Joel Buchsbaum grades the free agents ... by position
By JOEL BUCHSBAUM, Contributing editor
Updated Aug. 27, 1999
|
Below are the highest-graded players who officially
became free agents on Feb. 12. Players who were re-signed by their own teams before the
official free-agent signing period began were not included.
Grade scale:
5.0 — Franchise player/super blue chip/best in the business
4.0 — Pro Bowl-caliber player/blue chip
3.0 — Solid starter/red chip
2.5 — Average starter/good backup
2.0 — Below-average starter/adequate backup
1.5 — Marginal player
1.0 — Must earn keep on special teams/not good enough at this position |
| QUARTERBACKS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Jeff George |
Oakland |
Minnesota |
2.99 |
|
| 2. |
Rich Gannon |
Kansas City |
Oakland |
2.99 |
|
| 3. |
Trent Green |
Washington |
St. Louis |
2.60 |
|
| 4. |
Warren Moon |
Seattle |
Kansas City |
2.58 |
|
| 5. |
Gus Frerotte |
Washington |
Detroit |
2.57 |
|
| 6. |
John Friesz |
Seattle |
New England |
2.49 |
|
| 7. |
Tony Banks |
St. Louis |
Baltimore |
2.01 |
Restricted |
| 8. |
Kerry Collins |
New Orleans |
N.Y. Giants |
2.01 |
|
| FULLBACKS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
William Henderson |
Green Bay |
Green Bay |
2.65 |
|
| 2. |
Tim Lester |
Pittsburgh |
Jacksonville |
2.55 |
|
| 3. |
Charles Evans |
Minnesota |
Baltimore |
2.55 |
|
| 4. |
Aaron Craver |
New Orleans |
New Orleans |
2.02 |
|
| RUNNING BACKS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Terry Kirby |
San Francisco |
Cleveland |
2.55 |
|
| 2. |
Darick Holmes |
Green Bay |
Indianapolis |
2.51 |
|
| 3. |
Travis Jervey |
Green Bay |
San Francisco |
2.51 |
Special-team star |
| 4. |
Errict Rhett |
Baltimore |
Baltimore |
2.45 |
|
| 5. |
Ray Zellars |
Cincinnati |
Oakland |
2.25 |
|
| TIGHT ENDS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Christian Fauria |
Seattle |
Seattle |
2.95 |
|
| 2. |
Eric Green |
Baltimore |
N.Y. Jets |
2.80 |
|
| 3. |
Kyle Brady |
N.Y. Jets |
Jacksonville |
2.70 |
Transition |
| 4. |
David Sloan |
Detroit |
Detroit |
2.70 |
|
| 5. |
Jamie Asher |
Washington |
Philadelphia |
2.61 |
Receiver |
| 6. |
Pete Mitchell |
Jacksonville |
N.Y. Giants |
2.55 |
|
| 7. |
Carlester Crumpler |
Seattle |
Minnesota |
2.45 |
|
WIDE RECEIVERS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Antonio Freeman |
Green Bay |
Green Bay |
4.15 |
Franchise |
| 2. |
Carl Pickens |
Cincinnati |
|
3.99 |
Franchise |
| 3. |
Terrell Owens |
San Francisco |
San Francisco |
3.91 |
Franchise, restricted |
| 4. |
Rob Moore |
Arizona |
|
3.65 |
Franchise |
| 5. |
Raghib Ismail |
Carolina |
Dallas |
3.11 |
Kick returner |
| 6. |
Charles Johnson |
Pittsburgh |
Philadelphia |
3.11 |
|
| 7. |
J.J. Stokes |
San Francisco |
San Francisco |
3.11 |
|
| 8. |
Bobby Engram |
Chicago |
Chicago |
3.01 |
Restricted |
| 9. |
Leslie Shepherd |
Washington |
Cleveland |
2.72 |
|
| 10. |
Torrance Small |
Indianapolis |
Philadelphia |
2.71 |
|
| 11. |
Sean Dawkins |
New Orleans |
Seattle |
2.65 |
|
| 12. |
Amani Toomer |
N.Y. Giants |
N.Y. Giants |
2.55 |
Kick returner |
| 13. |
Ernie Mills |
Dallas |
Dallas |
2.51 |
Coming off injury |
| 14. |
Terry Mickens |
Oakland |
Oakland |
2.50 |
|
| 15. |
Eric Metcalf |
Arizona |
Baltimore |
2.25 |
Kick returner |
| CENTERS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Mark Stepnoski |
Tennessee |
Dallas |
3.15 |
|
| 2. |
Wally Williams |
Baltimore |
New Orleans |
3.12 |
Also plays guard |
| 3. |
Dave Wohlabaugh |
New England |
Cleveland |
2.99 |
|
| 4. |
Darrick Brilz |
Cincinnati |
|
2.45 |
|
| 5. |
Andy McCollum |
New Orleans |
St. Louis |
2.45 |
|
| 6. |
Cory Raymer |
Washington |
Washington |
2.45 |
|
| 7. |
Lance Scott |
N.Y. Giants |
N.Y. Giants |
2.44 |
Long-snapper |
| OFFENSIVE GUARDS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Bruce Matthews |
Tennessee |
Tennessee |
3.49 |
|
| 2. |
Adam Timmerman |
Green Bay |
St. Louis |
2.99 |
|
| 3. |
Chris Villarrial |
Chicago |
Chicago |
2.75 |
Restricted |
| 4. |
Matt O'Dwyer |
N.Y. Jets |
Cincinnati |
2.65 |
|
| 5. |
Nate Newton |
Dallas |
Carolina |
2.65 |
Faded late |
| 6. |
Ian Beckles |
Philadelphia |
N.Y. Jets |
2.64 |
Durability |
| 7. |
Brian DeMarco |
Jacksonville |
Cincinnati |
2.59 |
|
| 8. |
Zach Wiegert |
St. Louis |
Jacksonville |
2.58 |
|
| 9. |
Greg Bishop |
N.Y. Giants |
Atlanta |
2.35 |
|
| OFFENSIVE TACKLES |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Richmond Webb |
Miami |
|
3.45 |
Franchise |
| 2. |
Lomas Brown |
Arizona |
Cleveland |
3.15 |
Age factor (35) |
| 3. |
Jon Runyan |
Tennessee |
Tennessee |
3.15 |
Restricted |
| 4. |
Orlando Brown |
Baltimore |
Cleveland |
3.09 |
Restricted |
| 5. |
Roman Oben |
N.Y. Giants |
N.Y. Giants |
3.01 |
Restricted |
| 6. |
Blake Brockermeyer |
Carolina |
Chicago |
2.85 |
|
| 7. |
Wayne Gandy |
St. Louis |
Pittsburgh |
2.65 |
'98 a down year |
| 8. |
Harry Swayne |
Denver |
Baltimore |
2.55 |
|
| 9. |
Jamie Brown |
San Francisco |
Washington |
2.12 |
|
| DEFENSIVE ENDS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Chidi Ahanotu |
Tampa Bay |
Tampa Bay |
3.05 |
Franchise |
| 2. |
Chad Bratzke |
N.Y. Giants |
Indianapolis |
3.00 |
|
| 3. |
Derrick Alexander |
Minnesota |
Cleveland |
2.85 |
|
| 4. |
Marco Coleman |
San Diego |
Washington |
2.85 |
|
| 5. |
Dan Footman |
Indianapolis |
|
2.75 |
Injured in '98 |
| 6. |
Rich Owens |
Washington |
Miami |
2.65 |
Injured in '98 |
| 7. |
Anthony Cook |
Tennessee |
Washington |
2.55 |
'98 a down year |
| 8. |
Mike Jones |
St. Louis |
Tennessee |
2.54 |
|
| 9. |
Shawn King |
Carolina |
Indianapolis |
— |
Injured in '98 |
| DEFENSIVE/NOSE TACKLES |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Santana Dotson |
Green Bay |
Green Bay |
3.01 |
|
| 2. |
Henry Thomas |
New England |
New England |
2.91 |
|
| 3. |
James Jones |
Baltimore |
Detroit |
2.82 |
|
| 4. |
Shawn Lee |
Chicago |
|
2.75 |
|
| 5. |
Gary Walker |
Tennessee |
Jacksonville |
2.75 |
|
| 6. |
Jerry Ball |
Minnesota |
Cleveland |
2.68 |
|
| 7. |
Oliver Gibson |
Pittsburgh |
Cincinnati |
2.62 |
|
| 8. |
Kelvin Pritchett |
Jacksonville |
Detroit |
2.62 |
|
| 9. |
John Jurkovic |
Jacksonville |
Cleveland |
2.55 |
|
| 10. |
Dan Saleaumua |
Seattle |
|
2.52 |
Cut |
| 11. |
Mike Fox |
Carolina |
|
2.45 |
Cut |
| 12. |
Rhett Hall |
Philadelphia |
|
— |
3.0 before injuries |
| MIDDLE/INSIDE LINEBACKERS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Ed McDaniel |
Minnesota |
Minnesota |
3.01 |
Major knee injury |
| 2. |
Zach Thomas |
Miami |
Miami |
3.00 |
|
| 3. |
Dean Wells |
Seattle |
Carolina |
2.69 |
|
| 4. |
Bryan Schwartz |
Jacksonville |
Jacksonville |
2.68 |
|
| 5. |
Kurt Gouveia |
San Diego |
|
2.65 |
|
| 6. |
Corey Widmer |
N.Y. Giants |
N.Y. Giants |
2.62 |
|
| 7. |
Dwayne Gordon |
N.Y. Jets |
N.Y. Jets |
2.55 |
Better as role player |
| 8. |
Marvcus Patton |
Washington |
Kansas City |
2.55 |
|
| 9. |
Jeff Brady |
Carolina |
Indianapolis |
2.45 |
|
| 10. |
Pepper Johnson |
N.Y. Jets |
|
2.44 |
Better as role player |
| OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Jamir Miller |
Arizona |
Cleveland |
3.45 |
|
| 2. |
Eddie Robinson |
Tennessee |
Tennessee |
2.96 |
Best in Jeff Fisher's D |
| 3. |
Robert Jones |
Miami |
Miami |
2.95 |
Only for Jimmy Johnson |
| 4. |
George Koonce |
Green Bay |
Green Bay |
2.85 |
|
| 5. |
Todd Collins |
New England |
St. Louis |
2.85 |
|
| 6. |
Sean Harris |
Chicago |
Chicago |
2.75 |
|
| 7. |
Anthony Davis |
Kansas City |
Green Bay |
2.71 |
|
| 8. |
Wayne Simmons |
Buffalo |
|
2.58 |
Cut |
| 9. |
Corey Miller |
N.Y. Giants |
Minnesota |
2.55 |
'98 injury |
| 10. |
Rob Fredrickson |
Detroit |
Arizona |
2.38 |
|
| CORNERBACKS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Dale Carter |
Kansas City |
Denver |
3.75 |
|
| 2. |
Ashley Ambrose |
Cincinnati |
New Orleans |
2.71 |
|
| 3. |
Ryan McNeil |
St. Louis |
Cleveland |
2.68 |
|
| 4. |
Marquez Pope |
San Francisco |
Cleveland |
2.68 |
|
| 5. |
Corey Fuller |
Minnesota |
Cleveland |
2.61 |
|
| 6. |
Ken Irvin |
Buffalo |
Buffalo |
2.60 |
|
| 7. |
Darrien Gordon |
Denver |
Oakland |
2.58 |
Returns kicks |
| 8. |
Ronnie Bradford |
Atlanta |
Atlanta |
2.58 |
|
| 9. |
Carlton Gray |
N.Y. Giants |
Kansas City |
2.50 |
|
| 10. |
Anthony Parker |
Tampa Bay |
|
2.40 |
Cut |
| 11. |
Marlon Kerner |
Buffalo |
|
— |
2.95 before injury |
| SAFETIES |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Carnell Lake |
Pittsburgh |
Jacksonville |
3.55 |
2.71 as CB |
| 2. |
Orlando Thomas |
Minnesota |
Minnesota |
2.75 |
|
| 3. |
Chris Hudson |
Jacksonville |
Chicago |
2.70 |
|
| 4. |
Darren Perry |
Pittsburgh |
San Diego |
2.59 |
|
| 5. |
Sam Shade |
Cincinnati |
Washington |
2.58 |
|
| 6. |
Stanley Richard |
Washington |
|
2.55 |
|
| 7. |
William White |
Atlanta |
|
2.55 |
|
| 8. |
Kwamie Lassiter |
Arizona |
Arizona |
2.55 |
|
| 9. |
Lethon Flowers |
Pittsburgh |
Pittsburgh |
2.55 |
|
| 10. |
Charles Mincy |
Tampa Bay |
Oakland |
2.50 |
|
| 11. |
Greg Jackson |
San Diego |
San Diego |
2.50 |
|
| 12. |
Devin Bush |
Atlanta |
St. Louis |
2.49 |
|
| 13. |
Marty Carter |
Chicago |
Atlanta |
2.48 |
|
| 14. |
Mike Zordich |
Philadelphia |
|
2.45 |
|
| 15. |
Tim Hauck |
Indianapolis |
Philadelphia |
2.35 |
|
| RETURN SPECIALISTS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
David Palmer |
Minnesota |
Minnesota |
3.15 |
|
| 2. |
Darrien Gordon |
Denver |
Oakland |
3.15 |
Also plays CB |
| 3. |
Roell Preston |
Green Bay |
|
3.02 |
Restricted |
| 4. |
Eric Metcalf |
Arizona |
Baltimore |
2.65 |
Receiver |
| 5. |
Steve Broussard |
Seattle |
Baltimore |
2.61 |
|
| PLACEKICKERS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Norm Johnson |
Pittsburgh |
Philadelphia |
3.00 |
|
| 2. |
Adam Vinatieri |
New England |
New England |
3.00 |
Restricted |
| 3. |
Todd Peterson |
Seattle |
Seattle |
2.55 |
|
| 4. |
Michael Husted |
Tampa Bay |
Oakland |
2.45 |
|
| PUNTERS |
| RK. |
PLAYER |
'98 TEAM |
'99 TEAM |
GRADE |
NOTES |
| 1. |
Chris Gardocki |
Indianapolis |
Cleveland |
3.05 |
|
| 2. |
Tom Tupa |
New England |
N.Y. Jets |
2.75 |
QB |
| 3. |
Sean Landeta |
Green Bay |
Philadelphia |
2.65 |
|
| 4. |
Tommy Barnhardt |
Tampa Bay |
New Orleans |
2.58 |
|
| 5. |
Tommy Hutton |
Philadelphia |
|
2.45 |
|
|
| Back to more free-agency
coverage |
|
 |
The Archives
1999 - 2000 Season |
| Online writers — features and
columns by our PFW staff, columnists, AFC reporters, NFC reporters and contributing
writers |
| College football — articles,
college notepad, key college game previews, PFW's college top 10 |
| Fantasy football — articles,
injury reports, weekly fantasy tips, weekly matchups, The Fantasy Doctor, mock drafts,
draft boards, "In our opinion" daily fantasy columns, player profiles |
| Free-agency |
| General features — Internet
features, features from our print edition, special reports |
| Handicapper's Corner —
staff selections, games of the week, PFW Players of the Week, NFL standings, weekly
handicapping columns, predictions |
| "A closer look" —
in-depth analysis of general football topics |
| "In our opinion" daily columns
— opinions on general football topics |
| "PFW spins" —
short-takes on current events |
| Joel Buchsbaum — college
player evaluations, NFL player analysis, NFL draft coverage, NFL notepad, NFList, Q and
A's, college game previews and other NFL articles by PFW's contributing editor |
| NFL Draft — player evaluations,
printouts, feature stories, commentaries, draft recaps |
| Ron Pollack — articles and
commentary by PFW's editor-in-chief |
| Season in review —
the 1999-2000 NFL season |
| XFL — a new football league begins |
|
