If you want to catch the New England Patriots, you can start acting now.
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| Edgerrin James will be available if the Colts don't tag him. (Getty Images) |
But don't be discouraged. You can still find someone like, say, Seattle's Shaun Alexander or Pittsburgh's Plaxico Burress. You might even get a shot at Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, one of 16 unrestricted free agents, including nine starters, on a club that needs to hire a general manager and soon.
"There's some value up and down the list," said one NFC scout. "There are players who can help you, particularly at cornerback. Instead of overpaying for bad corners as they did last year, teams are going to overpay for good corners this year."
The bidding starts in three weeks, but we're ready to examine a preliminary list now -- and the key word there is "preliminary." Some of these guys will be re-signed; some will be protected as franchise players. For now, we look at the top three players at each position, based on talks with scouts and player personnel directors.
Quarterback
1. Drew Brees, San Diego. It's hard to imagine San Diego not protecting Brees with the franchise tag, but if the Chargers don't, he's available to the highest bidder. Brees was the NFL's comeback player of the year, and here's why: He not only had his best year in four seasons, he led the Chargers to the playoffs for the first time in nine years, had a career-best 104.8 passer rating, 27 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 65.5. Brees said he wants a multiyear deal, but look for the Chargers to hedge their bets by signing him for a season, then waiting to see if he can replicate this year's results.
2. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle.
3. Kelly Holcomb, Cleveland.
One final word: You have to believe that Seattle's Mike Holmgren re-signs Hasselbeck; if he doesn't, look for the Niners to take a run at the guy. If you want an intriguing quarterback who won't cost a fortune and who has a future, look at Detroit's Mike McMahon. He's available. So is the Giants' Kurt Warner, soon to be joined by veteran Brad Johnson, a certain cap casualty in Tampa Bay.
Running back
1. Edgerrin James, Indianapolis. This is a tough call between Seattle's Shaun Alexander and the Colts' James, but James wins in a photo finish -- if, that is, Indianapolis doesn't put the franchise tag on him. I believe it will mostly because owner Jim Irsay said so. Plus, James is a perfect fit for the league's highest-scoring club, with Peyton Manning so keen on keeping him he said he'd help the club make room on the books for its career rushing leader. "I know they do a lot of things with James on zone plays," said an NFC scout, "and he doesn't have the hands that Alexander does, but I think James is the better player." So do I, though it's a tough call. Alexander had more yards (1696), more touchdowns (20) and a higher per-carry average (4.8).
2. Shaun Alexander, Seattle.
3. Rudi Johnson, Cincinnati.
The final word: There is talent galore here, and the back who most intrigues me -- as well as a lot of clubs -- isn't in my top three. That's the Jets' Lamont Jordan, and look for him to get more play than Chicago's Anthony Thomas or the Chiefs' Derrick Blaylock. Another back to check out: Carolina's Rod Smart. He's a terrific special-teams player, and he won't cost zillions. One other thing: You might as well add Buffalo's Travis Henry to the list of available backs; the Bills are trying to trade him.
