O'Brien Schofield

Schofield signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Giants this offseason only to have the deal rescinded after he failed a physical for "potential knee arthritis." He returned to the Seahawks where he has the opportunity for increased playing time this season after the team lost Red Bryant and Chris Clemons in free agency. The last job on the D-Line could come down to him and Benson Mayowa, so he's no lock to the make the roster.

Schofield was a pleasant surprise in 2011, moving ahead of Clark Haggans to pick up 37 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He bulked up in the offseason, and should stand to see those numbers only improve in 2012, though he may not yet be at a level where he makes a significant IDP impact.

Schofield is an intriguing option heading into 2011-12. Expected to challenge Joey Porter for a gig as a starting OLB, Schofield proved that his knee injury was well behind him last season and the coaching staff will look to the former Badger to develop into a formidable pass-rushing threat. Schofield is still learning and has yet to stash a full season under his belt, so temper your expectations heading into Week 1, but his ceiling appears to be sky high.

After tearing his ACL in the first practice for the Senior Bowl, Schofield's draft stock tumbled. Before the injury, Schofield may have been a first-round talent on some draft boards, so he could wind up becoming a very nice value selection in Round 4 if he's able to recover the burst that made him an excellent pass rusher at the University of Wisconsin. He's optimistic about his chances of playing in 2010, but Schofield will likely begin the season on the PUP list and spend the year learning the nuances of the Cards' defense to become a pass-rushing specialist at linebacker in 2011.