Balzer: 2018 NFL Free Agent guide
Quarterback Drew Brees leads the list of free agents, but don't expect him to be available.
If the first two months of the 2018 NFL offseason are any indication, expect the action to be dizzying when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday.
That's when free agents can begin signing contracts and trades that have been consummated become official. A number of trades have been agreed to, with the Los Angeles Rams involved in four as they work to reshape their defense in the image of coordinator Wade Phillips.
There is no other explanation for the decision to jettison linebackers Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree, while acquiring cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. The Rams also placed a franchise tag on safety Lamarcus Joyner. Ogletree had signed a lucrative contract extension last October.
Friday saw more change in Seattle when cornerback Richard Sherman was released with a failed physical designation and cornerback Jeremy Lane was also released. Lane was traded to Houston during the 2017 season only to head back to the Seahawks after failing his physical.
The Cleveland Browns reportedly acquired quarterback Tyrod Taylor for a third-round draft pick after the team acquired wide receiver Jarvis Landry from Miami earlier in the day. The Browns also sent quarterback DeShone Kizer to Green Bay for cornerback Damarious Randall.
Meanwhile, teams and agents can begin negotiating agreements Monday although no contracts can be signed until after 4 p.m. Wednesday. But please, everyone, cease referring it to as legal tampering. It's not tampering if it's allowed.
Following is The Sports Xchange's top 75 free agents. Just don't expect Saints quarterback Drew Brees actually to be available. Below the elite 75 are our free-agent rankings by position with players in the top 75 in bold.
The lists will be updated as developments occur.
*Indicates player released. FFA are franchise players, TFA transition player and RFA restricted free agents.
1. QB Drew Brees, New Orleans
2. DE DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas (FFA)
3. CB Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams
4. RB Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh (FFA)
5. DE Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit (FFA)
6. T Nate Solder, New England
7. G Andrew Norwell, Carolina
8. QB Kirk Cousins, Washington
9. DT Sheldon Richardson, Seattle
10. CB Kyle Fuller, Chicago (TFA)
11. DT Dontari Poe, Atlanta
12. WR Sammy Watkins, L.A. Rams
13. WR Allen Robinson, Jacksonville
14. DT *Muhammad Wilkerson, N.Y. Jets
15. QB Case Keenum, Minnesota
16. WR Jarvis Landry, Miami (FFA)
17. CB Rashaan Melvin, Indianapolis
18. S Lamarcus Joyner, L.A. Rams (FFA)
19. CB Brent Grimes, Tampa Bay
20. CB Malcolm Butler, New England
21. C Weston Richburg, N.Y. Giants
22. QB Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota
23. RB *Doug Martin, Tampa Bay
24. T/G Justin Pugh, N.Y. Giants
25. QB AJ McCarron, Cincinnati
26. RB Carlos Hyde, San Francisco
27. CB Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia
28. CB Aaron Colvin, Jacksonville
29. G Alex Boone, Arziona
30. LB Avery Williamson, Tennessee
31. LB Nigel Bradham, Philadelphia
32. DT Star Lotulelei, Carolina
33. WR Terrelle Pryor Sr., Washington
34. TE Jimmy Graham, Seattle
35. TE Trey Burton, Philadelphia
36. S Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans
37. G Jack Mewhort, Indianapolis
38. DE Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta
39. T Chris Hubbard, Pittsburgh
40. WR Paul Richardson, Seattle
41. CB Bashaud Breeland, Washington
42. C Ryan Jensen, Baltimore
43. RB Dion Lewis, New England
44. C/G Zach Fulton, Kansas City
45. WR Danny Amendola, New England
46. S Tre Boston, L.A. Chargers
47. LB Zach Brown, Washington
48. TE Ed Dickson, Carolina
49. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati
50. *RB DeMarco Murray, Tennessee
51. WR Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis
52. LB NaVorro Bowman, Oakland
53. G Nick Easton, Minnesota (RFA)
54. WR Marqise Lee, Jacksonville
55. RB Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland
56. DE Julius Peppers, Carolina
57. CB Prince Amukamara, Chicago
58. LB Demario Davis, N.Y. Jets
59. LB Todd Davis, Denver
60. DT Bennie Logan, Kansas City
61. CB E.J. Gaines, Buffalo
62. G Josh Sitton, Chicago
63. WR Tyrell Williams, L.A. Chargers (RFA)
64. TE Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay (RFA)
65. G Josh Kline, Tennessee
66. WR Mike Wallace, Baltimore
67. S Morgan Burnett, Green Bay
68. DL David Irving, Dallas (RFA)
69. RB Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota
70. C John Sullivan, L.A. Rams
71. G Quinton Spain, Tennessee (RFA)
72. WR Albert Wilson, Kansas City
73. RB Frank Gore, Indianapolis
74. C Matt Paradis, Denver (RFA)
75. CB *Richard Sherman, Seattle
QUARTERBACKS
Drew Brees, New Orleans
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota
Case Keenum, Minnesota
Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota
AJ McCarron, Cincinnati
Josh McCown, N.Y. Jets
Sam Bradford, Minnesota
WIDE RECEIVERS
Sammy Watkins, L.A. Rams
Allen Robinson, Jacksonville
Jarvis Landry, Miami (FFA)
Terrelle Pryor Sr., Washington
Paul Richardson, Seattle
Danny Amendola, New England
Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis
Marqise Lee, Jacksonville
Tyrell Williams, L.A. Chargers (RFA)
Mike Wallace, Baltimore
Albert Wilson, Kansas City
Brice Butler, Dallas
Willie Snead IV, New Orleans (RFA)
John Brown, Arizona
Jaron Brown, Arizona
Kendall Wright, Chicago
Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta
Jordan Matthews, Buffalo
Eric Decker, Tennessee
Matthew Slater (ST), New England
RUNNING BACKS
Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh (FFA)
*Doug Martin, Tampa Bay
Carlos Hyde, San Francisco
Dion Lewis, New England
*DeMarco Murray, Tennessee
Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland
Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota
Frank Gore, Indianapolis
LeGarrette Blount, Philadelphia
Alfred Morris, Dallas
Rex Burkhead, New England
Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati
*Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
Darren Sproles, Philadelphia
Eddie Lacy, Seattle
TIGHT ENDS
Jimmy Graham, Seattle
Trey Burton, Philadelphia
Ed Dickson, Carolina
Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay (RFA)
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, N.Y. Jets
Luke Willson, Seattle
Benjamin Watson, Baltimore
*Martellus Bennett, New England
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Nate Solder (T), New England
Andrew Norwell (G), Carolina
Weston Richburg (C), N.Y. Giants
Justin Pugh (T/G), N.Y. Giants
Alex Boone (G), Arizona
Jack Mewhort (G), Indianapolis
Chris Hubbard (T), Pittsburgh
Ryan Jensen (C), Baltimore
Zach Fulton (C/G), Kansas City
Nick Easton (G), Minnesota (RFA)
Josh Sitton (G), Chicago
Josh Kline (G), Tennessee
John Sullivan (C), L.A. Rams
Quinton Spain (G), Tennessee (RFA)
Matt Paradis (C), Denver (RFA)
Brandon Fusco (G), San Francisco
Russell Bodine (C), Cincinnati
Joe Berger (G/C), Minnesota
Senio Kelemete (G), New Orleans
Brett Jones (C), N.Y. Giants
Luke Joeckel (G/T), Seattle
Kenny Wiggins (G), L.A. Chargers
Spencer Long (C), Washington
Shawn Lauvao, Washington
Jermon Bushrod (G/T), Miami
DEFENSIVE ENDS
DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas (FFA)
Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit (FFA)
Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta
Julius Peppers, Carolina
DaQuan Jones, Tennessee
Dion Jordan, Seattle (RFA)
William Hayes, Miami
Alex Okafor, New Orleans
*Derrick Shelby, Atlanta
*Charles Johnson, Carolina
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Sheldon Richardson, Seattle
Dontari Poe, Atlanta
*Muhammad Wilkerson, N.Y. Jets
Star Lotulelie, Carolina
Bennie Logan, Kansas City
David Irving (DE), Dallas (RFA)
Beau Allen, Philadelphia
Kyle Williams, Buffalo
Frostee Rucker, Arizona
Haloti Ngata, Detroit
Clinton McDonald, Tampa Bay
Ahtyba Rubin, Atlanta
LINEBACKERS
Avery Williamson, Tennessee
Nigel Bradham, Philadelphia
Zach Brown, Washington
NaVorro Bowman, Oakland
Demario Davis, N.Y. Jets
Todd Davis, Denver
Preston Brown, Buffalo
Anthony Hitchens, Dallas
Connor Barwin, L.A. Rams
Derrick Johnson, Kansas City
*Brian Cushing, Houston
*Pernell McPhee, Chicago
Tahir Whitehead, Detroit
Junior Galette, Washington
Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville
Trent Murphy, Washington
CORNERBACKS
Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams
Kyle Fuller, Chicago (TFA)
Rashaan Melvin, Indianapolis
Brent Grimes, Tampa Bay
Malcolm Butler, New England
Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia
Aaron Colvin, Jacksonville
Bashaud Breeland, Washington
Prince Amukamara, Chicago
E.J. Gaines, Buffalo
*Richard Sherman, Seattle
Dontae Johnson, San Francisco
Nevin Lawson, Detroit
Jeremy Lane, Seattle
TJ Carrie, Oakland
Johnson Bademosi, New England
Morris Claiborne, N.Y. Jets
DeShawn Shead, Seattle
Nickell Robey-Coleman, L.A. Rams
Justin Bethel, Arizona
SAFETY
Lamarcus Joyner, L.A. Rams (FFA)
Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans
Tre Boston, L.A. Chargers
Morgan Burnett, Green Bay
*Quintin Demps, Chicago
Eric Reid, San Francisco
Tyvon Branch, Arizona
*Kurt Coleman, Carolina
KICKER/PUNTER
Chris Boswell (K), Pittsburgh (RFA)
Dustin Hopkins (K), Washington
Chandler Catanzaro (K), N.Y. Jets
Pat O'Donnell (P), Chicago
Sebastian Janikowski (K), Oakland
Kevin Huber (P), Cincinnati
Dustin Colquitt (P), Kansas City
Cairo Santos (K), Chicago
Blair Walsh (K), Seattle
Mike Nugent(K), Chicago
*Nick Folk (K), Tampa Bay
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