Stocking the Shelves with Day-Old Groceries: Breakdown of Top 2009 Free Agents

At 12:01 AM EST free agency season will officially be underway.

As free agency prepares for it's 17th season, it's one of the thinnest in recent memory.

This is due to a number of reasons:

1. The influx of the franchise tag. Fourteen players in all are now the designated hostages of their respective teams.
2. The salary cap has increased to such a level that resigning top-flight players has become much easier.

But even with the slim pickings, NFL diehards still are looking forward to waking up Friday morning and checking to see what their team has done and who will go where.

In no particular order, here's a look into the crystal ball.

Quarterbacks

1. Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) - Warner probably has a year left in his NFL career, with a max of two. Regardless of his age, he remains a viable option to a team with weapons to surround him.

Likely landing spot(s): Arizona Cardinals

2. Kerry Collins (Tennessee Titans) - From where I'm sitting, Collins has been overrated most of his career and I believe that is continuing. He has been a serviceable backup at best, but has produced when talent is put around him. He would like to be a starter and only one team is willing to give him that.

Likely landing spot(s): Tennessee Titans

3. Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Garcia has been a quality starter in this league with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Bucs. He had some bad years in Cleveland and Detroit, but who hasn't?

Garcia is an older guy who still moves around well and hasn't lost any arm strength. Could start for a couple more years.

Likely landing spot(s): Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, New York Jets

4. Byron Leftwich (Pittsburgh Steelers) - Playing in a reserve role for a beaten Ben Roethlisberger, Leftwich played extremely well. He is a former first round pick who has won over 50 games in his career and is still a young guy. He has lost some weight so his mobility has improved greatly.

If a team is smart, they'll give this guy a shot at starting.

Likely landing spot(s): Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5. Rex Grossman - Grossman is an interesting case. He seems to have an immense amount of unrealized potential. A guy who is in the same boat as Leftwich, but I'm not sure how great his leadership skills are anymore. He has been to the Super Bowl and could be a good stop-gap guy.

Likely landing spot(s): Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears

Running Backs

1. Derrick Ward (New York Giants) - Another guy who may get overpaid because of the slim pickings and his misleading numbers this past season. Broke the 1,000-yard mark but was mainly a beneficiary of Brandon Jacobs bruising the defense before him.

Still has talent and could be a 1a type of guy in a two-back system. Reminds me of Chester Taylor.

Likely landing spot(s): New York Giants, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers

2. Fred Taylor (Jacksonville Jaguars) - The most underrated player of his generation. Taylor is a guy who does not like to bring attention to himself, therefore he has been overshadowed by less-talented, louder running backs.

Still has some gas in the tank, even if he is long in the tooth as far as NFL running backs go.

Likely landing spot(s): New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills

3. Correll Buckhalter (Philadelphia Eagles) - Buckhalter has missed three seasons due to separate knee injuries, but that may work to his advantage. He is a 29 year old, eight year pro who only has five years of abuse.

He is a downhill runner who shows a burst through the hole and could be a fantastic relief runner.

Likely landing spot(s): Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants

Wide Receivers

1. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Cincinatti Bengals) - Houshmandzadeh says he's ready to make the leap to being a No. 1 threat at the receiver position, but is he? T.J. has always played across from Chad Johnson and teams worry that he may have benefited more from that than they know.

May be a No. 1 bust similar to Peerless Price. He has talent and could very well be a No. 1 threat.

Likely landing spot(s): Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans

2. Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis Colts) - After Harrison and the Colts could not come to an agreement to restructure his $13 million salary, Harrison asked for and received his release. He now becomes an interesting question mark. Is he too old to play? Can he still play like the future Hall-of-Famer that he is?

I believe he can and will be a steal for any team that decides to snatch him up.

Likely landing spot(s): Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans

3. Nate Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) - Washington is a guy who is more of a high-end No. 3 or a low-end No. 2 receiver. However, he has the speed to come open deep and stretch the field. Could be a big addition to a receiver-needy team.

Likely landing spot(s): Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans

Tight Ends

1. L.J. Smith (Philadelphia Eagles) - Smith, when healthy, is a very good tight end. He has very good hands and is a decent blocker. His only problem is that he will have an occasional mental lapse leading to a drop or fumble.

He has the talent to be a solid contributor, but could have an unrealistic price tag.

Likely landing spot(s): New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles

2. Chris Baker (New York Jets) - Not a whole lot of numbers from this guy as he is more of a blocking tight end. He is still a younger guy and has the talent to be a good second tight end. He will probably be overpaid as the tight end pool is the thinnest of all the positions in free agency.

Likely landing spot(s): Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions

Offensive Linemen

1. Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis Colts) - An older guy, but still a very good center who understands how to run the line. Could be a big help for a team with a young quarterback looking to get on the right track. His market will depend on whether or not he's willing to slide to guard.

Likely landing spot(s): Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers

2. Derrick Dockery (Buffalo Bills) - After signing a record seven-year, $49 million contract, Dockery's failed stint in Buffalo could either be because of a lack of production or simply an effort to save some cap space to make a run at a couple free agents. Could still help a lineman-needy offense, if the price is reasonable.

Likely landing spot(s): Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers

3. Jason Brown (Baltimore Ravens) - A 25-year old starter hitting the free agent market doesn't happen often, but apparently the Ravens don't plan on bringing him back. He has the versatility the play either center or guard which will increase his market value. Should get a hefty contract and a starting role.

Likely landing spot(s): Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Defensive Linemen

1. Albert Haynesworth (Tennessee Titans) - Haynesworth may be the marquee free agent this year in some opinions, but I'm not convinced. He has only produced in contract years, while being injury-riddled and mediocre in other years.

Unless teams are willing to give him a continuous string of one-year contracts, I think he'll disappoint someone. Not to mention his ridiculous price tag.

Likely landing spot(s): Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Chris Canty (Dallas Cowboys) - He's a good young player who Dallas can no longer afford. With many teams switching to the 3-4 he could become a hot commodity.

Likely landing spots(s): Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals

3. Bertrand Berry (Arizona Cardinals) - Can play outside linebacker in a 3-4 but is probably better with his hand on the ground as a pass-rushing 4-3 defensive end. He is a leader on the field who can still play at a high level.

Likely landing spot(s): Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans

Linebacker

1. Bart Scott (Baltimore Ravens) - Scott is the better of the two free agent linebackers from the Ravens because of the age difference. Scott is still a young guy who could make a very good outside linebacker in either a 4-3 or 3-4. A high-motor guy who overachieves because of his tenacity.

Likely landing spot(s): New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns

2. Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens) - Even as a 13-year veteran he can still play and lead a defense. He doesn't seem to have lost a step and could play middle linebacker for a few more years even with a gradual loss of speed. He's a coach on the field who should have a job over the weekend.

Likely landing spot(s): Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens

3. Jonathan Vilma (New Orleans Saints) - Vilma is a top-flight middle linebacker who has lost some value while playing in a sub-par New Orleans defense. In the right setting, he could be a devastating presence with the talent to turn a defense around.

Likely landing spot(s): Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defensive Backs

1. DeAngelo Hall (Washington Redskins) - Hall played for two teams last year after being released by the Raiders halfway through the season and picked up by the Redskins. He played much better in Washington, but that could have simply been because they are the much better team.

Likely landing spot(s): Washington Redskins

2. Brian Dawkins (Philadelphia Eagles) - Dawkins could wind up being off the market as of Thursday night if he accepts the Eagles' offer. But if not, Dawkins would be a valuable asset to any team willing to look past his age.

Likely landing spot(s): Philadelphia Eagles

Other Notable Free Agents

Lorenzo Neal, FB, Baltimore Ravens

Tony Richardson, FB, New York Jets

Mike Nugent, K, New York Jets

Matt Stover, K, Baltimore Ravens

Justin Miller, KR/PR/CB, Oakland Raiders

List acquired via Adam Schefter on NFL.com. All commentary is that of Bob Cunningham.