2017 NFL Free Agents: Best Players Available at Every Position Post Day 4

Free agency significantly slowed down on the fourth day of the NFL's new year. Very little movement occurred around the league. 

At this pace, a sandcrawler on Tatooine moves faster. 

One signing of note occurred when the Detroit Lions agreed to a deal with the top-available guard, T.J. Lang, per the team's Twitter account. Otherwise, free agency almost came to a standstill. 

Instead, free agents are visiting teams in an attempt to secure an agreement in the best situation.

Prior to the legal-tampering period, this is how free agency operated. Big-name targets often took their time and made multiple visits. But no one is watching flight patterns anymore. 

Everything comes so fast and furious at the start that the dichotomy between the first and second waves of free agency can be startling. 

As such, the best available players after Sunday remain similar to those still available going into the weekend.

Quarterback

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1. Jay Cutler: Questions regarding Cutler have nothing to do with ability. They have everything to do with attitude and decision-making. Cutler had a quarterback rating over 80 in five straight campaigns before last year's injury-riddled season. 

2. Colin Kaepernick: Of course, Kaepernick comes with baggage. However, he flashed at points during the 2016 campaign. If a team is willing to accept the entire package, Kaepernick has a chance to start again. 

3. Robert Griffin III: Potential is a funny thing. It can be a hindrance as much as a positive. The league has moved beyond the point where Griffin's potential is tantalizing. Instead, he's a two-time failed quarterback who never lived up to his prodigious talent. 

4. Geno Smith: Unlike RG3, Smith isn't viewed as a starting option. Instead, he's a 26-year-old signal-caller with enough upside to draw interest. 

5. Ryan Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick melted down in 2016 with 17 interceptions in 12 games. However, he's only one-year removed from throwing for 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns. 

6. Josh McCown: If there were a picture of a backup quarterback in the dictionary, it would be of McCown's face. At 37 years old, he's seen it all and can serve as a competent spot starter. 

7. Case Keenum: Keenum received a chance to start last year. He completed 60.9 percent of his passes with nine touchdown and 11 interceptions. A change in venue and system is in his best interest. 

8. Mark Sanchez: The former first-round pick started only 10 games in the last four years. The bulk of those came in 2014 with the Philadelphia Eagles, when he threw 14 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions. 

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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1. Latavius Murray: The running back market hasn't experienced any movement. A young, talented back like Murray should be able to find a home. He'll visit the Jacksonville Jaguars Monday, per ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco. 

2. Eddie Lacy: It's understandable if teams experience more trepidation in signing Lacy compared to Murray, even though they're the same age. Lacy has been more productive, yet injury and weight concerns follow him. 

3. Adrian Peterson: The market for the future Hall of Fame running back is starting to materialize. Peterson visited the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, according to USA Today's Tom Pelissero. 

4. LeGarrette Blount: Blount's most effective years came with the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick's supervision. At this point, he's not expected to return, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo (via CSN NE). 

5. Jamaal Charles: Charles is another veteran runner making the rounds. His eventual signing will result in a team's comfort level with his recent knee injuries. Charles may never be the back he once was, but every team can use an experienced veteran in a running-back rotation. 

6. Rex Burkhead: An organization isn't going to sign Burkhead to be a feature back. However, he posted a career high 74 attempts for 344 yards last season, including a 119-yard effort in the season finale. 

7. Darren McFadden: McFadden played a career low three games in 2016. He's only a year removed from a 1,089-yard campaign, though. He'll reach the dreaded 30-year-old plateau in August. 

8. Andre Ellington: In his first two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Ellington posted 2,078 total yards. David Johnson's emergence pushed him down the depth chart, but Ellington contributed as a runner and receiver. 

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

Wide Receiver

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1. Michael Floyd: Teams aren't going to find many available 27-year-old, former 1,000-yard wide receivers. Floyd's current circumstances are a result of his off-the-field issues, but the talent that once made him a first-round pick still surfaces from time to time. 

2. Cordarrelle Patterson: Quietly, Patterson set a new career high in 2016 with 52 receptions. Patterson is always going to be known as a dynamic return man. However, he showed some signs of improvement as a receiver. 

3. Anquan Boldin: At 36 years old, Boldin is not the receiver he once was. Although, he's still a strong slot receiver, who Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford targeted 95 times last season. 

4. Kamar Aiken: All Aiken needs is a chance. When provided with an expanded role in 2015, he nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau.

5. Brian Quick: When the Los Angeles Rams spent a second-round pick on Quick, he was viewed as a developmental prospect. He slowly progressed in his five seasons and set career highs with 41 receptions for 564 yards this past year. 

6. Andrew Hawkins: Hawkins is now three years removed from his best campaign, and he just turned 31 years old. He's still lighting quick out of the slot, though. 

7. Andre Holmes: Holmes never experienced a true breakthrough despite flashes of tremendous potential. The 6'4" target averaged at least 14.4 yards per catch in three of his four seasons with the Oakland Raiders. 

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

Tight End/Fullback/H-Back

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Tight End

1. Jared Cook: The Green Bay Packers attempted to re-sign Cook. When the organization couldn't get a deal done, it turned to Martellus Bennett. The fact Green Bay wanted to retain Cook speaks to how well he played during the team's final 10 games, including the playoffs. 

2. Larry Donnell: In the 2014 season, Donnell became a favorite target of Eli Manning. He caught 63 passes for 623 yards and six touchdowns. His production dropped in each of the last two seasons, but the potential is still there. 

3. Mychal Rivera: Move tight ends are a big part of today's offensive schemes. Rivera isn't a seam-buster as an outstanding athlete or a size mismatch. However, he can serve a reliable underneath target. 

4. Luke Willson: Like Donnell, Willson's best season came in 2014. He caught 22 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. He's not starter material, but he can be a solid No. 2 tight end. 

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

Fullback

1. Zach Line: Amazingly, the fullback market dried up quickly at the start of free agency. Teams saw the value in the position. For those organizations still interested, Line is a 26-year-old lead blocker who served as a collegiate tailback. 

2. Jerome Felton: Five years ago, Felton made the Pro Bowl. He's now 30 years old. If a team needs one of the league's better blockers, he's coming off a year where he helped lead the way for the NFL's top-ranked run offense. 

3. Marcel Reece: Reece isn't the player he once was, and he didn't receive much of an opportunity to play in Seattle last season. 

Best of the Rest: Will Tukuafu, Jorvorskie Lane

Offensive Tackle

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1. Austin Pasztor: Originally, Pasztor was listed as a guard. It's arguably his best position. The explosion in the offensive tackle market changes things, though. Pasztor played well at right tackle over the second half of the 2016 campaign, and he should try to take advantage of the situation. 

2. Ryan Clady: Clady has been one of the NFL's best left tackles throughout his career. Unfortunately, he's suffered season-ending injuries in two of the last three seasons. Clady experienced a torn rotator cuff in 2016, and he'll turn 31 years old this fall. 

3. Andre Smith: Smith is another benefiting from the current tackle market. Smith hasn't been the same player he once was, but the Buffalo Bills are interested in his services, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

4. Sebastian Vollmer: A few years ago, Vollmer and Smith were considered two of the NFL's best right tackles. Times have changed. Vollmer dealt with shoulder and hip injuries this past year, which caused him to miss the entire 2016 campaign. 

5. Bradley Sowell: NFL teams only keep seven or eight linemen on the active roster. The fact Sowell can play either right or left tackle in a pinch holds value. 

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

Guard

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1. Tim Lelito: This year's guard market was great, but it's dried up at this point. Lelito is a good football player, but he's not the same caliber as Kevin Zeitler, Larry Warford or T.J. Lang. He's started 24 games at guard and center during his four-year career. 

2. John Jerry: As the market starts to slow, players start to consider the possibility of returning to their previous teams. According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Jerry may return to the New York Giants after starting 40 games over the last three seasons. 

3. Jermon Bushrod: The first wave of free agency is dictated by players in their prime deemed worthy of massive contracts. The second wave usually entails the signing of veterans who have proved themselves value contributors. In the past eight seasons, Bushrod started 112 games. 

4. Jahri Evans: Speaking of reliable blockers, Evans continued to play well for the New Orleans Saints in his 11th season. He's turns 34 years old later this summer, though, and he's not quite the same player he once was. 

5. Chris Chester: Chester continues to age like a fine wine. Last season, at 33 years old, he played more snaps than he had in any previous season and helped the Atlanta Falcons reach the Super Bowl. 

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

Center

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1. Nick Mangold: The NFL can be a cruel business. Mangold remains one of the league's better centers, yet his age (33 years old) and contractual value forced the New York Jets to release him after 11 seasons. Mangold surrendered one sack in the last four years, per Pro Football Focus. 

2. Joe Hawley: Hawley is a fireplug in the middle of an offensive line. He's also been one of the league's worst centers over the last two seasons. The veteran's attitude is infectious, but he's a marginal starter. 

3. Brian Schwenke: Schwenke isn't even a starter anymore. He lost his job after the 2014 campaign. He's now a 25-year-old utility lineman.

4. John Sullivan: At this point, multiple veteran backups can be included. Sullivan gets the nod simply because he was a long-term starter prior to the 2016 campaign. 

Best of the Rest: Ryan Wendell, Cody Wallace, Michael Person

Defensive End

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1. Connor Barwin: Secondary moves to acquire influential veterans can have a drastic effect on a team's locker room. Barwin brings an infectious personality, professional attitude and relentless motor. A young team in need of a locker-room leader could do much worse than Barwin. 

2. Devin Taylor: In a somewhat surprising outcome, interest in Taylor hasn't been great even though he's a 27-year-old pass-rusher with 58 quarterback hurries over the past two seasons, per Pro Football Focus. 

3. Dwight Freeney: Freeney may be 37 years old, but his performance in Super Bowl LI showed exactly how much he has left in the tank. He can still dominate in spurts. 

4. Chris Long: After being the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, Long never developed into a top-flight pass-rusher. However, the nine-year veteran still provided 53 quarterback pressures last season for the New England Patriots, per PFF. 

5. Mario Williams: Buyer beware. If Mario Williams is motivated by something more than money, he's a tremendous football player. We haven't seen that player in quite some time, though. 

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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1. Dontari Poe: Poe is holding up this year's defensive tackle market. The top-rated player at his position continues to take visits. He left Indianapolis Sunday without a deal and plans to visit Jacksonville Monday, per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora. Once he signs, the rest of the defensive tackles will fall into place. 

2. Johnathan Hankins: For example, Hankins is only 24 years old. He entered free agency after putting together four solid campaigns, especially as a run defender. Yet he remains unsigned. It's only a matter of time. 

3. Bennie Logan: Logan is in his prime as well and one of the league's better nose tackles. He's a tremendous technician, but his role decreased each of the last three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

4. Sen'Derrick Marks:  The rest of the defensive tackle class is interesting, because it's made up of former Jacksonville Jaguars. Marks is more of a penetrating interior presence. He hasn't looked the same since an ACL tear late in the 2014 campaign. 

5. Jared Odrick: While Marks created pressure along the interior, Odrick served as the Jaguars' base end. His versatility and age (29 years old) make him an intriguing option as either a defensive tackle or edge defender. 

6. Tyson Alualu: Rinse and repeat. Alualu started 90 games for the Jaguars. He proved to be versatile and a solid run defender yet never developed into a dynamic presence. 

7. Roy Miller: Miller is the latest to be released by the Jaguars. He was a stout presence in the middle of their defense for the last four seasons. 

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

Inside Linebacker

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1. Dont'a Hightower: With each passing day, the possibility of Hightower's return to the New England Patriots grows more likely. According to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, the organization is keeping a close eye on the linebacker. The New York Jets are interested, too, per Newsday's Kimberley A. Martin. 

2. Zach Brown: How good was Brown during his 2016 breakout campaign? He registered 149 total tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles. According to ESPN Stats & Info (via ESPN.com's Mike Rodak), only Brian Urlacher and Patrick Willis posted similar numbers since 2001. 

3. Kevin Minter: As Hightower and Brown's situations develop, Minter is in wait-and-see mode. Those two will set the market, while the 26-year-old defender should be the next to come off the board. 

4. Perry Riley: Riley started 11 games for the Oakland Raiders in 2016 and experienced his best campaign. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded as the NFL's 10th-best inside linebacker. 

5. D'Qwell Jackson: The veteran will turn 34 years old in September, but any team that puts him on the field in 2017 will have a leader who can run a defense and a productive tackler. 

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

Outside Linebacker

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1. DeMarcus Ware: At this point, it's hard to place a value on what Ware brings to a defense. He's still a legitimate presence off the edge, yet he turns 35 years old this summer and has dealt with injuries during the last two seasons. 

2. DeAndre Levy: Levy is five years younger than Ware, but he faces similar issues. In 2014, he was arguably the NFL's best defensive player, but his career was derailed by injuries. He dealt with hip, knee and quadriceps problems in 2015 and '16. 

3. Elvis Dumervil: Like Ware and Levy, an injury slowed Dumvervil. The 33-year-old pass-rusher missed eight games last season after he required foot surgery. He registered 23 sacks the previous two years, though. 

4. Datone Jones: Jones became a bigger part of the Packers defense each year since the team spent a first-round pick on the edge defender in 2013. His sack numbers may not be impressive, but the amount of quarterback hurries provided continually improved. 

5. Alex Okafor: The 26-year-old defender was consistent in a rotational role over the last three seasons. He provided at least 24 quarterback hurries during each campaign, per Pro Football Focus. 

6. Jarvis Jones: Expectations can ruin a player's career. As a former first-round pick, Jones never performed to the level expected of him. If he's signed to a reasonable contract where he's not considered a primary pass-rusher, he can be reliable contributor. 

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

Cornerback

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1. Morris Claiborne: A team must ask itself if it's willing to overlook years of disappointment in favor of an outstanding 2016 campaign that consisted of seven games. When Claiborne is good, he's really good. When he's bad, he's horrid. 

2. Nickell Robey-Coleman: Eventually, the free-agent market will catch up with NFL trends. For example, nickel is the league's base defense. Robey-Coleman was the league's second-best nickel corner last year, per Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke. Yet he remains unsigned. 

3. Brandon Carr: While Morris Claiborne owns the most upside of any available cornerback, Carr is the most reliable and the best available defensive back from the Dallas Cowboys. The biggest difference is Carr turns 31 years old in May. 

4. Alterraun Verner: Verner may not have become the shutdown corner the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expected when the organization signed him to four-year, $26.5 million contract in 2014, but he wasn't terrible, either. It just wasn't the right fit. 

5. Brandon Flowers: The veteran played extremely well during the first seven seasons, but he found himself on injured reserve to end the last two campaigns. At 31 years old with injury concerns, Flowers' options will be limited. 

Best of the Rest: Darius Butler, 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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1. Bradley McDougald: By the way free agency began, the safety market seemed to be Tony Jefferson and everyone else. Yes, Jefferson was one of the top available talents, but a couple young veterans are still available. The 26-year-old McDougald registered 91 total tackles and 10 defended passes last season. 

2. T.J. McDonald: McDonald is a intimidating box safety, who sets the tone in the secondary. At 6'2" and 217 pounds, he's basically an extra linebacker on the field. Although, he snagged a pair of interceptions in 2016. 

3. Lardarius Webb: The aging cornerback transitioned well to safety. In Webbl's first year along the back line, he proved to be a stabilizing presence alongside Eric Weddle. Like other cornerbacks who struggle late in their careers, Webb found new life with a position switch. 

4. Jairus Byrd: Byrd may not be the same dynamic ball hawk he once was, but he's still a legitimate starting safety. In fact, his 82 total tackles were the most he managed since the 2011 campaign. 

Best of the Rest: Corey Graham, Rashad Johnson, Duke Ihenacho, Kendrick Lewis, Robert Blanton, Chris Prosinski, Dashon Goldson, Michael Thomas, Roman Harper, Donte Whitner, Isa Abdul-Quddus

Specialists

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Kicker

1. Greg Zuerlein: Options are limited among the specialist market. Zuerlein remains the top option for two reasons. First, his big leg. Second, he was one of five kickers to convert all of his extra points last season. 

2. Nick Folk: Folk and Zuerlein could easily be switched. The 32-year-old Folk is a few years older, but he was slightly more accurate overall last season at 87.1 percent. 

Best of the Rest: Dan Carpenter, Zach Hocker