By allowing players to enter free agency, NFL franchises demonstrate their perception of positional value. Quality offensive tackles and cornerbacks are extremely difficult to find in the ranks below. Tee Higgins, who would have been ranked third overall, was taken off the board by the franchise tag before this ranking was even released, reflecting the escalating value of wide receivers. Surefire starting quarterbacks, like Kirk Cousins, usually only entered free agency if their contract included a clause that prevented the tag.
On the other hand, there are an abundance of starting safeties, off-ball linebackers, and running backs. Edge rusher is a fairly deep position, and it’s worth remembering that in recent years, the greatest deals in free agency have gone to quality, experienced defenders on one-year contracts.
This list is a dynamic document. Eventually, tagged or re-signed players will be deleted, while newly released players will be added. However, this is a rare year in which the top two players from my original ranking can make it to the market.
It’s a nice class overall, with some star power to fuel broadcast segments and quality depth among the top 140 players. (I cannot recall a list of superior players who did not make the original 101.) Free agency is rarely a one-stop shop for mending a team, but it might be the best way to improve depth and fill trouble spots on the roster if you know where to look.
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