NFL Free Agency: The Best Available NFL Free Agent at Every Position

NFL free agency is officially under way!

Kind of.

Teams are free to negotiate with any unrestricted free agent that they please, although they are unable to sign free agents from other teams until Friday.

With the abbreviated time frame for signing players, the action is sure to be fast and furious, and there are many questions left to be answered at the moment.

Whose face will Daniel Snyder tag first on his giant free-agent dartboard? (Barry Cofield.)

Who will win the quarterback battle in Seattle between Charlie Whitehurst and Tarvaris Jackson?

And can Tyler Thigpen lead the Bills back to the playoffs?

OK, so maybe those aren't the burning questions that NFL fans are dying to have answered, but I can give you the best free agent at every position in this year's class and where many of them are being rumored to end up.

Quarterback: Marc Bulger

With Matt Hasselbeck off the table, Marc Bulger becomes a much hotter commodity. Sure, he's not flashy and won't be able to carry a team, but the guy knows how to win. Period.

Bulger hasn't seen much time on the field the last few seasons and certainly isn't getting any younger (34). He's not a mobile QB and needs a solid O-line in front of him to make things happen. But in the right situation, Bulger could certainly thrive.

Bulger's arm strength and accuracy are above average, and he rarely forces a bad throw. If you're in the market for a game manager and a proven winner, Bulger looks like the best on the market.

Running Back: DeAngelo Williams

Williams has missed time due to injury in each of the past two seasons, including 10 games last year, but when healthy, he has been among the league's top runners.

Williams has averaged five yards per carry over the course of his career, and he should still have some tread on his tires, having received just 841 career carries—a relatively low number for someone about to enter the sixth year of his NFL career.

The 28-year-old's top suitors are believed to be the Panthers and the Broncos, where he would reunite with former head coach John Fox.

UPDATE: Williams has re-signed with Carolina.

Fullback: Vonta Leach

Leach led the way for the league's top rusher, Arian Foster, last season, and he should reap the benefits of his work during this year's free-agency period.

Leach doesn't touch the ball a whole lot, but he is a very good blocker, and he should be a hot commodity for teams looking to upgrade at the fullback position.

Wide Receiver: Sidney Rice

Rice has reportedly narrowed his choices down to the Seahawks and Vikings (obviously someone who can throw him the football isn't a deciding factor), although another team could still enter the fray unexpectedly.

After missing 10 games last season, Rice is still one of the most sought-after players on the free-agent market because of his size (6'4") and big-play ability down the field.

A decision from Rice will likely come in the near future, and Seahawks fans are desperately hoping that he chooses the Emerald City.

Tight End: Zach Miller

It's hard to see Miller getting away from the Raiders, especially since he ought to be a top priority when Nnamdi Asomugha likely signs elsewhere.

Miller caught 60 passes last season for 685 yards and five touchdowns while playing in 15 games. Miller has been a steady performer over the course of his career, and at 25 years old, there is a good chance that his best football is still to come.

Guard: Carl Nicks

Nicks has been a valuable member of the Saints offensive line over the past three seasons after being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft and was rewarded last season with a Pro Bowl trip to Hawaii.

The 26-year-old was also named to the NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2011 list, checking in at No. 55. Nicks is only going to keep getting better, and he is not only the top guard in free agency but arguably the top offensive lineman on the market.

Center: Olin Kreutz

Kreutz is the best center on the market in what looks to be the weakest position on the market, and now that Casey Wiegmann has returned to the Chiefs, it has gotten even weaker.

Kreutz is a proven veteran, but he is nearing the end of his career, and it's hard to know how many more productive years he has left in the tank.

Even taking Kreutz's age (34) into consideration, the six-time Pro Bowler is clearly the best option when it comes to the centers on the free-agent market.

Offensive Tackle: Jared Gaither

Gaither is a mountain of a man, standing 6'9" and weighing 340 lbs., and he can use his size effectively, as he is the top offensive tackle in this year's free-agent class.

The Raiders are reportedly the top team going after the former Raven, and it would definitely be a nice upgrade to their trenches if they were able to land him.

Defensive End: Cullen Jenkins

This year's crop of defensive ends doesn't have a dominating sack artist, but there are plenty of good players available, and Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins was ultimately the pick here.

Jenkins is very valuable because of his ability to rush the passer and play the run in the 3-4 defense; although he has never been to the Pro Bowl, he has put up some very strong seasons during his NFL career.

Last season, Jenkins recorded just 18 tackles, but he also had seven sacks in just 11 games for the Super Bowl champs. The Cowboys and Redskins are both very interested in Jenkins' services (although the Redskins are interested in everyone's services).

Defensive Tackle: Aubrayo Franklin

The Niners were dealt a bit of a blow when they reportedly lost veteran linebacker Takeo Spikes to the Chargers on the first day of free agency, and now they will likely lose the top defensive tackle on the market in Franklin as well.

Franklin has been a stout defender against the run for the Niners defense for the past four seasons, and he will now likely look to move on to a new 3-4 defense that is in need of a nose tackle.

Kansas City would be a great fit for Franklin, and the Chiefs are speculated to be one of the teams that would make the biggest run at the run stopper.

Linebacker: Stephen Tulloch

Linebacker is another position with a solid but unspectacular class this year, and Stephen Tulloch was the pick largely due to his 160 tackles last season.

Tulloch was a tackling machine last year for the Titans, and he should be one of the most sought-after linebackers this year, having recorded a combined 281 tackles the past two seasons.

Cornerback: Nnamdi Asomugha

Nnamdi is not only the top corner available, but also the top player available on most people's free-agent boards.

The Jets are reportedly courting Asomugha to team with Darrelle Revis, and if that happens, then I may never play Madden again.

Thanks a lot, Rex Ryan.

Safety: Eric Weddle

Weddle will be entering his fifth season in the league, and he is coming off his first All-Pro selection last season.

The 26-year-old would be a big loss for the Chargers if they are unable to re-sign him (even if Bob Sanders is now in San Diego—he will go down on play two of Week 1 anyway). But no matter where he ends up, Weddle should be looking at a nice pay raise this season.

UPDATE: Weddle has re-signed with San Diego.

Kicker: David Akers

Akers became a free agent because of a new rule in the CBA that no longer allows teams to designate both a franchise player and transition player.

The Eagles decided to keep the franchise tag on quarterback Michael Vick (Vick > Akers), thus allowing Akers to test the free-agent waters.

The 36-year-old five-time Pro Bowler is by far the most experienced and proven kicker on the market, and it will be interesting to see where the former Eagle lands.

Punter: Daniel Sepulveda

If you cared in the least about that last slide, then you should enjoy special teams slide No. 2 and the selection of Daniel Sepulveda as the best punter on the market this year.

Sepulveda gets the nod for being left-footed and for being able to kick the ball a long, long ways.

There's the expert analysis you have been craving.

Now let's play some football!