The Top 25 Free Agents of 2009
The 2009 season officially begins Friday at 12:01 a.m. when free agency opens. What follows is a rundown of the 25 best available free agents. This list was compiled through a series of conversations with scouts and through game-tape evaluations.
1. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Titans: The most dominating big man in the game the past two seasons, Haynesworth is a rare talent with exceptional skills. Whether playing as a run stopper or as an interior pass rusher, he takes over the line of scrimmage with his brute strength and power. He transforms any defense he plays on into a stellar unit with his presence. Although scouts question Haynesworth's durability (he has only played one full season in his seven-year career) and motivation (he enjoyed the best two seasons of his career in contract years), few will dispute that he is the best available player in free agency.
2. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals: The two-time league MVP displayed his old form in guiding the Cardinals to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance last season. Warner's pinpoint passing and steady leadership skills are coveted by franchises in need of a stabilizing presence under center. While his age (37) and durability are concerns, Warner's re-emergence as an elite quarterback has several teams targeting him as a viable short-term solution.
3. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Bengals: The underappreciated playmaker is a polished route runner with outstanding hands. He's at his best when working as a slot receiver, and his consistent production since stepping into the starting lineup has led many to view him as a potential No. 1 receiver in the right system. Though his detractors question whether he can duplicate his success without Pro Bowl wideout Chad Johnson at his side, Houshmandzadeh has proven the naysayers wrong throughout his career. He'll get another chance to do so after signing a big money deal early in free agency.
4. Bart Scott, ILB, Ravens: The "Mad 'Backer" has outstanding instincts and skills. His ability to diagnose plays is exceptional, and he has the versatility to make plays as a middle or weakside linebacker. While he is routinely overshadowed by Pro Bowlers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, Scott is the top linebacker on the board due to his age (28) and consistent production.
5. Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens: Coming off his tenth Pro Bowl season, Lewis continues to prove he can play at a high level. One of the most instinctive players to ever man the position, Lewis is a productive sideline-to-sideline linebacker with an unrivaled penchant for playmaking. Although history would suggest it is a bad idea to ink an aging linebacker to a big money deal, Lewis' intangibles and leadership skills will prompt several teams to consider overpaying for the future Hall of Famer.
6. Chris Canty, DE, Cowboys: An ideal 3-4 defensive end with outstanding size, skill and potential, Canty is a nice combination run stopper/pass rusher. He has steadily improved throughout his career, and with more teams moving to the 3-4, Canty is highly coveted.
7. DeAngelo Hall, CB, Redskins: The gambling cover corner is coming off an up-and-down season but remains one of the top talents at the position. Hall has 22 career interceptions and is a two-time Pro Bowl selectee. Though his struggles last season with the Raiders remain foremost in the minds of scouts, his penchant for producing game-changing plays will prompt a handful of teams to bid handsomely for his services.
8. Khalif Barnes, OT, Jaguars: The fourth-year pro is the top left tackle prospect available in free agency. He has the ability to mirror finesse rushers off the edge and blocks well on the move in space.
9. Antonio Smith, DE, Cardinals: A high motor defensive end who has the ability to play in a 3-4 or 4-3, Smith is adept at getting to the quarterback. He plays stout on the edge against the run and has the skills to be an effective inside/outside player in the hybrid scheme. While his detractors say Smith benefited from playing alongside burgeoning star Darnell Dockett, the film shows he is an energetic playmaker with a solid set of skills.
10. Jason Brown, OC, Ravens: A big, agile center, Brown is one of the few pivots capable of moving stout nose tackles off the ball, and his ability to get to the second level is exceptional. As a pass protector, he is quick enough to handle finesse rushers, but also possesses the strength and balance to anchor against power. The center position typically doesn't command much attention on the market, but Brown's skills are special and worthy of consideration as a potential big money addition.
11. Jon Stinchcomb, OT, Saints: The veteran has manned the Saints right tackle spot in superb fashion while starting 48 consecutive games the past three years. Stinchcomb is best described as a solid technician who understands how to play to his strengths. While he is not considered a good athlete, he has enough quickness to handle speed rushers off the edge.
12. Jonathan Vilma, LB, Saints: The active playmaker enters the market after re-establishing himself as one of the top inside linebackers in the game. Vilma's instincts are superb, and his knack for slipping under blocks allows him to gobble up running backs at a prolific rate. Though some teams will be turned off by his lack of size (6-foot-1, 230), Vilma's overall skills and productivity has him high on many free agent boards.
13. Nate Washington, WR, Steelers: The oft-overlooked playmaker has quietly averaged over 16 yards per catch in his career. Washington is a speed receiver who shows a proclivity for making big plays on the outside. With several teams in desperate need of such a weapon, Washington is much higher on free agent boards than most would believe.
14. Igor Olshansky, DE, Chargers: The hulking run stuffer is a proto-typical 3-4 defensive end. He plays stout against the run, freeing up linebackers by occupying multiple blockers at the point. Though Olshansky shows limited pass rush skills, he is a high motor player who falls into a few garbage sacks each year. With sturdy defensive ends valued at a premium, Olshansky is coveted by teams utilizing a 3-4.
15. Matt Birk, OC, Vikings: The 11-year veteran is technically sound. His ability to make solid blocks on the second level solidified the Vikings' zone-based running game and enabled runners to find lots of room between the tackles. As a pass blocker, he has the athleticism to mirror finesse rushers in space. He also has the strength to anchor against power.
16. Kerry Collins, QB, Titans: He led the Titans to an NFL-best 13-3 record last season, but only completed 58.3 percent of his passes and had an 80.2 passer rating. Although Collins earned rave reviews for leading to Titans to the NFC South division title, some scouts credit the team's exceptional running game and defense for the Titans' impressive record. The 36-year-old is seen as an attractive option for teams in desperate need of a veteran presence under center, but he is probably more valuable to the Titans than to any other team.
17. Derrick Ward, RB, NY Giants: The Giants' change-of-pace back rushed for over 1,000 yards while sharing time with Brandon Jacobs. As a hard-nosed back with deceptive quickness and burst, Ward is effective as an inside or outside runner. Additionally, he is capable of doing damage on screens and underneath routes. While some scouts will point to his age (28) and lack of starting experience, Ward's production as a backup has several teams envisioning the fifth-year pro making a Michael Turner-like impact on their squad.
18. Bryant McFadden, CB, Steelers: An aggressive corner, McFadden has the tools to be a quality starter in a zone-based scheme. He logged eight starts last season and recorded two interceptions while playing behind a ferocious pass rush. While the jury is still out on whether he will develop into a top notch cover guy, his aggressiveness and toughness have several teams considering him as a potential starting corner.
19. Ronald Bartell, CB, Rams: A big, physical corner, Bartell showed tremendous improvement as a second-year starter. The fourth-year pro had three interceptions last season, including a pair against the 49ers in Week 16.
20. Tra Thomas, OT, Eagles: The 11-year veteran hits the open market after spending his entire career with the Eagles. As a tall athlete with long arms, Thomas relies on his athleticism to lock up defenders on the edge. He still has enough quickness to handle speed rushers and is crafty enough to offset the various counters used by polished rushers. Though his skills have started to decline, Thomas still ranks as one of the top tackles in the game.
21. L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles: The oft-injured receiver teases scouts and coaches with his big play potential. His exceptional speed and athleticism make him a matchup nightmare. He has averaged nearly 11 yards a reception over six seasons and is one of the few tight ends capable of stretching the middle of the field.
22. Yeremiah Bell, S, Dolphins: The hard-hitting safety blossomed last season in the Dolphins' aggressive defense. Bell manned the middle of the field effectively and showed good instincts as a pass defender. Though his skills in coverage are noteworthy, Bell is at his best when hovering near the line of scrimmage as a run defender. He attacks the alley quickly and is a punishing tackler in the hole. The fifth-year veteran wasn't a household name prior to last season, but his stellar play in 2008 has many teams ranking him as the top safety prospect available on the market.
23. Domonique Foxworth, CB, Falcons: The fourth-year pro blossomed in his first year with the Falcons. Showing cover skills that he hadn't displayed during his tenure in Denver, Foxworth thrived in a zone-based scheme. Although he had only one interception, he showed he could shine as a starter in the right defense. With most of the elite corners off the market, Foxworth shoots up the board as a potential starting corner.
24. Jabari Greer, CB, Bills: The underrated veteran logged 23 starts in the past two seasons and performed admirably while manning the corner in the Bills' two-deep scheme. Greer's ball skills are first-rate, and he could be stellar playing behind a fierce pass rush. While his nagging injury history is a bit of a concern, he still ranks as one of the best corners available on the market.
25. Jeff Saturday, OC, Colts: The three-time Pro Bowl center has anchored the Colts' high-powered offense for years. Although he missed four games in 2008 with an injury, several teams in need of a center won't hesitate to make an offer.
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