Top 25 NFL free agents for 2018

March and the official start of the offseason will be here before we know it, so here are my top 25 NFL free agents for 2018.

Here in mid-January, the Super Bowl is coming and the NFL Combine in February will be the landmark pre-draft event. Then March will bring a new league year, and free agency will start alongside decisions by teams to commit to veteran players with roster bonuses generally due early in the month.

Some big names may be available on the open market this offseason, pending a new contract from their current teams and decisions regarding franchise tags that will lock in a one-year commitment.

Ahead of all the moving and shaking, long-term deals and big guaranteed money,  here are my top 25 NFL free agents for 2018.

25. Andrew Norwell, LG, Carolina Panthers

Norwell earned first-team AP All Pro honors this year, and Pro Football Focus graded him out as the third-best guard in the league. In 2016, Pro Football Focus had him as the 12th-best guard in the league (out of 77 qualifiers). Norwell was a top-10 guard via PFF’s grading in 2015, so he’s building a track record and reputation as one of the top players at the position in the NFL.

Norwell is now set to hit free agency at 26 years old, and he’s widely expected to break the bank.

The San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts are easy to see as good fits for Norwell, and the Carolina Panthers will surely place a priority on keeping him in the fold. But any team looking for an upgrade at left guard, with any path to the cap space that would allow them compete at that level of the market, will have to have interest him.

24. Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

When he’s been healthy, there’s no denying Eifert’s talent and production. The problem is he has never played all 16 games in five NFL seasons, with just 10 games played over the last two campaigns and eight games or fewer on the field in three of those five seasons.

Eifert had his best season in 2015 (52 receptions for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns). But his recent injury troubles started in the 2016 Pro Bowl, with an ankle injury that required surgery and helped sideline him until the middle of the following season. Then a recurrence of a preseason back injury ended his 2016 season early, and back and knee issues sidelined him (eventually for the season) after Week 2 this year with yet another back surgery in October.

ESPN’s Katherine Terrell recently reported the Bengals haven’t ruled out re-signing Eifert, with the caveat of little guaranteed money and bonuses for each game he’s active. But the free agent market is not deep at tight end, so a team that really needs to bolster the position may take things to a level (with a multi-year deal?) Cincinnati won’t consider trying to reach. But from Eifert’s end, the best chance to have a good season and take a better run at free agency next year may lie with the Bengals.

23. Sammy Watkins, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Speaking of unrealized potential, I give you Watkins. The Buffalo Bills traded up to get him in the 2014 draft, then after three mostly unremarkable (and at times injury-hampered) seasons they declined his fifth-year option for 2018 last offseason. Then a surprising trade came in August, as the Los Angeles Rams took a flier on a still-intriguing talent with no multi-year commitment and the Bills’ new regime invited talk about tanking this season.

Watkins had his moments this year with the Rams, including a 100-yard, two-touchdown game in Week 3 and a touchdown in five out of six games from Week 9-Week 14. He also played 15 games, before being among the key Rams’ players who were rested in Week 17 with nothing to really gain for the Wild Card Round. But his catch total (39) was not great, and his 15.2 yards per catch was actually a couple ticks down from 2016 with the Bills (15.4 yards per catch), when a foot injury affected him.

But Watkins will still only be 25 years old by the time the 2018 season starts. Theoretical upside is enough to get a nice multi-year deal on the free agent market, even if the ship has sailed on him ever becoming a true No. 1 wide receiver befitting where he was drafted. A return to the Rams is not out of the question, and Watkins may have some desire to stay with a team that looks set to be good for awhile.

22. Case Keenum, QB, Minnesota Vikings

After signing a one-year, $2 million deal last offseason, Keenum has definitely made himself some money this season. The Vikings went 13-3 during the regular season, with Keenum playing 15 games (14 starts) and finishing in the top-15 of the league in completion percentage (67.6; second), passer rating (98.3; seventh) and yards per attempt (7.37; tied for 13th).

Keenum’s performance in the playoffs will go a long way toward determining exactly what kind of deal he gets in free agency. More specifically, the Vikings are faced with determining if he will be their guy going forward, over Teddy Bridgewater or possibly Sam Bradford, and the postseason may dictate that decision to some degree. But in any “case” (pun fully intended), Keenum should have little trouble finding a multi-year deal worth $15 or $16 million a year that will come with at least a good chance to start Week 1 somewhere next season.

With the lack of good quarterbacks in the NFL as a whole, and a couple bigger names higher on this list likely to stay with their current team, Keenum could be viewed as one of the best free agent options out there at the position. He has flourished in a good situation this year, so any team with a similar dynamic in place may not have to squint much to see the possibility of a repeat and thus be willing to pony up financially.

If Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur gets a head coaching job, and he may have one as you read this now, it’s not a reach to suggest Keenum will follow him.

21. Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Gore fell 39 yards short of the 10th 1,000-yard rushing season of his career this year. But he did surpass 14,000 yards for his career, and he moved into fifth place on the all-time rushing list. At 34 years old, Gore continued to defy the typical running back age curve and be fairly productive. He has not missed a game since the 2010 season, when he was with the San Francisco 49ers.

But Gore is headed for free agency, and a return to the Indianapolis Colts is highly unlikely. He himself said he’d be interested in a return for a fourth season with the Colts if Andrew Luck (shoulder) is healthy. But that interest may not be mutual, with 2017 fourth-round pick Marlon Mack in place and some early mock drafts giving the Colts Penn State running back Saquon Barkley at No. 3 overall.

Retirement is probably on Gore’s radar, with his 35th birthday on May 14, and the market for his services will be limited based almost solely on his age. But he is just 76 yards from passing Curtis Martin for fourth on the all-time rushing list, and a contending team or two may have interest in a one-year deal with Gore to come in and serve as a veteran backup. For teams that may wind up choosing between Gore or Adrian Peterson in the over-30 running back market, Gore is clearly the better choice.

20. Terrelle Pryor, WR, Washington Redskins

After catching 77 passes for 1,007 yards for the Cleveland Browns in 2016, it was assumed Pryor would build on that this year with a far more capable quarterback in Washington. But it was not to be, as he only played nine games with 20 catches for 240 yards and one touchdown before an ankle injury and subsequent surgery ended his season.

Pryor had to settle for one-year deal last offseason, and he’s in line to have to do the same this year with the added layer of coming off a bad season.

It’s worth noting Pryor just completed his second season with any sort of notable production as a wide receiver, after making the move from quarterback full-time. So he’s surely still a work in progress, as getting a full grasp on the nuances of the playing the position mesh with his physical tools.

Pryor has a chance to be a significant free agent bargain, with an eye on a true breakout season coming a year later than everyone seemed to think. A return to the Redskins seems possible, but if Kirk Cousins is gone Pryor will probably want to look elsewhere for an opportunity to have a bounceback campaign next season.

19. Morgan Burnett, SS, Green Bay Packers

The four games Burnett missed this season were a bit of a mixed bag for the Packers’ defense, against good and bad offenses. Six takeaways in those four contests is not too bad, but they allowed 351 (Vikings-Week 6), 485 (Saints-Week 7), 323 (Bears-Week 10) and 219 (Ravens-Week 11) total yards in those games. In a secondary that was injury thinned practically all season, Burnett dealt with hamstring and calf issues of his own.

Burnett’s prowess as a run defender eventually shifted him into a safety/linebacker hybrid role in now-fired defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ scheme over the last couple years. Though he has missed games in each of the last five seasons, and he will be entering his age-29 season, re-signing Burnett and making him a versatile building block of new coordinator Mike Pettine’s defense has to be firmly on the radar of new Green Bay General manager Brian Gutekunst.

A growing history of leg injuries is a concern as Burnett gets set to hit the open market at a relatively advanced age. But he’s no worse than the second-best safety available at this point, pending any veterans that are cut by their team (Earl Thomas?) with all-level of the defense versatility that will make him an appealing option for teams with a need there.

18. Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Robinson is an intriguing option on this list, after playing just one game this year due to a torn left ACL. But he reportedly had surgery immediately, so he’s presumably well on his way to a full recovery in time or training camp and surely in time for Week 1 next season.

After a breakout 2015 campaign (80 receptions for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns), Robinson had a down year in 2016 (73 catches for 883 yards and six touchdowns). But he was targeted the same number of times in both seasons (151), and any expected correction year-over-year adds the element of Blake Bortles as Robinson’s quarterback to foster a decline in production.

Robinson was not complementary of Bortles’ accuracy during joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last summer. It’s worth wondering if that frustration would have carried into meaningful games this year, and Robinson would have surely been looking forward (if fully healthy) to exploring multiple good options in free agency come March.

Robinson will be checked out medically by any interested teams. But he has a chance to be a huge free agent steal, as a No. 1 or No. 2 wide receiver for a team that employs a better quarterback.

17. Nate Solder, OT, New England Patriots

Solder has been a reliable left tackle for the New England Patriots since being drafted 17th overall in 2011, starting at least 13 games in six of his seven seasons. But Pro Football Focus graded him out as merely average this year, which doesn’t make him the kind of player Bill Belichick will want to keep at the price it will take to do it as Solder hits free agency.

The contract Riley Reiff got from the Minnesota Vikings last offseason (five years, $58.75 million-$26.3 million guaranteed) looks like a good comp for the deal Solder could get in March. They are the same age right now (29, though Solder will turn 30 in April), with similar standing among offensive tackles based on advanced metrics heading into free agency. It’s worth noting Reiff shifted to right tackle in 2016, his final season with the Detroit Lions, but the parallel to Solder is otherwise solid.

The premium placed on capable, reliable left tackles to keep the quarterback upright sets Solder up to cash in nicely this offseason. So if the Patriots make no real effort to retain him, with the franchise tag or an offer of a long-term deal, he’ll just have to find the right all-around fit for himself and his family.

16. Dion Lewis,RB, New England Patriots

Through the weekly, typically game plan specific, fluctuation of the Patriots’ running back rotation, injuries have allowed Lewis to emerge late this season. He scored at least one touchdown (five total-three rushing, two receiving) in each of the final three regular season games, with 50 carries for 222 yards and 11 catches for 64 yards in Week 16 and Week 17 combined.

Even with James White and Rex Burkhead likely back for the playoffs, as of this writing, Lewis could still have moments to shine when the games matter most. He had double-digit carries in 10 of the final 11 regular season games this year, with double-digit touches in all 11 of those contests. It has not mattered who else was available since mid-October-Lewis has maintained a significant role in New England’s offense.

Lewis is not a workhorse back by the definition we may still think of, at 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, and his injury history (fractured fibula, torn ACL) could be a concern for teams as he hits the open market at 27 years old. It’s also worth wondering if his success in New England can be replicated somewhere else, but in this day and age Lewis’ versatility as a runner and receiver has a place of value in any offensive system.

Lewis could easily be seen as a disposable part by the Patriots, especially if a pretty thin crop of free agent running backs drives his market value up. But multiple teams should be ready with a multi-year deal to offer him.

15. Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah, DE, Detroit Lions

After a very down season in 2016 (two sacks) Ansah rebounded with 12 sacks this year. But he battled injuries again, missing two games, and nine of those sacks came in just three games against overmatched left tackles for the New York Giants (Week 2), Cincinnati Bengals (Week 16) and Green Bay Packers (Week 17).

There’s no denying Ansah’s physical tools. After five seasons in the NFL, he has still only played football for eight total seasons in his life after growing up playing soccer in Ghana and initially trying out for the basketball team after arriving on campus at BYU . So an argument can be made he’s still a pretty raw football player, even nearing 29 years old, with upside still left to be tapped into.

In particular, Ansah has not been an especially productive tackler as a 4-3 defensive end, as he has never reached 50 total tackles in a season. That’s almost on the level of Jared Allen at the end of his career, as he sold out to accumulate sacks and decided to mostly avoid responsibilities against the run. It’s not worth questioning Ansah’s all-around effort level in that way, at least without looking at the all-22 tape, but he does appear to have some work to do beyond his pass rushing skills.

But productive pass rushers get nice free agent contracts, and Ansah is in line for lucrative multi-year from a team willing to make a bet on his untapped upside.

14. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

After his devastating left knee injury late in the 2016 preseason , the Vikings declined their fifth-year option on Bridgewater for next season. He was activated in October though, has been practicing without apparent issue since and made a brief appearance in Week 15 (0-for-2 with an interception).

It’s safe to say Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer favors keeping Bridgewater, and having him as his starter come Week 1 next season. But Case Keenum’s level of play this year, apart from the playoffs, will make that a tough bargain beyond any lingering concern over Bridgewater’s long-term outlook.

Bridgewater was a winning quarterback when we last saw him at full strength in 2015, with metrics that show potential in the right offensive scheme and the ability to perform in the clutch.

I don’t buy into the perception of Bridgewater’s great upside at 100 percent health, as many Vikings’ fans and not-so objective Minnesota-based analysts seem to without question. His fairly lofty place on this list is all about intrigue, as the Vikings weigh committing to Bridgewater long-term and other teams potentially enter the mix in March.

13. Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Hyde still hasn’t rushed for 1,000 yards in a season, and his yards per carry average dropped to 3.9 this year. But he played all 16 games for the time in his career, and set career-highs with eight rushing touchdown and 59 receptions. That relative nose for the end zone and newfound versatility will bolster his market value come March.

The 49ers’ new regime of general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan did not commit to Hyde long-term, with trade rumors right into the trade deadline and what seemed to be an easy readiness to replace him with rookie Matt Breida throughout this year. So letting him walk as a free agent feels like a formality, and Hyde still has some peak years, even for a running back, left at 27 years old.

If another running back on this list gets spoken for (again) via the franchise tag, or gets a long-term deal to stay put, Hyde will have a case to be the top free agent running back available this year. As it is he’s No. 2 at the position for me, with a lot of tread left on the tires (655 career carries) compared to plenty of other running backs we’ve seen as they headed into their fifth NFL season.

12. Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks

A disappointing, non-playoff season is bringing major winds of change for the Seattle Seahawks. Assistant coaches have been fired or are expected to leave, and a number of key defensive players carry injury or salary cap concerns into the offseason.

Seattle has 15 players who can become unrestricted free agents in March. That’s a pretty good amount of potential roster turnover, even without looming decisions to make on Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman, and Graham is expected to hit the open market.

Graham finished tied for second in the league with 10 receiving touchdowns this season. But his catch (57) and yardage (520) totals dropped from 2016 (65 and 923), as he averaged a dismal 9.1 yards per catch.

After being acquired from the New Orleans Saints for center Max Unger, Graham was an odd fit with the Seahawks and what was at the time a run-focused offense. A torn patella tendon in his right knee shortened his first season with the team in 2015, but Graham was healthy in time for the following season and he has played all 16 games in each of the last two seasons.

Graham’s decline in overall production could be due to age (31), the lingering effects of his significant 2015 knee injury or simple inconsistent use by the Seahawks. But plenty of teams will think the Saints version of Graham is still there somewhere, ready to be re-unleashed in the right offensive scheme with the right quarterback, even if it’s only in fleeting moments over a short window of his remaining peak years.

10. Lamarcus Joyner, DB, Los Angeles Rams

Despite missing four regular season games, the arrival of Wade Phillips as Rams’ defensive coordinator clearly agreed with Joyner this year. Pro Football Focus graded him as the third-best safety in the league. As the regular season wound down, he had great grades as a tackler and in coverage.

In a true statement on the value of good coaching, as we saw throughout the Rams’ roster this year, Phillips openly lamented how little Joyner had played in previous years under Jeff Fisher.

"We came in, we watched the film from the year before and we said, ‘This guy’s one of our best players and he only played half the time — what should we do?'” Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips recalled. “We said, ‘Well, let’s play him all the time then.’ It sounds simple, but he’s too good a player not to be on the field, in my opinion. And he thought the same way. I saw ‘Hard Knocks.’ I think he felt the same way."

Joyner’s versatility as a slot cornerback/safety hybrid carries great value, even though he’s undersized at 5-foot-8 in the mold of an Antoine Winfield-type. Joyner’s free agent market will be deep with suitors looking for just that kind of player in the secondary.

10. Sam Bradford, QB, Minnesota Vikings

There may be a lot of quarterback movement his offseason, and the third of the Minnesota Vikings’ looming free agents at the position also makes this list.

All things considered, with a trade late in the preseason to put him at a disadvantage, Bradford had a solid first season in Minnesota in 2016. He started 15 games, set a league record by completing 71.6 percent of his passes and most importantly, given his history, he stayed healthy behind an injury-ravaged offensive line. With Pat Shurmur taking over as Vikings’ offensive coordinator for a full season, and past familiarity after working together with two other teams, optimism regarding Bradford was high entering his year.

So naturally, after a fantastic season opener against the New Orleans Saints (27-for-32 for 346 yards and three touchdowns), Bradford emerge with soreness in his left knee. He started one more game, in Week 5, and was just recently set to be activated for a potential playoff run as a backup to Case Keenum.

It probably won’t be in Minnesota, but Bradford should at least find an opportunity to compete for a starting job in free agency. With good health (a big, obvious question) and good structure around him, the upside for the 2010 No. 1 overall pick is still pretty good.

9. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Seattle Seahawks

Entering his contract year, the New York Jets traded Richardson to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2018 second-round draft pick and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse in September.

Off-field issues spurred the Jets to want to trade Richardson, rather than commit to him long-term. Based on what has transpired with Muhammad Wilkerson on and off the field, it appears they made the wrong choice.

Richardson’s numbers this season don’t leap off the page (1 sack, 44 total tackles in 15 games). But he was graded out above average overall among defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus, and a defensive tackle’s contribution is often understated by traditional measures. Not only do the Seahawks want him back and he expects to be back, but the Jets may be interested in a reunion.

Richardson is firmly in his prime, at 27 years old, with an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2013), one Pro Bowl selection (2014) and 13 sacks over a two-season span (2014 and 2015) with the Jets on his resume. He probably won’t threaten to become one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the league with his free agent deal this offseason, but Richardson has a chance to be as impactful as anyone else on this list.

8. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Dallas Cowboys

After missing seven games in 2016, Lawrence rebounded nicely with 14.5 sacks (tied for second in the league) for the Dallas Cowboys this year. That would reek of a production spike with the motivation of being in a contract year, but Lawrence also had eight sacks over all 16 games in 2015. So continued high level production may simply be a question of starter-level playing time and continued health.

Lawrence finished the 2017 season as Pro Football Focus’ No. 3-ranked edge defender, and he had four forced fumbles as well. The premium placed on anyone even perceived to be an elite-level pass rusher puts him in line for a big free agent contract, and heading toward his 26th birthday by the time free agency starts (April 25) multiple teams in need of a 4-3 defensive end will have some interest.

Lawrence has real boom-or-bust potential as a free agent come March, since money always changes the equation for players who were not first-round draft picks. A return to the perpetually cap-strapped Cowboys looks unlikely, but they do have the franchise tag as an option if they want to keep Lawrence from being one of the top free agent defensive lineman/pass rushers out there this year.

7. Malcolm Butler, CB, New England Patriots

Since his shining moment on the Super Bowl stage as a rookie, Butler has started 47 regular season games over the last three seasons for the New England Patriots with one Pro Bowl nod. It’s hard to call what happened last offseason a contract squabble in the sense that is most common, but after the Patriots invested significantly in Stephon Gilmore during free agency Butler was openly shopped and a possible trade with the New Orleans Saints was a constant rumor.

After a breakout 2016 campaign, with four interceptions and a top-25 ranking among all players in the league by Pro Football Focus, Butler fell off to be graded out as just the 45th-ranked cornerback in the league (slightly above average) by PFF this year.

Anyone that has seemingly benefited greatly from the Patriots’ structure and then leaves will invite skepticism about repeating a high level of success elsewhere.

In October, the Boston Herald reported the Patriots wanted to sign Butler to a contract extension. The franchise tag is now a clearer option that it was previously, with Jimmy Garoppolo gone, so if New England really wants to keep Butler they have that card to play. But after what went down last offseason, Butler may want to shop his wares to other teams and the Patriots may be ready to part ways rather than pay toward the top of the cornerback market for a second straight offseason.

6. Trumaine Johnson, CB, Los Angeles Rams

As with another player higher on this list, who you can probably already guess, Johnson is highly unlikely to get the franchise tag for a third straight year this year. The Rams shopped him on the trade market after not being able to reach a long-term deal with him last offseason, as general manager Les Snead questioned Johnson’s fit in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ scheme, so it’s hard to imagine they’ll pony up with a multi-year deal this March as Lamarcus Joyner also gets set to hit free agency.

Johnson’s interception totals have dropped since he picked off seven passes in 2015, but he has remained a productive tackler (65 total this season) along with 26 pass breakups over the last two seasons. A mediocre grade from Pro Football Focus this year can be partially attributed to shadowing the other team’s No. 1 wide receiver, including DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas and Dez Bryant over the course of the regular season and Julio Jones in the Wild Card Round.

Johnson is likely to get overpaid a bit in the open market. But he should have no trouble getting the multi-year deal he seeks, with the five-year, $68.75 million deal ($20.77 million guaranteed)  Desmond Trufant got from the Atlanta Falcons as a potential comp his agent will seek from interested teams.

5. Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins

Since he entered the league in 2014, only Antonio Brown (472) and Julio Jones (411) have caught more passes than Landry (400). He’s hitting free agency on the heels of career-highs in catches (a league-leading 112) and touchdowns (nine), though he averaged a blocking tight end-esque 8.8 yards per catch.

The Dolphins seemed ready to trade Landry late last preseason, and at the trade deadline in October, but nothing came to fruition. A meltdown and subsequent brawl that earned an ejection in Week 17 may have been the last straw for Dolphins head coach Adam Gase.

"This last game was probably the pinnacle of what I’ve ever seen with him during a game,” Gase said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it get to a level where it was extremely bad. But the last game was about as embarrassing as I’ve seen in a long time. It was something we can’t have happen."

Even what’s shaping up to be  a fairly deep free agent class at wide receiver, Landry is at the top of the heap for me. The ship seems to have sailed on a return to the Dolphins, at least if Gase has any input. But that could be a blessing, as Landry can perhaps narrow in on teaming up with a good, more proven and more consistent quarterback for his second contract.

4. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers

After being acquired from the Patriots and taking over as the starter, Garoppolo was a revelation for the 49ers. The team went 5-0 in his starts, as he topped 290 passing yards four times in that span (8.8 yards per attempt) and he completed over 67 percent of his passes with a 96.2 passer rating in six games overall. A season that looked on track to yield a top-five pick in April’s draft  became something different, and San Francisco has found  a potential franchise quarterback.

The 49ers are surely not letting Garoppolo get away in free agency, with the franchise tag as a fallback option if agreement on a long-term deal can’t reached. But he’s technically set to be available as we speak, with multiple potential quarterback-hungry suitors ready to line up if the 49ers botch things somehow.

Time will tell if the Patriots really wind up looking foolish for getting so little in the trade for Garoppolo, when a first-round pick was rumored to be in the table from the Cleveland Browns at one point. There are easy (and dismal) comparisons to make at this point, based on Garoppolo’s small sample of good work, but he will be a wealthy man one way or another come early to mid -March.

3. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

When Brees was a free agent in 2006, concern over a severe injury to his throwing shoulder late the previous season with the San Diego Chargers led the Miami Dolphins to pass on him and the New Orleans Saints to get him. 12 Hall of Fame caliber seasons later, Brees is now set to be an unrestricted free agent again.

After Sunday’s dramatic Divisional Round loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Brees cited how he sees promise for the Saints going forward and he fully expects to be back. That sentiment has to be mutual from the team’s end, but lately they’ve been willing to go year-to-year with Brees as he approaches 40 years old.

The Saints may draft Brees’ eventual successor this spring, He clearly has at least a couple good years left piloting Sean Payton’s offense though, with some great pieces around him. But if they botch the situation somehow, or just don’t want to bring him back for some inexplicable reason, Brees will get plenty of interest from teams that think they are a good quarterback away from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

2. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Bell offered a distraction heading into Pittsburgh’s Divisional Round loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, with a flimsy threat to retire or sit out the 2018 season if the Steelers use the franchise tag on him for a second straight year.

Bell is the best running back in the NFL, practically without argument, with over 1,200 rushing yards and more than 80 receptions in three of the last four seasons (just six games played in 2015). He’s also firmly in his prime, approaching his 26th birthday in February, so a multi-year deal is not necessarily a foolish idea.

Bell has already retracted on his retirement comment by saying he wants to re-sign with the Steelers, with a caveat of “circumstances” that might stand in the way. A replay of 2017, when Bell used his leverage and waited until early September to sign his $12.1 million franchise tender, seems to be coming. The franchise tag is set to worth $14.5 million for running backs this year, which would put Bell even further above the rest of the pack at the position in terms of salary for 2018.

The Steelers aren’t likely to easily move on from Bell, and they will surely call his bluff by franchise tagging him again if there’s no traction on a long a multi-year deal. But if he were to be available on the open market the list of teams with rumored interest would be interesting, if not lengthy.

1. Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins

The Redskins have kicked the can down the road with Cousins contractually, and now it’s really set to bite them. Using the franchise tag on him again this year will be incredibly cost prohibitive, at over $34 million, and any sort of multi-year deal between the two sides does not seem very likely.

For his part, as could be expected with another $34 million fully guaranteed coming to him in that situation, Cousins said he would play under the franchise tag again. Redskins head coach Jay Gruden has said he’d like a long-term solution regarding Cousins one way or the other, rather than continuing to go year-to-year, but it does not seem like those above him in the organization share that sentiment.

A laundry list of teams will or could be in the market for a quarterback this offseason, including the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills. A report last week even suggested Cousins would be willing to play for the Cleveland Browns, which says as much about the Browns having plenty of salary cap space as it does about some real, yet mostly hidden frustration with how the Redskins have handled his situation.

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Cousins will either get over $34 million for one season from the Redskins in March, or he’ll get a multi-year deal that will likely (theoretically) take him into his mid-30s from another team. It’s an enviable position to be in, and Cousins is well-deserving of the No.1 spot on this list.