2017 NFL Free Agents: Best Players Available at Every Position Post-Day 3

Well, you can say this for NFL teams in 2017. Very few are sitting on their hands.

The first two days of free agency this year have seen a dizzying flurry of activity. Thursday brought with it over a billion dollars in total contracts. Friday saw the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots do their darnedest to assemble a roster that looks like something out of Madden NFL than the actual NFL.

And the fun kept rolling right along on Saturday. Well, sort of. Day 3 of free agency was easily the quietest so far in 2017, with most of the signings involving second-tier (at best) players.

After three days of free agency, a good many of the league's top available free agents have already found new homes, but that doesn't mean the cupboard is bare. Far from it given Saturday's silence, with veterans such as Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson still looking for work.

As Day 3 of free agency draws to a close, let's take a look at the best of who's left on the open market.

Quarterback

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As everyone waits for one Antonio Ramiro Romo to potentially hit the open market, here are the top free agents available at the most important position in football.

1. Jay Cutler: Just about every fan in the NFL dreads the idea of the 33-year-old Cutler starting for their beloved whoevers, but he's easily the best quarterback currently available. In 11 seasons, Cutler's only three games below .500 as a starter.

2. Robert Griffin III: Yes, Griffin had a magical season back in 2012, but that magic appears to have vanished at this point. Whether it's due to injuries or regression, Griffin will be hard-pressed to get another starting gig any time soon.

3. Geno Smith: Another player who's sure to inspire groans from fans, Smith has a career completion percentage of 57.9 percent and a minus-eight touchdown-to-interception ratio. Still, at just 26 years old, someone will take a flier on the former second-round pick.

4. Ryan Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick's age (34) matches his ranking among qualifying quarterbacks in 2016 at Pro Football Focus. This is not what one might call a happy coincidence. His days as a starter are all but surely over.

5. Colin Kaepernick: Remember when Kaepernick led the 49ers to a Super Bowl and signed a fat extension with the San Francisco 49ers? Neither do I—largely because the 29-year-old has been an inaccurate mess since.

6. Josh McCown: All hail king journeyman! McCown has had a moment or two in the NFL, but he's a 37-year-old career backup who looked awful in Cleveland last year. Of course, everyone looked awful in Cleveland last year.

7. Case Keenum: Keenum had a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio in nine starts for the Los Angeles Rams in 2016, but the 29-year-old logged 60.9 percent completions and could at least serve as a so-so backup.

8. Mark Sanchez: Sanchez was once a top-five pick and twice played in the AFC Championship Game. Of course, I was also once 25 with a six-pack and all of my hair. Both were quite a long time ago. Then, of course, there's this.

Best of the rest: Ryan Nassib, Shaun Hill, Matt McGloin, EJ Manuel, Blaine Gabbert, T.J. Yates, Kellen Moore, Josh Johnson, Dan Orlovsky, Thad Lewis

Running Back

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The market at tailback is loaded with Pro Bowlers, 1,000-yard rushers and veteran stars. But questions about every name on this list have led to a slowly developing free-agent market at the position.

1. Eddie Lacy: Lacy's still only 26 years old and has two 1,000-yard campaigns in four NFL seasons. If he's in shape, Lacy is easily the available player with the best chance of enjoying multiple seasons as a featured tailback with a new team.

2. Latavius Murray: Murray topped 1,000 yards on the ground two years ago and found the end zone 12 times for the Oakland Raiders in 2016. But after averaging 5.2 yards a carry as a rookie, that number has fallen to four yards even in each of the past two seasons, and the Raiders scaled back his workload last year.

3. Adrian Peterson: Supporters of Peterson will point to his 2,000-yard season, multiple Pro Bowl nods and future enshrinement in Canton. Detractors will point to his age, recent injury history and paltry 1.9 yards a carry in limited action in 2016.

4. LeGarrette Blount: Blount's coming off a career year, recording 1,161 rushing yards and leading the NFL with 18 rushing scores. But Blount has hit the 1,000-yard mark only twice in seven NFL seasons, and he hit the big 3-0 last December.

5. Jamaal Charles: No tailback in the history of the NFL has averaged more yards per carry than Charles' 5.5. However, that number was 2.2 yards lower in 2016, and the 30-year-old has less than 100 carries over the last two seasons combined.

6. Rex Burkhead: In Burkhead's last game, the four-year veteran piled up a career-high 119 yards on the ground against the Baltimore Ravens. The question is whether that explosion was a fluke or a sign of what the 26-year-old is capable of if he gets a larger role.

7. Darren McFadden: McFadden barely saw the field in 2016 thanks to the emergence of rookie Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, but as recently as 2015, the oft-injured 29-year-old was a 1,000-yard running back.

8. Andre Ellington: Ellington went over 1,000 total yards in his first two seasons but averaged a career-low 2.8 yards a carry in 2016. Still, an NFL club might be intrigued by his abilities as a runner and receiver, plus he's only 28 years old.

Best of the Rest: Rashad Jennings, Chris Johnson, Tim Hightower, Reggie Bush, Denard Robinson, James Starks, Matt Asiata, DeAngelo Williams, Joique Bell, Brandon Bolden, Dexter McCluster, Ronnie Hillman, Travaris Cadet, Justin Forsett, Christine Michael, Khiry Robinson, Karlos Williams

Tight End/Fullback

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Tight End

With Martellus Bennett signing with the Green Bay Packers Friday, the "crown jewel" of this year's free-agent class at tight end is off the market, but the cupboard isn't completely bare.

1. Jared Cook: Cook disputed reports that he turned down more money from Green Bay than Bennett got. He won't be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers in 2017, but as the best tight end left in free agency, demand for his services has increased.

3. Larry Donnell: There are times when Donnell shows flashes of being a difference-maker at the tight end position. But he's been wildly inconsistent since his mini-breakout in 2014, and God help you if you ask Donnell to block.

3. Luke Willson: Willson's not a worldbeater, but he has 30 starts over the past four seasons and caught 71.4 percent of his targets in 2016. He may well get his chance as a full-time starter in 2017.

4. Mychal Rivera: Rivera had 58 catches for 534 yards and four touchdowns for the Raiders back in 2014, but the 26-year-old has spent the last two seasons on the side of a milk carton. That early success looks like a fluke.

Best of the Rest: Gavin Escobar, Jacob Tamme, Clay Harbor, Chris Gragg

Fullback

Patrick DiMarco (Buffalo Bills) and Kyle Juszczyk (49ers) were both signed very early in free agency, which robbed the fullback spot of most of its intrigue—if it ever had any.

1. Jerome Felton: Felton was the lead blocker for the NFL's top-ranked rushing attack in Buffalo in 2016, but the Bills' signing of DiMarco rather exposes Felton for what he is—a capable but average veteran fullback.

2. Marcel Reece: The 31-year-old had a couple of good years in Oakland, including a 2012 campaign where he recorded 52 receptions and 767 yards from scrimmage. From 2012 to 2015 with the Raiders, Reece caught at least 30 passes.

Best of the Rest: Zach Line, Will Tukuafu, Jovorskie Lane

Wide Receiver

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It's been something of an odd market for wide receivers in 2017. DeSean Jackson got a nice payday from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Terrelle Pryor (Washington Redskins) and Alshon Jeffery (Philadelphia Eagles), considered arguably this year's top two targets, both settled for one-year, "prove it" deals.

1. Michael Floyd: Off-field concerns led to Floyd's departure from the Arizona Cardinals, and in fact, he was only recently released from jail, according to TMZ Sports. Still, we're talking about a 27-year-old former first-rounder with a 1,000-yard season under his belt.

2. Cordarrelle Patterson: I don't know that Patterson will ever be the receiver the Vikings thought he would. But the big-bodied speedster is still only 25 years old and has a pair of Pro Bowls on his resume as a kick returner.

3. Anquan Boldin: Boldin is the Energizer rabbit of NFL wide receivers. He just keeps going and going, including last year in Detroit. Yes, he's old, and he isn't as fast as he once was. But Boldin is still tough as nails, runs good routes and will go get the rock in traffic.

4. Kamar Aiken: Aiken wasn't able to duplicate his 2015 success (944 receiving yards) a season ago, but the 27-year-old from Central Florida has shown the ability to be a decent NFL starter in the slot.

5. Brian Quick: Quick's age (27) and size (6'4") will probably entice some team to gamble that all Quick needs is a change of scenery. It's more likely, however, that Quick is just a middling NFL talent at best.

6. Andrew Hawkins: Hawkins was once a solid slot receiver whose speed and toughness compensated for his lack of size. However, Hawkins turned 31 on Friday, and his wheels aren't what they were a few years ago.

7. Vincent Jackson: Jackson has been a 1,000-yard receiver six times in a standout career, but he's 34 and just looked done last year with the Buccaneers. He might land a one-year deal, but that's probably about it.

Best of the Rest: Andre Holmes, Stevie Johnson, Justin Hunter, Quinton Patton, Corey Brown, Deonte Thompson, Devin Hester

Offensive Tackle

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Tackle fever is alive and well in 2017, with even average options like Riley Reiff (Vikings) and Russell Okung (Los Angeles Chargers) landing contracts that pay well in excess of $10 million a season.

1. Austin Pasztor: Prior to last season, Pasztor was a guard by trade, but after faring relatively well as the right tackle for the Cleveland Browns last year, the 26-year-old is the best option left at a position that's already picked over and then some.

2. Ryan Clady: Clady's a two-time All-Pro, but age and injuries appear to be taking a toll on the 30-year-old. When you get replaced by the turnstile that was Kelvin Beachum last year, that's what we in the football game call a bad sign.

3. Andre Smith: There was a time when Smith was one of the best right tackles in football. However, over the past several seasons, Smith has rotated between hurt and lousy. The No. 6 overall pick in 2009 is on the wrong side of 30, but some desperate club will roll the dice anyway.

4. Sebastian Vollmer: Vollmer had a number of good to excellent seasons manning the right end of the line for the Patriots. But he's almost 33 and just missed the entire 2016 season, leaving his NFL future uncertain.

5. Bradley Sowell: Sowell made nine starts for the Seattle Seahawks in 2016, so he at least offers some starting experience and versatility. However, the 27-year-old struggled big time, grading as PFF's fourth-worst qualifying tackle on the season.

Best of the Rest: Jake Long, Breno Giacomini, Gosder Cherilus, Byron Bell, Mike Adams

Offensive Guard

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This year's top free-agent guard (Kevin Zeitler) signed the richest contract in NFL history at the position with the Browns. None of these interior linemen are going to hit it that big, but there's at least one plus starter still available.

1. T.J. Lang: That plus starter is Lang, who ranked 13th among all guards in 2016 in 791 snaps for the Packers, per Pro Football Focus. If Lang can show that he's healthy, the 29-year-old should land a nice payday.

2. Tim Lelito: Lelito's snaps were scaled back last season, but the 27-year-old received good grades from PFF for the New Orleans Saints in 13 starts in 2015 and can play both guard spots. Given his age and versatility, Lelito won't hurt for suitors.

3. John Jerry: Jerry's hardly a worldbeater, but the 30-year-old has been durable, logging over 1,000 snaps in four of the past five seasons. Given that durability and at least average play, odds are better than not Jerry will be starting somewhere again in 2017.

4. Jermon Bushrod: The good news is that Bushrod was a 16-game starter for the Miami Dolphins in 2016. The bad news is that PFF graded him as the second-worst qualifying guard in the entire National Football League.

5. Jahri Evans: Evans isn't getting any younger at 33, and he isn't the player he once was. However, the six-time Pro Bowler was at least an OK guard in 2016, and Evans has failed to hit the 1,000-snap mark only once during his 11-year NFL career.

6. Chris Chester: Chester is 34 years old and coming off easily the worst season of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons. With that said, though, Chester's been about as durable as linemen get, starting every game since 2010.

Best of the Rest: Brandon Fusco, Patrick Omameh, Andrew Garner, Mike Harris

Center

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The center market in 2017 wasn't especially robust to begin with. After a couple of days of a weak class being picked over, the best shot NFL teams have at upgrading at the position is probably in the 2017 NFL draft.

1. Nick Mangold: If there's a quality starter left in the free-agent market, it's likely Mangold, whom the New York Jets let go after his injury-marred 2016 campaign. However, the former first-round pick is also a seven-time Pro Bowler who was at one time arguably the best in the business.

2. Brian Schwenke: The 25-year-old Schwenke started 28 games for the Tennessee Titans over the last four years. He was squeezed out in Nashville, but a change of scenery could be all the young center needs to take the next step.

3. Ryan Wendell: In 2012, PFF graded Wendell as the best center in the AFC while he was with the Patriots. That was a while back, and he wasn't as good in 2013 or 2014 and barely played due to injury in 2015 and 2016. Someone will give him a chance to try to recapture past glories.

4. Joe Hawley: The 28-year-old isn't a great center. Or even an especially good one. He is, however, hard-nosed and has started 52 games over the past six seasons with the Buccaneers and Falcons.

Best of the Rest: John Sullivan, Cody Wallace

Defensive End

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Speaking of picked over.

Pass-rushers are annually some of the most coveted players in free agency, and 2017 has been no exception. Still a late release by the Eagles left at least one potential difference-maker there for the taking.

1. Connor Barwin: At 30 years old, Barwin still has more than a little tread on his tires, he's twice recorded double-digit sacks in a season, he's scheme-versatile and he's missed all of one start since 2010.

2. Devin Taylor: Taylor's production dropped in 2016 in his first season as a full-time starter for the Detroit Lions, but he's in the prime of his career at 27 and a capable contributor both rushing the passer and in run support.

3. Dwight Freeney: Freeney's all kinds of old (37), and he managed all of three sacks last year for the Falcons. However, if you manage his snaps, Freeney's still quite effective, and we are talking about a player with 122.5 career sacks.

4. Chris Long: Long isn't the player he was in his heyday with the Rams, but he was able to resurrect his career after a fashion with the Patriots in 2016. Like Freeney, he's best-suited to a situational role at this point.

5. Mario Williams: Williams was 13 kinds of awful for the Dolphins in 2016, but it wasn't that long ago the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft had 14.5 sacks for the Bills. Someone's going to take a flier on Mario being super one more time.

Best of the Rest: Ziggy Hood, Vance Walker, Darryl Tapp, Antonio Smith, Cullen Jenkins, C.J. Wilson, Jarvis Jenkins, Jason Jones, Margus Hunt, Kendall Reyes, Wallace Gilberry

Defensive Tackle

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The big bodies on the defensive line have been striking it richer than before in recent drafts, with Baltimore's Brandon Williams the most recent nose tackle to snag a monster deal in free agency.

He may not be the last in 2017.

1. Dontari Poe: Poe didn't have an especially good 2016, but he's very nimble for a nose tackle and just now entering his prime. Given his ability to get upfield and collapse the pocket, his big payday is coming. It's just a matter of when and from whom.

2. Johnathan Hankins: Hankins hasn't quite been able to duplicate his seven-sack 2014 season the past couple of years with the New York Giants, but he's also easily the best 3-technique tackle still left in free agency.

3. Bennie Logan: Logan doesn't have the pass-rushing chops of Poe (5.5 sacks in four NFL seasons), but the 315-pound four-year veteran does what 1-techs are supposed to do—clog rushing lanes and stuff the run.

4. Sen'Derrick Marks: Marks piled up 8.5 sacks back in 2014, but injuries have limited the 30-year-old the past two years. If he's healthy now, though, Marks might have the most pass-rush upside of any free-agent tackle.

5. Jared Odrick: Like Marks, Odrick is a once-promising tackle whom Jacksonville released after injuries derailed his career. The 29-year-old had 5.5 sacks back in 2015, so someone will give him a shot.

6. Tyson Alualu: Given the money the Jacksonville Jaguars invested in Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson, it's no surprise the team cleaned house behind them. Alualu does offer some scheme versatility, but he's not much of a pass-rusher.

Best of the Rest: Al Woods, Corbin Bryant, Leger Douzable, Tyrunn Walker, Glenn Dorsey, Paul Soliai, Devon Still, Jordan Hill, John Jenkins

Inside Linebacker

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While some positions in free agency have already been pretty thoroughly picked over, teams looking for inside linebacker help still have a variety of options to choose from—including one who's going to be plenty expensive to sign.

1. Dont'a Hightower: Hightower is a 26-year-old Pro Bowler coming off a starring role in Super Bowl LI who ranked inside the top five at his position in 2016, per Pro Football Focus. Just be ready to write a fat check to get him.

2. Zach Brown: The 27-year-old broke out in Buffalo last year, leading the AFC with 149 total tackles. That he hasn't already been scooped up points to the fact Brown had never come close to that level of production prior to 2016.

3. D'Qwell Jackson: Jackson failed to hit the 100-tackle mark last year for the first time since 2010, partly because of a performance-enhancing-drug suspension. Jackson led the AFC in tackles in both 2014 and 2015, but he's also 33 years old.

4. Kevin Minter: Minter finally began to live up to his second-round status in his fourth NFL season, racking up 81 tackles and adding 3.5 sacks. However, Minter has struggled in pass coverage, and the Redbirds made no real effort to bring him back.

5. Perry Riley: Riley revived his career after a fashion with the Raiders last year, and he's only 28 years old. Still, he also hasn't played in all 16 games since 2013, which was also the last time he topped 100 total tackles.

6. Manti Te'o: Te'o isn't ever going to live up to the hype that dogged him during his last season at Notre Dame, and he's a liability in coverage. But when healthy, he's a solid run-stuffer who has improved as a pro.

Best of the Rest: Keenan Robinson, Daryl Smith, Justin Durant, Akeem Dent, Sean Spence, Kelvin Sheppard, Michael Wilhoite

Outside Linebacker

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Much like with the defensive ends, the big guns at outside linebacker have already found new homes. Most of the remaining options are either aging veterans or young players whose production hasn't lived up to their draft slot.

1. DeMarcus Ware: Ware will be 35 when the season starts, and his days as an every-down force are in the rearview mirror. He is, on the other hand, a player with 138.5 career sacks who can still get after the quarterback in a situational role.

2. DeAndre Levy: A few years ago, Levy was one of the best 4-3 "Will" linebackers in football. However, after a pair of injury-marred seasons and amid questions about whether he can ever regain past form, the 29-year-old is a risky pickup.

3. Elvis Dumervil: Much like Ware, Dumervil's numbers have fallen way off the past two years after a 17-sack 2014 campaign. Dumervil is at least a couple of years younger and needs just one more sack to hit triple digits for his career.

4. Datone Jones: Jones hasn't come close to living up to his first-round billing, with only seven starts and nine sacks over four NFL seasons. His best bet at turning things around might lie with switching to defensive end on a four-man front.

5. Jarvis Jones: Like Jones, Jones (is there an echo in here?) has been a massive bust in his four seasons with the Steelers. Still, someone will gamble that the talented former Georgia star is just a late bloomer.

6. Alex Okafor: In his second NFL season, Okafor piled up eight sacks for the Cardinals. He has only 5.5 in the two years since, but at only 26 there should be enough upside present to generate interest as at least a rotational player.

7. Jelani Jenkins: Back in 2014 (when all these players were apparently good), Jenkins had 110 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the Dolphins. He hasn't sniffed that production since, but he's still just 24 years old.

Best of the Rest: Trent Cole, Paul Kruger, Erik Walden, Sam Acho, Armonty Bryant, Spencer Paysinger, Michael Morgan

Cornerback

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It was a good year to be a cornerback in free agency, with Stephon Gilmore (Patriots), Logan Ryan (Titans) and A.J. Bouye (Jaguars) all landing over $10 million a season.

However, that also means the pool of available talent at corner is starting to look more like a puddle.

1. Morris Claiborne: Claiborne had the best season of his career in 2016, but he still hasn't come close to living up to his status as a former No. 6 overall pick. Maybe last year was the beginning of a breakout, but Claiborne's going to be an expensive gamble.

2. Nickell Robey-Coleman: Robey-Coleman played well as a slot corner in 2016, allowing a passer rating against of just 74.9, according to PFF. At 25, he's just beginning to enter the prime of his career as well.

3. Brandon Carr: Carr might not be a "shutdown" corner, but in nine years, he hasn't missed a start and he's still only 30. He won't get huge money like his last contract, but some team will be tempted to pay up given the dearth of available options.

4. Alterraun Verner: Verner was once a Pro Bowl cornerback, but he was a big-time bust in Tampa Bay. It seems odd to say about a 28-year-old cornerback, but Verner had the look last year of a player who might be running out of gas.

5. Brandon Flowers: Speaking of running out of gas, it's been a good long while since Flowers made it through all 16 games in a season—2011 to be precise. That won't stop some NFL team from hoping that Flowers can bloom back into Pro Bowl form.

6. Darius Butler: Butler isn't a great cornerback, and he's the wrong side of 30. However, he's a consistent performer who has experience playing both in the slot and even at free safety. That "hybrid" skill set could generate more than a little interest in his services.

Best of the Rest: Patrick Robinson, Darrelle Revis, Terence Newman, Leon Hall, Valentino Blake, Leodis McKelvin, Leonard Johnson, Kayvon Webster, Jerraud Powers, Sam Shields, Coty Sensabaugh, Greg Toler

Safety

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In today's pass-wonky NFL with spread offenses and athletic tight ends, safeties are more important than ever before. That uptick in value has affected free agency, where a market that used to be slow-moving at the position has now ramped up.

1. T.J. McDonald: Back in 2014, McDonald topped 100 stops and looked to be an ascending young talent at the safety position. In the two years since, however, he's struggled somewhat with inconsistent play.

2. Bradley McDougald: McDougald might not ever be an "elite" safety, but the 26-year old has quietly become a decent starter who saw his snaps increase in each of the last three seasons, per PFF. Not bad for an undrafted free agent whom the Kansas City Chiefs cast off.

4. Isa Abdul-Quddus: Abdul-Quddus is a 27-year-old journeyman with 31 career starts for three teams. He can play either safety spot, but he'll have to prove he's healthy after failing a physical stemming from neck issues he developed late in the 2016 season, per the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.

5. Lardarius Webb: Webb is the latest aging cornerback to make the switch to free safety. He was released after the Ravens gave Tony Jefferson a fat contract, but Webb's coverage abilities should appeal to more than a few NFL clubs.

6. Jairus Byrd: Byrd parlayed his status as one of the NFL's pre-eminent ball-hawking safeties into a massive contract with the Saints back in 2014. Since then, he's done very little, although 2016 was the best of his three years in the Big Easy.

7. Rashad Johnson: Back in 2014, Johnson tallied over 90 tackles for the Cardinals as a 16-game starter. That led to a disappointing two-year span in Arizona and Tennessee that might mean the end of the line as a full-time starter for the 31-year-old.

Best of the Rest: Corey Graham, Duke Ihenacho, Kendrick Lewis, Robert Blanton, Chris Prosinski, Dashon Goldson, Michael Thomas, Daimion Stafford, Roman Harper, Donte Whitner

Specialists

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An already-thin kicker market has already been further depleted, with players such as Chandler Catanzaro (Jets) quick to find new places of employment.

Kicker

1. Nick Folk: Folk has hit well over 80 percent of his field-goal attempts and two-thirds of his tries from 50 or more yards over the past four seasons, per PFF. The 32-year-old has also misfired on only two extra points since the PAT rule was changed prior to the 2015 campaign.

2. Greg Zuerlein: "Legatron" developed an early reputation for having a huge leg, but the 29-year-old has actually missed eight of his last 13 field-goal attempts from beyond 50 yards. Someone will take a shot on that big leg, though.

Best of the Rest: Dan Carpenter, Zach Hocker