Free Agency Primer

Free agency officially kicks off at 12:01am ET on March 2nd. Here's an in-depth look at who's available and where they might be going.

Quarterbacks

If your team is in need of a starting quarterback, free agency won't help them. Jeff Garcia (UFA, Eagles) is the best option available, and he'll have a few suitors. Garcia's name has been linked to openings in Tampa Bay and Oakland, and has also been mentioned as a possible back-up to Denver's Jay Cutler.

Beyond Garcia, there's Brad Johnson, who is expected to be released by the Minnesota Vikings on or before Friday. Aaron Brooks (UFA, Raiders), Kerry Collins (UFA, Titans), Tim Rattay (UFA, Buccaneers), Anthony Wright (UFA, Bengals), Marques Tuiasosopo (UFA, Raiders) join a group of untested restricted free agents on the market. Among the restricted free agents are Matt Schaub (Falcons), Quinn Gray (Jaguars), Cleo Lemon (Dolphins), John Navarre (Cardinals), and Jim Sorgi (Colts).

Atlanta plans on offering Schaub a tender offer of $2.35M, which would keep the rest of the league from pursuing him. Should a team sign Schaub to an offer sheet, and the Falcons chose not to match the offer, Atlanta would receive that team's 1st and 3rd round draft choices in 2007.

The safest way to acquire that starting QB may come through the trade route. Denver's Jake Plummer, Kansas City's Trent Green, and Houston's David Carr all are rumored to be available via a trade. Green has become expendable now that the Chiefs have signed his back-up in 2006, Damon Huard, to a 3-year contract worth $7.5M. His name has been linked to the Miami Dolphins, who may look to deal either Joey Harrington or even Daunte Culpepper this off-season.

Running Backs

The marquee running back in free agency, San Diego's Michael Turner, has been offered the $2.35M tender. That's music to the ears of the agents for Ahman Green (UFA, Packers) and the recently released Jamal Lewis (UFA, Ravens), who now vault to the top of the free agent running back list.

Beyond Green and Lewis, there are some veteran runners available. Indianapolis Colts back Dominic Rhodes is available (possibly for some diapers), as are Sammy Morris (UFA, Dolphins), Ron Dayne (UFA, Texans), Anthony "A-Train" Thomas (UFA, Bills), and oft-injured Eagles running back Correll Bruckhalter.

Buffalo's Willis McGahee has had his name surface in trade talks, and some league observers believe that he's played his last game in Buffalo.

Wide Recievers

According to Scouts, Inc., the top free agent WR this off-season is Philadelphia's Donte Stallworth. So yeah, it's not a deep group.

Beyond Stallworth, Kevin Curtis (UFA, Rams) is fastly climbing every team's wishlist. He's a sure-handed WR that has spent his first 4 years in the NFL firmly in the shadow of teammates Isaac Bruce and Torry "Big Game" Holt. The time may be now for Curtis to go off on his own, perhaps re-joining Mike Martz, his first head coach, who is now the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Ashley Lelie (UFA, Falcons) and Drew Bennett (UFA, Titans) are also names to watch this off-season.

The restricted market is deep, with the versatile Wes Welker (Dolphins) and up-and-comers like Ernest Wilford (Jaguars) and DJ Hackett (Seahawks) rumored to be names that teams may attempt to pry away from their original clubs. Both will receive high tenders tomorrow. Teams looking for a veteran presence at the WR position will certainly be looking at Dennis Northcutt, Bobby Engram and Troy Brown.

Last season, Javon Walker and Ashley Lelie were traded. Could a few veteran receivers change teams that way this year? Randy Moss isn't happy in Oakland, and Seattle's Darrell Jackson could also be dealt.

Tight Ends

Tony Gonzalez would've been the biggest free agent tight end this off-season, but he re-signed with the Colts for 5-years and $31M last month. This leaves New England's Daniel Graham, Seattle's Jerramy Stevens and...that's it. Those are the top two free agent tight ends available, and both stand to get very wealthy real early in free agency.

Offensive Tackles

Remember the Army's old slogan, "An Army of One"? Well, that describes the free agent tackle market perfectly.

Arizona's Leonard Davis is the most notable name available, and since Arizona is reportedly making no effort to re-sign him, what does that tell you? Dallas plans on retaining right tackle Marc Colombo, which leaves Baltimore's Tony Pashos and Jon Stinchcomb (UFA, Saints) as cheaper alternatives at the tackle position.

Two restricted tackles with Super Bowl experience, Pittsburgh's Max Starks and Seattle's Sean Locklear, are both expected to remain with their respective clubs in 2007.

Offensive Guards

When your team spends over $5M a year for a guard in free agency, be sure to thank the Minnesota Vikings front office. Last year's 7-year, $49M "poison pill" laden contract they offered Steve Hutchinson has put dollar signs in the eyes of every free agent guard.

And there are few who will cash in on that.

Kris Dielman (UFA, Chargers) and Eric Steinbach (UFA, Bengals) are atop this list, and they can expect megabuck offers from Cleveland, Houston, Dallas and Seattle, who learned how valuable guards are to the offense. Beyond that, there are Ruben Brown (UFA, Bears), Derrick Dockery (UFA, Redskins), and Rick DeMulling (UFA, Lions) who can expect long-term offers pretty quickly.

Teams looking for a short-term fix at the guard spot can check out Chris Gray (UFA, Seahawks), Cooper Carlisle (UFA, Broncos) or Cosey Coleman (UFA, Browns).

Centers

The Giants are reportedly playing hardball with unrestricted free agent-to-be Shaun O'Hara, and he may balk at the $4.5M they're offering to see what the open market yields. Jeremy Newberry (UFA, 49ers) has been told to hit the bricks, and veteran Hank Fraley (UFA, Browns) is going to test the market as well after a season avoiding a staph infection (and flying anvils) in Cleveland.

Defensive Ends

Soon-to-be former Atlanta Falcon Patrick Kerney has voided the last two years of his contract, and immediately jumped to the top of the free agent defensive end list. At 30 years old, it'll be interesting to see how much he gets on the open market, and who gives it to him. (Seattle fans be warned: Kerney has connections to Seahawks president Tim Ruskell and ass't head coach/secondary Jim Mora)

The most intriguing name is Adalius Thomas, who is sure to sign the blockbuster contract this off-season. Thomas was a linebacker in Baltimore (who wanted to designate him with the franchise tag, but couldn't afford it), but he is a tremendous pass rusher and will probably spend the majority of his time with one hand down at the line of scrimmage. That's why I'm including him with the defensive ends. The most likely landing spot for Thomas? San Francisco, and you can book it. He played under 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, who used to coach the defense in Baltimore. Plus, no team has more money to throw around this off-season than San Francisco, whose available cap space is nearly $40M.

Top free agent DEs Dwight Freeney (Colts), Charles Grant (Saints), and Justin Smith (Bengals) were designated with the franchise tag. Kansas City's Jared Allen, a restricted free agent, was given the high tender and has asked to be traded out of Kansas City. (He's not going anywhere)

There are some quality mid-tier free agents available. Dewayne White (Bucs), Antwan Peek (Texans), Juqua Thomas (Eagles) and Al Wallace (Panthers).

Defensive Tackles

This is a thin group, both in numbers and in size. Oakland kept Terdell Sands, a 6-7, 335-pound toilet clogger, off the market with a 4-year, $17M deal two weeks ago. With a man that size off the market, the most notable free agent defensive tackle is Robaire Smith (UFA, Titans), who is 6-4 and checks in at 330 pounds.

Beyond that, there is very little available. Randy Starks (RFA, Titans), Tommie Kelly (RFA, Raiders), a pair of unrestricted Chicago Bears (Ian Scott, Alfonso Boone), and lower tier players like Alvin McKinley (Browns), Kindal Moorehead (Panthers) and Anthony Adams (49ers) fill out the DT market.

Linebackers

The most talented linebacker available, Lance Briggs, has been named the Chicago Bears franchise player and won't be going anywhere. From the reports coming out of Chicago, he won't be signing a long-term deal there anytime soon, either.

This means that the most intriguing names on the free agent linebacker market are London Fletcher-Baker (UFA, Bills) and Cato June (UFA, Colts). I expect June to get the most attention, as he is 5 years younger than Fletcher-Baker. New England's Tully Banta-Cain has indicated that he'd like to return to the Patriots, but in a market that has a lot of money and few players, Banta-Cain could parlay his stellar season as a part-time starter into a decent contract elsewhere.

Teams looking for veteran stewardship will certainly be calling a pair of former San Diego Chargers, Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey, who has expressed an interest in finishing his career in Dallas.

Cornerbacks

I mentioned earlier that Adalius Thomas can expect to receive the richest contract in free agency. The only name that could give him a run for his money is Nate Clements (UFA, Bills). Clements is the best CB on the market, and its not even close. It's expected that Cleveland or Cincinnati will make a run at him (he matriculated at Ohio State University), but don't discount the San Francisco 49ers or the New York Jets. The 49ers have a boatload of cash to spend and New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini got his start coaching the defensive backfield and would drool at the thought of having a player like Clements manning one corner.

New England placed the franchise tag on Asante Samuel, which leaves a pair of Colts cornerbacks, Nick Harper and Jason David, on the market. David, who is younger and just 5-8, is a restricted free agent.

Safety

Topping the list of free agent safeties is Seattle's Ken Hamlin. After missing the second half of the 2005 season due to a fractured skull he received in a fight outside a Seattle nightclub, Hamlin was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Month in September 2006. He's a tremendous athlete, a vocal leader and a vicious hitter, but Hamlin makes some mistakes in coverage and isn't the surest of tacklers. It will interesting to see how hard other teams will pursue Hamlin, since they'll certainly want to poke and prod to make sure his injuries from that 2005 incident won't affect him over the long-term. It will also be interesting to see how hard Seattle fights to retain him.

Deon Grant (Jaguars), Brian Russell (Browns) and Kevin Kaesviharn (Bengals) are veterans who could draw some early interest. Some younger players who fell out of favor with their previous employer, Mike Doss (Colts) and Michael Lewis (Eagles), should fetch some interest, as well.

The restricted market contains Gibril Wilson (Giants) and Jordan "Big Play" Babineaux. The latter is most known as the guy who ran down Tony Romo on the botched field goal attempt in the NFC Wild Card game in January.

Kickers/Punters

The most notable kickers, Josh Brown and Rian Lindell, aren't going anywhere. Brown has been "franchised" by the Seattle Seahawks, and Lindell signed a 5-year, $9M contract with the Bills in January.

As for punters (and I can't believe I'm still typing), Cincinnati has tendered Kyle Larson for $1.3M (which would return a 2nd round pick if he departs), and Dallas signed Aussie Mat McBriar to a 5-year, $8.5M contract today.