| The crop of free agents thrust onto the open
market at midnight last night lacks the luster of previous years. That’s because this
year there is no premier difference-maker, headliner or must-have among those available
for address changes. Last season, it didn’t take long for the Baltimore Ravens to
throw a five-year, $25 million deal at QB Elvis Grbac. The Buccaneers followed suit by
inking QB Brad Johnson. DE Kenny Holmes ended up in New York; RB Priest Holmes earned big
money from Kansas City. This season, the Houston Texans figured to be major players when
the clock struck March 1, but cap situations figure to limit the number of teams willing
to get heavily involved in free spending.
What follows is a list of my top 10 free agents and a list of possible suitors looking
to fill needs via free agency.
1. Olin Kreutz, C, Chicago Bears
Possible suitors: Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers
The Bears have been open about the fact that they cannot break the bank to keep Kreutz
around. No such message has been heard from Houston’s camp, where GM Charley Casserly
and head coach Dom Capers’ offensive line could produce three All-Pro-caliber
performers in its inaugural run. Tony Boselli and Ryan Young are stellar tackles; adding
Kreutz grants the Texans’ line elite status.
2. Victor Riley, ORT, Kansas City Chiefs
Possible suitors: Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver
Broncos, San Diego Chargers
Riley’s case is unique. Flozell Adams (Dallas), Walter Jones (Seattle) and Tarik
Glenn (Indianapolis) were all deemed franchise players by their respective teams,
weakening, if not entirely depleting, the market for offensive tackles. Only Arizona
Cardinals behemoth OT Anthony Clement and St. Louis Rams reserve OT Rod Jones got notice
in PFW’s top 100 free agents. Riley, who has played on the right side, could get a
chance to be a team’s top tackle and get the money that comes with it by default.
Opinions vary on Riley, a four-year veteran, from potential Pro Bowler to underachiever.
The Browns, who axed Roman Oben Monday, seem to be a solid fit.
3. Sam Cowart, LB, Buffalo Bills
Possible suitors: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, New York Giants, Houston Texans,
Atlanta Falcons
Reports out of Buffalo indicate that Cowart, despite missing all of last season with an
Achilles injury, will demand a signing bonus in the neighborhood of $10 million. That
eliminates teams like Jacksonville and Baltimore, who have the need but lack the cash.
Houston, with its 3-4 defense and cap room, makes sense. The Giants need a replacement for
Jessie Armstead, and the cap-strapped Jets could find a way to make Cowart work and keep
him in New York with Marvin Jones and James Farrior on the market. Atlanta, with talent
like Keith Brooking, Chris Draft and Mark Simoneau at linebacker, could use a player like
Cowart if new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips decides to go to a 4-3 look. Cap
concerns — the Falcons are only $800,000 under the cap at this writing — and the
likelihood that owner Arthur Blank wants to spend his money on offensive players to
surround Michael Vick could nix such a deal.
4. Joe Johnson, DE, New Orleans Saints
Possible suitors: Multiple teams, including New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals,
Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins
Johnson turns 30 at the open of training camp, and teams may opt for a speed guy like
Leonard Little, who happens to be two years younger and recorded 14.5 sacks as a
third-down specialist but has never been an every-down end because of his lack of size and
inability to play the run. Johnson had 12 sacks in 2000 and nine last season. He missed
all of 1999 but played all 16 games the two years prior. If age is the bottom line for his
next team, Johnson may have a hard time creating a market for himself, though defensive
ends usually hold their value. He still has ability and skill level that can change a
game.
5. La’Roi Glover, DT, New Orleans Saints
Grady Jackson, DT, Oakland Raiders
Possible suitors: Multiple teams, including Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders,
Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots
The primary concern for teams interested in Glover is a dramatic drop in production
last season. With Jackson, it is weight and motivation. With either player, you are
getting a quality, if not premier, body to put in the middle. Jackson is more of a
run-stopping space-eater but can get to the quarterback because he is quick. Glover, 27,
is an impact player on the inside because he gets in the backfield and disrupts the rhythm
of the offense. Last season, when DT Norman Hand missed action with New Orleans, Glover
was less effective. A team like Dallas, which could draft a player such as Tennessee DT
Albert Haynesworth (6-6, 310) sixth overall to put alongside Glover and has money to
spend, might make the most sense. The Colts desperately need a player of this caliber but
still don’t have the cap flexibility to make a big contract work. Oakland would like
Jackson back, and New Orleans would welcome Glover at the right price. New England, which
needs to get younger, isn’t likely to break the bank on a big name.
7. Jeremy Newberry, C, San Francisco 49ers
Possible suitors: Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, San Diego
Chargers
Newberry is young and aggressive, a solid in-line blocker. The Niners want him back but
at the right price. The Bears, who could lose their starting center, Olin Kreutz, are a
candidate as is Houston, a known suitor of Kreutz. The Chargers, who went into the regular
season with 12-year veteran Roman Fortin at center last season, desperately want to
upgrade their offensive line, and Newberry could be quite an anchor.
8. Marvin Jones, ILB, New York Jets
James Farrior, OLB, New York Jets
Possible suitors: New York Jets, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans
Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Jets felt Jones was expendable because they felt his level of play dropped off last
season when they switched to a 4-3. At the same time, Farrior’s play was far superior
as he led the team in tackles and thrived on the outside. The Jets had been scurrying to
restructure the deals of Ray Mickens, Damien Robinson and Victor Green to free up money to
keep Farrior. They did manage to re-sign Mickens Thursday, but Green was released.
Pittsburgh, if it loses Earl Holmes, would love to have Jones fill the role. Jones would
be a better all-around option at the "buck" LB position because he is an upgrade
in pass coverage.
10. Shannon Sharpe, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Possible suitors: New York Giants, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Minnesota
Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears
Sharpe will be old (35) when the regular season begins in 2002, but his 73 receptions
in Baltimore last season were the best since 1996 in Denver. The Giants were the leader
out of the clubhouse in showing interest, but New England would love to get Sharpe’s
hands for offensive coordinator Charlie Weis’s possession offense. Sharpe had his
most productive seasons in Denver, and head coach Mike Shanahan always finds a way to
bring in a solid veteran at little cost. Minnesota is likely to lose TE Byron Chamberlain
and needs a complement to WR Randy Moss if WR Cris Carter walks. Tampa Bay has TE Dave
Moore, but head coach Jon Gruden’s offense requires a versatile tight end; Sharpe
fits the bill. Dallas has money, and offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet. Providing a
security blanket like Sharpe for young QB Quincy Carter would be a coup. The Bears can
hope for a hometown discount; Sharpe was born in Chicago, and he would be a monumental
addition. |
