2001 free-agency coverage
PFW ranks the best players expected to hit the open market
By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
Updated April 4, 2000
1-25 | 26-50 | 51-75
| 76-101
|
| 1. |
RB Corey Dillon |
|
Cincinnati Bengals |
|
Designated as Bengals' transition player Feb. 12. |
|
A big, powerful runner who was all the offense the Bengals had last year.
Has good but not great speed and is so powerful that he can be his own blocker and do a
lot on his own. Is also very good at picking the right hole. |
| 2. |
WR Eric Moulds |
|
Buffalo Bills |
|
Re-signed with Bills Feb. 16. |
|
Came out of the same draft as Keyshawn Johnson, who was the first pick.
After a couple of rough years, Moulds has emerged as a premier big receiver with big-play
potential. |
| 3. |
CB Samari Rolle |
|
Tennessee Titans |
|
Restricted |
|
He is one of the top cornerbacks right now, and he can still get a lot
better. |
| 4. |
DE Marcellus Wiley |
|
Buffalo Bills |
|
Unrestricted |
|
His age and upside make him very appealing. Could have been in the Pro
Bowl for the job he did replacing Bruce Smith. |
| 5. |
QB Brian Griese |
|
Denver Broncos |
|
Restricted |
|
After the way he played last season, there is no way the Broncos will let
him go. |
| 6. |
DE Jason Taylor |
|
Miami Dolphins |
|
Designated as Dolphins' franchise player Feb. 22. |
|
Young pass rushers are always at a premium. Last year Taylor had 14½
sacks and improved against the run. |
| 7. |
CB Ray Buchanan |
|
Atlanta Falcons |
|
Re-signed with Falcons Feb. 21. |
|
Age is a concern, but many scouts rated him as one of the top four
cornerbacks in the game last year. |
| 8. |
RB Jerome Bettis |
|
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
Unrestricted |
|
There is still enough tread on his tires. This bus has four-wheel drive
and great power. |
| 9. |
CB Aeneas Williams |
|
Arizona Cardinals |
|
Designated as Cardinals' franchise player Feb. 22. |
|
Has lost a step but is a pro’s pro. A good leader and a fine player. |
| 10. |
DE Kenny Holmes |
|
Tennessee Titans |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Late developer who owes much of his success to Titans DL coach Jim
Washburn. When Washburn came to Tennessee in 1999, Holmes was viewed as a first-round
bust. |
| 11. |
S Darren Sharper |
|
Green Bay Packers |
|
Re-signed with Packers Feb. 22. |
|
Developed into a Pro Bowl player with great size and ability in the
Packers’ new defensive scheme. Unless money is everything to him, Sharper should stay
in Green Bay because he must be in the right defense to be at his best. |
| 12. |
MLB Jeremiah Trotter |
|
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
Restricted |
|
A big, fast, physical middle linebacker who can be a real force against
the run. |
| 13. |
OLB Jamie Sharper |
|
Baltimore Ravens |
|
Unrestricted |
|
After a couple of disappointing years, Sharper has developed into a very
good all-around ’backer. He is a more complete player than teammate Peter Boulware. |
| 14. |
RB Tiki Barber |
|
New York Giants |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Developed into a poor man’s Marshall Faulk in 2000. |
| 15. |
OT Jason Fabini |
|
New York Jets |
|
Restricted |
|
Showed he could play left tackle last season. Is also a very good right
tackle. |
| 16. |
DE Simeon Rice |
|
Arizona Cardinals |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Great upside as a pass rusher, but there are so many side issues with him
in regard to contracts, playing the run and staying within the confines of the defense.
Many regard him as a selfish player who just wants sacks. |
| 17. |
OLB Dexter Coakley |
|
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Needs to be in a scheme in which he is protected and not asked to handle a
tight end. |
| 18. |
C Matt Birk |
|
Minnesota Vikings |
|
Restricted |
|
Supersmart young center who made the Pro Bowl in his first year as a
starter. |
| 19. |
DE Kevin Carter |
|
St. Louis Rams |
|
Designated as Rams' franchise player Feb. 21. |
|
Until last season, Carter improved continuously and always gave great
effort. Last season he seemed to sulk and at times dogged it and tried not to get hurt.
However, he is still young, and two years ago, he was the best defensive end in football. |
| 20. |
QB Brad Johnson |
|
Washington Redskins |
|
Unrestricted |
|
A good enough quarterback to win with. Never fully regained his arm
strength since the injury in Minnesota and has not been very durable. |
| 21. |
OLB Dwayne Rudd |
|
Minnesota Vikings |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Ability is not the question — durability is. Some scouts also
don’t like the fact that Rudd is not a monster hitter. |
| 22. |
S Mike Minter |
|
Carolina Panthers |
|
Unrestricted |
|
By the end of last season, he was playing at a near-Pro Bowl level.
However, because of Minter’s lack of size, scouts are concerned about his ability to
hold up over the long haul. |
| 23. |
OT Richmond Webb |
|
Miami Dolphins |
|
Unrestricted |
|
He is a good but not great left tackle who can protect the quarterback.
Dolphins may not realize what he has meant to them until he is gone. |
| 24. |
CB Jason Sehorn |
|
New York Giants |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Sehorn is not the player he was a few years ago before his knee injury,
but he is a big cornerback with very good hands and good ball skills. |
| 25. |
WR-RS Derrick Mason |
|
Tennessee Titans |
|
Unrestricted |
|
A clutch, clutch player who can contribute in many ways. Great utility
man. |
Top of page
On to 26-50 |
|
 |
The Archives
2000 - 2001 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 |
| Free-agency |
| General features — Internet
features, features from our print edition, Hall of Fame features, team reports, training
camp 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, 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 2000-2001 NFL season |
| XFL — the inaugural year |
|
