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
|
| 76. |
RS Desmond Howard |
|
Detroit Lions |
|
Unrestricted |
|
One of the top kick returners in the game. Can go the distance despite his
lack of blazing speed. |
| 77. |
OG Todd Perry |
|
Chicago Bears |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Not special but pretty solid, provided his back is OK. |
| 78. |
LB James Darling |
|
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Good enough to start but not good enough to start for a team with a Pro
Bowler in the middle (Jeremiah Trotter) and three good outside ’backers (Carlos
Emmons, Barry Gardner and Mike Caldwell) who can fill more specific roles. |
| 79. |
RS-CB-WR Allen Rossum |
|
Green Bay Packers |
|
Restricted |
|
Speed and guts make this little guy a gamebreaker on returns. |
| 80. |
FB Robert Thomas |
|
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Restricted |
|
Developing player who was OK in his first year as a starter. |
| 81. |
LB Darrin Smith |
|
New Orleans Saints |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Showed last season that if a team can protect him from big blockers and
let him go to the ball, he can still be a productive, instinctive player. |
| 82. |
OLB Darren Hambrick |
|
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Restricted |
|
Fast and nasty. Was Cowboys’ top tackler in 2000. |
| 83. |
CB Fred Weary |
|
New Orleans Saints |
|
Restricted |
|
Was holding his own last season before he got hurt. |
| 84. |
DL Brandon Whiting |
|
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
Restricted |
|
Holds his own as a starter and is a really good swingman. |
| 85. |
LB Henri Crockett |
|
Atlanta Falcons |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Health and instincts could be concerns, but he has size and talent, played
all but one game last year and can play any LB position. |
| 86. |
DE N.D. Kalu |
|
Washington Redskins |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Has the quickness off the mark and closing burst to be a double-digit sack
man playing on passing downs. |
| 87. |
RB Michael Pittman |
|
Arizona Cardinals |
|
Restricted |
|
Finally stayed healthy for most of last season. Was a solid blue-collar
back for Arizona last season, when he led the team in rushing and receiving. |
| 88. |
RB Priest Holmes |
|
Baltimore Ravens |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Solid journeyman back. Best rushing games generally come vs. the weakest
teams. |
| 89. |
OG Kerry Jenkins |
|
New York Jets |
|
Restricted |
|
A decent starter who also can play tackle. |
| 90. |
WR Donald Hayes |
|
Carolina Panthers |
|
Restricted |
|
Great size and very good speed. Still very raw. |
| 91. |
CB Terrell Buckley |
|
Denver Broncos |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Feast-or-famine guy. Has a big play followed by a bad play.
Riverboat-gambler type who still thinks he is another Deion Sanders, but he can kill a
team when he is guessing wrong. |
| 92. |
RB Skip Hicks |
|
Washington Redskins |
|
Restricted |
|
Has the talent to start, but does he have the heart? |
| 93. |
PK Morten Andersen |
|
Atlanta Falcons |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Age has taken its toll, but he is still more than adequate. |
| 94. |
PK Joe Nedney |
|
Carolina Panthers |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Has a big leg and was reliable for the first time in his career last
season. |
| 95. |
PK Steve Christie |
|
Buffalo Bills |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Has slipped but has been around and kicked in very bad weather. |
| 96. |
PK John Carney |
|
San Diego Chargers |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Limited range but is still pretty reliable. |
| 97. |
OLB Cornell Brown |
|
Baltimore Ravens |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Solid vs. the run and can play over the tight end. |
| 98. |
WR Albert Connell |
|
Washington Redskins |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Unstable but talented. |
| 99. |
S Damien Robinson |
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Some scouts really like him. Others question his speed, open-field
tackling and angles to the ball. |
| 100. |
C Jeff Smith |
|
Jacksonville Jaguars |
|
Unrestricted |
|
By year’s end, Smith was looking as though he could be a starting
center in the NFL that you were not looking to replace. |
| 101. |
QB Trent Dilfer |
|
Baltimore Ravens |
|
Unrestricted |
|
Worst starting quarterback in a Super Bowl since David Woodley and the
worst winning pitcher in "the big game," but he got there and his team won.
Still has an upside if he can improve his accuracy. |
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