2000 free-agency coverage
Free-agent rankings by position
By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
As published in print Feb. 2, 2000
Quarterbacks|Running backs|Wide receivers|Tight ends
Centers|Offensive tackles|Offensive guards|Defensive linemen
Linebackers|Cornerbacks|Safeties|Placekickers|Punters
|
| Below are the highest-graded players who were slated to
become free agents on Feb. 11. Players who were re-signed by their own teams before the
official free-agent signing period was to begin were not included. List was compiled as of
Feb. 2. These ratings may differ slightly from Buchsbaum's top-100 free-agent rankings,
which were compiled nearly four weeks after these ratings.
Grade scale: |
5.0 — Perfect grade/franchise player
4.0 — Blue chip/Pro Bowl player
3.0 — Red chip/solid starter
2.0 — Green chip/marginal starter
1.0 — White chip/hasn’t done it or can’t |
| Quarterbacks |
| Rank |
Player |
1999 team |
Yr. |
FA Type |
Grade |
| 1. |
Jeff George |
Minnesota |
9 |
UFA |
3.1 |
| 2. |
Neil O’Donnell |
Tennessee |
10 |
UFA |
2.75 |
| 3. |
Jeff Blake |
Cincinnati |
8 |
UFA |
2.7 |
| 4. |
Jon Kitna |
Seattle |
3 |
RFA |
2.5 |
| 5. |
Gus Frerotte |
Detroit |
6 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 6. |
Tony Banks |
Baltimore |
4 |
UFA |
2.4 |
| 7. |
Jay Fiedler |
Jacksonville |
4 |
UFA |
2.2 |
| 8. |
Jim Miller |
Chicago |
5 |
UFA |
2.1 |
| 9. |
Billy Joe Hobert |
New Orleans |
7 |
UFA |
2.0 |
| 10. |
Scott Mitchell |
Baltimore |
10 |
UFA |
2.0 |
| 11. |
Eric Zeier |
Tampa Bay |
5 |
UFA |
2.0 |
| Running backs |
| Rank |
Player |
1999 team |
Yr. |
FA Type |
Grade |
| 1. |
Stephen Davis |
Washington |
4 |
UFA |
4.0 |
| 2. |
Corey Dillon |
Cincinnati |
3 |
RFA |
4.0 |
| 3. |
James Stewart |
Jacksonville |
5 |
UFA |
2.9 |
| 4. |
Leon Johnson |
N.Y. Jets |
3 |
RFA |
2.8 |
| 5. |
Stanley Pritchett |
Miami |
4 |
UFA |
2.7 |
| 6. |
Adrian Murrell |
Arizona |
7 |
UFA |
2.6 |
| 7. |
Errict Rhett |
Baltimore |
5 |
UFA |
2.6 |
| 8. |
Karim Abdul-Jabbar |
Cleveland |
4 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 9. |
Priest Holmes |
Baltimore |
3 |
RFA |
2.5 |
| 10. |
Leroy Hoard |
Minnesota |
10 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 11. |
Daimon Shelton |
Jacksonville |
3 |
RFA |
2.5 |
| 12. |
Tiki Barber |
N.Y. Giants |
3 |
RFA |
2.4 |
| Wide receivers |
| Rank |
Player |
1999 team |
Yr. |
FA Type |
Grade |
| 1. |
Joey Galloway |
Seattle |
5 |
UFA |
4.0 |
| 2. |
Tim Brown |
Oakland |
12 |
UFA |
3.9 |
| 3. |
Marcus Robinson |
Chicago |
3 |
RFA |
3.07 |
| 4. |
Curtis Conway |
Chicago |
7 |
UFA |
3.05 |
| 5. |
Albert Connell |
Washington |
3 |
RFA |
3.0 |
| 6. |
Bobby Engram |
Chicago |
4 |
UFA |
3.0 |
| 7. |
Qadry Ismail |
Baltimore |
7 |
UFA |
2.9 |
| 8. |
Derrick Mayes |
Seattle |
4 |
UFA |
2.9 |
| 9. |
Matthew Hatchette |
Minnesota |
3 |
RFA |
2.6 |
| 10. |
Shawn Jefferson |
New England |
9 |
UFA |
2.6 |
| 11. |
Kevin Lockett |
Kansas City |
3 |
RFA |
2.5 |
| 12. |
Derrick Mason |
Tennessee |
3 |
RFA |
2.5 |
| Tight ends |
| Rank |
Player |
1999 team |
Yr. |
FA Type |
Grade |
| 1. |
Ken Dilger |
Indianapolis |
5 |
UFA |
3.8 |
| 2. |
Shannon Sharpe |
Denver |
10 |
UFA |
3.5 |
| 3. |
Greg Clark |
San Francisco |
3 |
RFA |
3.0 |
| 4. |
Ernie Conwell |
St. Louis |
4 |
UFA |
3.0 |
| 5. |
Freddie Jones |
San Diego |
3 |
RFA |
3.0 |
| 6. |
Jay Riemersma |
Buffalo |
4 |
UFA |
3.0 |
| 7. |
Jackie Harris |
Tennessee |
10 |
UFA |
2.7 |
| 8. |
Carlester Crumpler |
Minnesota |
6 |
UFA |
2.6 |
| 9. |
O.J. Santiago |
Atlanta |
3 |
RFA |
2.6 |
| 10. |
John Allred |
Chicago |
3 |
RFA |
2.5 |
| 11. |
Luther Broughton |
Philadelphia |
3 |
RFA |
2.5 |
| 12. |
Damon Jones |
Jacksonville |
3 |
RFA |
2.4 |
| 13. |
Dave Moore |
Tampa Bay |
7 |
UFA |
2.4 |
| 14. |
Irv Smith |
Cleveland |
7 |
UFA |
2.4 |
| Centers |
| Rank |
Player |
1999 team |
Yr. |
FA Type |
Grade |
| 1. |
Frank Winters |
Green Bay |
13 |
UFA |
3.1 |
| 2. |
Tony Mayberry |
Tampa Bay |
10 |
UFA |
3.04 |
| 3. |
Jeff Christy |
Minnesota |
7 |
UFA |
3.0 |
| 4. |
Tim Ruddy |
Miami |
6 |
UFA |
2.8 |
| 5. |
Mike Gruttadauria |
St. Louis |
4 |
UFA |
2.7 |
| 6. |
Ryan Tucker |
St. Louis |
3 |
RFA |
2.7 |
| 7. |
Roman Fortin |
San Diego |
10 |
UFA |
2.6 |
| 8. |
Andy McCollum |
St. Louis |
6 |
UFA |
2.6 |
| 9. |
Mike Flanagan |
Green Bay |
4 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 10. |
Jay Leeuwenburg |
Cincinnati |
8 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 11. |
Cory Raymer |
Washington |
5 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 12. |
Robbie Tobeck |
Atlanta |
6 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 13. |
Calvin Collins |
Atlanta |
3 |
RFA |
2.4 |
| 14. |
Derek Engler |
N.Y. Giants |
3 |
RFA |
2.2 |
| Offensive tackles |
| Rank |
Player |
1999 team |
Yr. |
FA Type |
Grade |
| 1. |
Jon Runyan |
Tennessee |
4 |
UFA |
4.0 |
| 2. |
Richmond Webb |
Miami |
10 |
UFA |
3.3 |
| 3. |
Roman Oben |
N.Y. Giants |
4 |
UFA |
3.1 |
| 4. |
Paul Gruber |
Tampa Bay |
12 |
UFA |
3.0 |
| 5. |
Fred Miller |
St. Louis |
4 |
UFA |
2.9 |
| 6. |
Vaughn Parker |
San Diego |
6 |
UFA |
2.9 |
| 7. |
Adam Meadows |
Indianapolis |
3 |
RFA |
2.8 |
| 8. |
Andy Heck |
Washington |
11 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 9. |
Rod Jones |
Cincinnati |
4 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 10. |
Jason Odom |
Tampa Bay |
4 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 11. |
Glenn Parker |
Kansas City |
10 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 12. |
Lonnie Palelei |
Philadelphia |
6 |
UFA |
2.4 |
| 13. |
James Dexter |
Arizona |
4 |
UFA |
2.2 |
| Offensive guards |
| Rank |
Player |
1999 team |
Yr. |
FA Type |
Grade |
| 1. |
Ruben Brown |
Buffalo |
5 |
UFA |
3.7 |
| 2. |
Will Shields |
Kansas City |
7 |
UFA |
3.5 |
| 3. |
Frank Middleton |
Tampa Bay |
3 |
RFA |
3.0 |
| 4. |
Dan Neil |
Denver |
3 |
RFA |
3.0 |
| 5. |
Keith Sims |
Washington |
9 |
UFA |
3.0 |
| 6. |
Todd Perry |
Chicago |
7 |
UFA |
2.9 |
| 7. |
Ben Coleman |
Jacksonville |
7 |
UFA |
2.8 |
| 8. |
Chris Dishman |
Arizona |
3 |
RFA |
2.7 |
| 9. |
Tom Nutten |
St. Louis |
3 |
RFA |
2.6 |
| 10. |
Gene Williams |
Atlanta |
9 |
UFA |
2.6 |
| 11. |
Dusty Zeigler |
Buffalo |
4 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 12. |
Heath Irwin |
New England |
4 |
UFA |
2.5 |
| 13. |
Tom Ackerman |
New Orleans |
4 |
UFA |
2.4 |
| 14. |
Brad Badger |
Washington |
3 |
RFA |
2.4 |
| 15. |
Rich Tylski |
Jacksonville |
4 |
UFA |
2.4 |
Top of page |
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