Top NFL Free Agents (Defense)

One thing that hasn’t been talked about much is the current free agent system as we know it will end after the 2010 season. It’s very complicated and I am not going to try and cover it, instead I will post a link to a very informative article on free agency. So it’s too early to tell how the upcoming “uncapped” years will play into next year’s contract, what I will predict however is a lot of these top players will be scooped up with huge contracts. The contracts will include large signing bonuses and the beef of the money will extended out well past 2010. So without further ado, I will finish my list of the best NFL free agents for next year, some of these players are signing contracts as we speak, for example, the Giants signed CB Cory Webster last week and the Cowboys just signed RT Marc Columbo. The cream of this crop is DT Albert Haynesworth, who might emerge as the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. Last week I covered the offensive players and this week I will cover the defense.

Defensive tackles:
Albert Hayneswoth, Titans
Tank Johnson, Dallas
Darwin Walker, Carolina
William Joseph, Raiders
Jonathan Babineaux, Atlanta
La’ Roi Glover, Rams
Jimmy Kennedy, Jags
Grady Jackson, Atlanta
John Thornton, Bengals
Kenny Peterson, Broncos
Shaun Cody, Lions
Colin Cole, Packers
Ryan Sims, Bucs
Jeff Zgonina, Texans
Darrell Ried, Colts
Ellis, Wyms, Vikings
Kendrick Allen, Vikings
Mike Wright, Patriots
James Reed, Saints
Ronald Fields, 49ers
Howard Green Seattle

Defensive Ends:
Julius Peppers, Panthers
Chris Canty, Dallas
Bertrand Berry, Arizona
Dwan Edwards, Ravens
Jason Babin, Chiefs
Antonio Smith, Arizona
Ebenezer Ekuban, Broncos
Mike Montgomery, Packers
Josh Thomas, Colts
Kenechi Udeze, Vikings
Kenny Smith, Patriots
Jerome McDougle, Giants
CJ Mosley, Jets
Orpheus Roye, Steelers
Eric Moore, Rams
Kevin Carter, Bucs
Demetric Evans, Redskins

Linebackers:
Ray Lewis, Ravens
Karlos Dansby, Cardinals
Terrell Suggs, Ravens
Michael Boley, Falcons
Channing Crowder, Dolphins
Jonathan Vilma, Saints
Mike Peterson, Jags
Robert Thomas, Raiders
Nate Webster, Denver
Keyan Fox, Steelers
Willie McGinest, Browns
Daryl Blackstock, Bengals
Takeo Spikes, 49ers
Clark Haggans, Cardinals
Napoleon Harris, Vikings
Larry izzo, Patriots
Teddy Lehman, Buffalo
Eric Barton, Jets
Angelo Crowell, Buffalo
Donte’ Curry, Carolina
Adam Seward, Carolina
Darrell McClover, Bears
Andra Davis, Browns
Kris Griffin, Browns
Shantee Orr, Browns
Carlos Polk, Dallas
Tyjuan Hagler, Colts
Rocky Boiman, Chiefs
Pat Thomas, Chiefs
Heath Farwell, Vikings
Tony Gilbert, Falcons
Tank Williams, Patriots
Dontarrious Thomas, Vikings
Cody Spencer, Jets
Khary Campbell, Redskins
Sam Williams, Raiders
Andre Frazier, Steelers
Gary Stills, Rams
Marques Harris, Chargers
DD Lewis, Seattle
Alfred Fincher, Redskins
Ryan Nece, Lions
Paris Lenon, Lions

Cornerbacks:
Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders
DeAngelo Hall, Redskins
Domonique Foxworth, Atlanta
Deltha O’Neal, Patriots
Bryant McFadden, Steelers
Phillip Buchanon, Bucs
Aaron Glenn, Saints
Lewis Sanders, Patriots
Corey Ivy, Ravens
Justin Miller, Raiders
Jason Webster, Patriots
Kelvin Hayden, Colts
RW McQuarters, Giants
Ahmad Carroll, Jets
Eric King, Titans
Ty Law, Jets
Ricky Manning, Rams
Eric Green, Cardinals
Fernando Bryant, Steelers
Kiewan Ratliff, Colts
Jabari Greer, Buffalo
Ronald Bartell, Rams
Jamar Fletcher, Bengals
Travis Daniels, Browns
Chris carr, Titans
Daven Holly, Browns
Fakhir Brown, Rams
Benny Sapp, Vikings
Karl Paymah, Broncos
Scott Starks, Jags
Stanley Wilson, Lions
DeMarcus Faggins, Texans
Jimmy Williams, Texans
Omare Lowe, Jags
William James, Jags
Andre Goodman, Miami
Chris Johnson, Raiders
Michael Waddell, Raiders
Joselio Hanson, Eagles
Jason Craft, Rams
Donald Strickland, 49ers
Reynaldo Hill, Titans

Safeties:
James Butler, Giants
Gerald Sensebaugh, Jags
Sean Considine, Eagles
Vincent Fuller, Titans
Michael Boulware, Vikings
Brian Dawkins, Eagles
Renaldo Hill, Miami
Lawyer Milloy, Atlanta
Jim Leonard, Ravens
Rodney Harrison, Patriots
Darren Sharper, Vikings
Oshiomogho Atogwe, Rams
Will Allen, Bucs
Sean Jones, Cleveland
Jermaine Phillips, Bucs
Brandon McGowan, Bears
Chris Crocker, Bengals
Keith Davis, Dallas
Marlon McCree, Denver
CC Brown, Texans
Nick Ferguson, Texans
Hank Poteat, Jets
Eugene Wilson, Texans
Pierson Prioleau, jags
Matt Giordano, Colts
Jon McGraw, Chiefs
Yerimiah Bell, Miami
James Sanders, Patriots
Rahad Baker, Raiders
Mike Green, Redskins
Oliver Celestin, Chiefs

Top Unrestricted NFL Free Agents (Offense)

This time of year when Mock Drafts rule the world we often forget that there are other methods to improve an NFL team than through the NFL Draft. Free Agency continues to be a valuable tool in improving a team. But buyer beware, many free agents sign a huge contract and then fail to live up to the billing. Also most NFL players are happy where they are, they have a home and family and would generally prefer to resign with their current team. The following list is pretty extensive but unless you throw a lot of money at them, most of the quality free agents will sign a contract extension and stay put. For example, there is no way the Giants are going to let RB Brandon Jacobs go anywhere. Today I will highlight the offensive players and soon to come, the defense.

Quarterbacks:
Kurt Warner, Arizona
Kerry Collins, Titans
Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay
Charlie Frye, Seattle
Rex Grossman, Chicago
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cincinnati
Matt Cassel, Patriots
Patrick Ramsey, Denver
Kyle Boller, Ravens
Brooks Bollinger, Dallas
Dan Orlovsky, Lions
Joey Harrington, New Orleans
Anthony Wright, Giants
David Carr, Giants
Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh
Byron Leftwich, Pittsburgh
Jamie Martin, 49ers
JT O’Sullivan, 49ers
Luke McCown, Tampa Bay
Todd Bouman, Ravens
Brian St. Pierre, Arizona

Running Back/Fullbacks:
Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis
JJ Arrington, Arizona
Kevin Jones, Chicago
Tatum Bell, Denver
Michael Pittman, Denver
Lamont Jordan, New England
Lorenzo Neal, Baltimore
Corey McIntire, Buffalo
Cedric Benson, Cincinnati
Jason Wright, Cleveland
Aveion Cason, Detroit
Cecil Sapp, Green Bay
Aaron Stecker, New Orleans
Darian Barnes, New Orleans
Derrick Ward, Giants
Jesse Chatman, Jets
Tony Richardson, Jets
Correll Buckhalter, Eagles,
Maurice Morris, Seattle
DeShaun Foster, 49ers
Travis Minor, Rams
Shaun Alexander, Redskins

Tight Ends:
LJ Smith, Eagles
Bubba Franks, Jets
Bo Scaife, Titans
Jim Kleinasser, Vikings
Jerramy Stevens, Tampa Bay
Sean Ryan, 49ers
Mark Bruener, Houston
Daniel Wilcox, Baltimore
Darnell Dinkins, Cleveland
John Owens, Detroit
Tony Stewart, Raiders
Billy Bajema, 49ers

Offensive Tackles:
Jordan Gross, Carolina
Stacy Andrews, Cincinnati
Tra Thomas, Eagles
Vernon Carey, Miami
Max Starks, Steelers
Ray Willis, Seattle
Wayne Gandy, Falcons
Mark Tauscher, Packers
George Foster, Detroit
Jon Runyan, Eagles
Marvel Smith, Steelers
Jon Stinchcomb, Saints
Rob Pettiti, Rams
Frank Omiyale, Carolina
John St. Clair, Chicago
Fred Miller, Chicago
Kirk Chambers, Buffalo
Barry Stokes, Patriots
Anthony Davis, Rams
Adam Goldberg, Rams
Daniel Loper, Titans

Guards:
Chris Kemoeatu, Steelers
Elton Brown, Arizona
Chris Naeole, Jags
Mike Goff, Chargers
Jason Fabini, Redskins
Scott Peters, Arizona
Jason Whittle, Buffalo
Pete Kendall, Redskins
Pork Chop Womak, Seattle
Stephen Peterman, Detroit
Scott Jackson, Houston
Carlise Cooper, Raiders
Trai Essex, Steelers
Kynan Forney, Chargers
Chris Gray, Seattle
Damion Cook, Detroit

Centers:
Matt Birk, Vikings
Jeff Saturday, Colts
Tom Nalen, Broncos
Russ Hotchstein, Patriots
Matt Lehr, Saints
Seth McKinney, Browns
Jason Brown, Ravens
Brad Meester, Jags
Jeremy Newberry, Chargers
Eric Ghiacuic, Bengals
Joe Berger, Dallas
Melvin Fowler, Buffalo
Duke Preston, Buffalo
Brett Romberg, Rams
Geoff Hangartner, Buffalo
Lenni Friedman, Browns
Andy McCollum, Lions
Chris White, Houston
Grey Ruegemer, Giants
Nick lackey, Rams

Updated 2009 NFL Mock Draft

Hello everyone welcome to the explanatory letter explaining and discussing some of the curious selections made in my (CJs) latest Mock draft for the 2009 NFL Draft. I usually update the Mock at the beginning of every month unless I have a huge workload to take care of.

To get started let me discuss the choice of Stafford over Bradford in this mock draft. While I think Bradford is the more polished, better performer I have a hard time moving a QB from a spread offense into the number one spot. Stafford has great arm strength, runs a pro style offense and has dealt with protection errors as well as plays where he’s had to improvise, this allows for a better transition into the NFL (Examples are Matt Ryan and Jay Cutler) because things never really go smooth for young QB’s. Bradford comes from a conference where defense isn’t real dominant and because of his massive offensive line he has time to progress through different reads. He has never really had to bring OU back from a deficit and he has not struggled often, this isn’t a bad thing but it is a minus in my mind because you cannot judge his character and fight when he performs like Dan Marino every game.

The St Louis pick of Oher over other athletes is simple in my mind, The Rams spent a lot of money on Bulger and Jackson, Orlando Pace is succumbing to injuries more often and the line is not holding up the way it used to. Teams need solid line play before any skill player can become dominant, hence Oher you’re off to St Louis.

I have Everette Brown going first among DE’s as of right now. Some might be asking why and the answer is he has speed and production, Brown also has decent size. One reason I have him highly ranked is because FSU’s defense is not as dominant as it has been in the past, with fewer studs great players stand out with production and this is what is happening in Brown’s case. The Raiders need a DE who can get after the QB, they spent a truck load on the offense but the defense needs some love to, I would not be surprised to see Macklin selected here though.

When I see the 49ers I see coach Singletary there as the head coach in the future and with that comes stout defense. Playing smash mouth blast you style of defense the defensive line needs to be dominant and Cody can be a huge part of compiling a line to do just that, Cody may not be William Perry but when healthy Cody can control the LOS.

I have Percy Harvin to the Bears for a one reason, injury history. Harvin is explosive with the ball in his hands and while the Bears do have Hester I must encourage everyone to remember Hester is still learning offense. With Chicago’s style of grind it out football it makes so much sense in my opinion to add a player who can do a lot with fewer touches. Why fewer touches? The Bears need to keep feeding Forte to be successful.

Junior OT Eben Britton going to the Patriots, I have already heard a few Pat fans complaining “we have Matt Light and talented backups”. That may be but everyone is witness to the Patriots line becoming mortal. When Brady is down or out and the word on the street trading Cassel to get some value for him the line will once again have a young gun slinger if Brady gets hurt or retires in the next few years (he will be 32 next Aug). Im not saying he will retire at any point but with exception for a few QB’s the average retirement age for a good talented NFL QB is 36 (Injuries don’t help either).

Some have might wonder why James Laurinaitis would be selected by the Vikings the answer is depth and versatility. Laurinaitis can play OLB like he did early in his career when Hawk and Carpenter were still playing at OSU. JL would make an excellent SLB forming one heck of a LB corp.

I know I left a fan favorite in Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells out of the first round, I did so because big backs are not coveted the way they were in the past. A recent trend of only drafting home run hitting RB’s in the first round has occurred, AP would be the exception but his forty time kind of places him in with the home run hitters. Wells will not run a 4.3 and he has injury concerns. For some reason bigger backs fall, nothing against him because I could foresee Cleveland taking in him the first round moving back in or getting him early second.

Look for the next Mock at the end of December. Take care everyone.