacy of cheap defensive lineman, there’s a real shortage of good linebackers, probably more than at any other position besides offensive tackle. Guys like Bucs LB Angelo Crowell, who is on IR and hasn’t played since 2007, and Marcus Washington who isn’t in football right now, will have jobs next year if they want them.

The draft class looks very strong for traditional inside LB prospects as well as a good class of 3-4 rush ends to go along with the strong class of true 3-4 defensive ends. Where the draft class starts to thin is teams who are looking for LB help, but already have an undersized MLB who is productive. Teams like, I don’t know, the Redskins.

Overall, though, very strong year for linebackers in the draft, especially teams who are at the point where they can fit the scheme to their personnel. Teams who are looking for that last part for a 2010 run…not so much, those are the teams who should bite on Derrick Johnson. Otherwise, a terrible free agency class for LBs, means this is going to be a very competitive market, particularly in the second round of the draft.

NFL Defensive Backs Market

Even given the high demand for secondary depth, this is a pretty strong veteran free agent class. There are some really good names here. CB Will Allen, CB Leigh Bodden, CB Rod Hood, S Tyrone Carter, S Ryan Clark, CB Anthony Henry, S Sean Jones, S Darren Sharper, CB Deshea Townsend, plus CB Fabian Washington may be a non-tender candidate for the Ravens.

The class is not quite as strong in the draft, at least the cornerbacks at the top. You’ll have the two top safeties in the draft, Eric Berry and Taylor Mays, as strong top ten picks, but if either of them lives up to the hype, neither will ever see unrestricted free agency in their lives. Teams that need serviceable starters can always jump into the mix for any of the players listed above, and get an instant improvement, while trying to develop mid-round picks at the corner position. The Redskins bolstered the last two years with mid-rounders in Justin Tryon and Kevin Barnes, so the free agent route could suit the teams needs if they decide that they are done with Carlos Rogers.

To summarize, the defensive line market looks to be the least competitive, with the Redskins needing the least amount of help. The linebacker market is the most competitive defensive market, with most talent coming via the draft. The defensive backs market is moderately competitive, with no real offering of a franchise type player for anyone outside of the top five picks or so. This means that if the Redskins change to a defensive scheme that requires faster LB play, they might have to draft it. Other than that, the uncapped year should provide an opportunity that is more than sufficient for the Redskins to improve their defense, while still throwing most of their draft-related resources at the offense.