2018 NFL Free Agency: Who Will Be This Year's Biggest Spenders?

We have reached the eve of free agency, as the NFL legal tampering period begins Monday. 

General managers and agents will legally be able to exchange contract details, leading to juicy rumors and the commitment of millions of dollars. There's mountainous cap space across the league but a top-heavy pool of talent, meaning the biggest spenders may not come from the list of teams with the most room to maneuver.

It's time to play matchmaker between franchises and the available free agents to help predict the teams that will be this year's biggest spenders. Money isn't always the deciding factor of free-agency decisions, but it can be a motivating component, as can a team's trajectory. Trades that have already been announced and are set to be official also factor into these ranking predictions.  

7. Houston Texans

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There may not be a team as motivated to be aggressive in free agency as the Houston Texans should be. With a dearth of draft picks because of their move up for quarterback Deshaun Watson last year, the Texans have to rely on free agency to rebuild their roster. The good news is this class stacks up well for their offensive line and secondary needs, and they have a litter under $66 million to dole out.

Houston won't need to compete with the others teams on this list for wide receiver or edge-rusher help, allowing the team to flex its money in a unique way. Few internal free agents are worth bringing back as more than depth too, so the Texans should look considerably different in 2018, even if they don't land premier talent. It all starts with protecting Watson.

There's just one surefire upgrade at left tackle available, as the New England Patriots' Nate Solder will look for one last big payday. He's not going to be a shutdown blocker, but he is well-rounded and a considerably better player than Houston's other options for the next few years. He should be the Texans' top priority.

The left guard position will also be key, and the depth of the market isn't much better. Andrew Norwell and Justin Pugh will be top targets, as they both fit Houston's rushing attack nicely, and the thought of pairing Solder with Norwell must be attractive. If the Texans can't reel in either player, then Shawn Lauvao will be the next-best name before the talent starts to become replacement-level.

Lauvo is already 30 and doesn't appear to be more than a good stopgap, but he would serve a purpose for the Texans, who need to inject as much talent as they can until their picks replenish next year.

They should benefit from the talent available in the secondary. An upgrade at safety would be tremendous, and Kenny Vaccaro from the New Orleans Saints or Morgan Burnett of the Green Bay Packers makes sense schematically and financially. Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson would also be an underrated addition, as he can play in man coverage from the slot or protect the boundary in two-high alignments.

Houston's decision to not retain A.J. Bouye last year is one of a few moves that hasn't aged well, and the team may need to overhaul the cornerback position. Veteran Johnathan Joseph lost a few steps last season, and the Texans should allow the stalwart to leave as they replenish their youth.

If they want to keep Kareem Jackson in the slot—and they should because that's where he's more comfortable and effective—then bringing in a mid-tier free-agent like Bashaud Breeland, Aaron Colvin or E.J. Gaines would make sense, depending on their desired scheme. All three can press, but Breeland is easily the best man corner of the trio.

If the Texans want to move Jackson outside, then a versatile player like Ross Cockrell or a slot specialist like Nickell Robey-Coleman or Patrick Robinson would be a great pickup.

6. Chicago Bears

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Excitement is high among Chicago Bears fans as their team prepares to remake its roster aroundunder new head coach Matt Nagy and around second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

General manager Ryan Pace has a healthy $50 million to work with after applying the transition tag to cornerback Kyle Fuller, but there are a number of needs the team will want to take care of before the draft. Expect the Bears to be aggressive in spending that cash.

Fuller's situation is the most notable, as he's a premier off-ball corner based on his 2017 performance. With defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's return, the Bears should ensure Fuller pens a long-term deal with the team. Based on Prince Amukamara's usage last year, the team will likely value a press-man-centric corner across from Fuller.

New England's Malcolm Butler and New York Jets corner Morris Claiborne make sense as higher-profile candidates, while Indianapolis Colts corners Pierre Desir and Rashaan Melvin are mid-tier candidates who would fit well, especially if the team adds a competitor to the mix in the draft.

Chicago has a major hole to fill following the release of veteran right guard Josh Sutton, and that market lacks great options. Tennessee Titans guard Josh Kline will draw the most attention but may not be the best system fit for the Bears. If they are willing to gamble on Jack Mewhort's health, the former Colts lineman was a solid starter when on the field. But it's an uninspiring group.

The Bears enter free agency needing wide receiver and pass-rush help as well. It's not a deep class for either, but at least the receiver market has a few top-end players. Chicago should be aggressive and acquire one of the top two available and a second-tier receiver.

The first tier includes Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson. Marqise Lee headlines the second tier of receivers alongside Paul Richardson. The crop then drops to Donte Moncrief and Terrelle Pryor. It's easy to see why Chicago will need to act quickly with strong offers because the depth dissipates quickly.

The edge-rusher market is poor overall, with veteran castoff Connor Barwin arguably being the most proven player. An incentive-based deal with former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu or an injury-flier with Alex Okafor of the New Orleans Saints may be worth it, but it's unlikely the Bears find their needed star in free agency.

5. New York Jets

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Armed with nearly $90 million in available cap space and with just 54 players on their roster, the New York Jets look primed to fill their shopping cart as they aggressively look to capitalize on the momentum built in 2017.

The team wasn't great, finishing with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, but some projected New York to go winless. The Jets found success with a young roster because of great coaching and unearthing some quality contributors. Their list of needs is expansive, but this free-agent crop doesn't offer clear solutions for all of their holes.

Everything will start with quarterback Kirk Cousins and his decision. While Cousins is expected to consider the Jets, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the reality is Cousins may opt for a better situation with the Denver Broncos or Minnesota Vikings. If he does, then the team should pivot to a higher-upside free agent in Teddy Bridgewater on a short-term, low-risk deal that protects the team in case Bridgewater never regains the promising form he showed with the Vikings.

Bridgewater's arrival wouldn't preclude the team from drafting a quarterback and would also fit well with offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates' West Coast attack.

The Jets could also stand to add veterans a running back, center, tight end and wide receiver. Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell or San Francisco 49ers veteran Carlos Hyde would be attractive options while also keeping the Jets free to add one of the more dynamic backs via the draft if they so choose. Detroit Lions center Travis Swanson, New York Giants center Weston Richburg and Baltimore Ravens center Ryan Jensen could be upgrades on the interior offensive line.

Tight end and wide receiver become less clear with upgrade options. At tight end, re-signing Austin Seferian-Jenkins is an attractive choice, but they should inquire on Trey Burton of the Philadelphia Eagles and veteran Jimmy Graham of the Seattle Seahawks first. Burton is more versatile, younger and more dynamic.

For their receiver room, it only makes sense to get involved with both of the top free agents, Robinson and Watkins. If they go elsewhere, the well dries up quickly, and Lee may be their best option.

There are more defensive options in this crop than offensive guys, which is where the Jets could do well. The team needs two cornerbacks. Bringing back Claiborne and adding another veteran makes too much sense. If the team wants the splashier signing, then Fuller of the Chicago Bears could be available on the transition tag or they could chase another press-corner similar to Claiborne in Butler. Colvin would likely be more cost-efficient than both and is more of a projection if he moves outside from the slot.

Linebackers and pass-rushers are much more limited than corner help, though. Demario Davis and Kony Ealy's returns make sense in this market given both are steady players and the fact there aren't any splashy, high-end playmakers readily available. 

A flier on Washington Redskins linebacker Zach Brown may be a small upgrade for an affordable price, and his former teammate Junior Galette would be a worthy gamble as an upside signing. A deep sleeper would be Miami Dolphins defensive end Terrence Fede, who has stood out in limited playing time.

4. Los Angeles Rams

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The start of the new league year is Wednesday, but the Los Angeles Rams have already shown they plan on being aggressive in retaining the core of their playmakers to continue competing for playoff berths.

Early trades of defensive end Robert Quinn to the Miami Dolphins and Alex Ogletree to the New York Giants opened around $16 million in their cap while dumping two players who weren't effective. The team can continue to add to their $31.5 million of cap space by releasing Tavon Austin to save $3 million, restructuring several veteran deals and extending franchise-tagged safety Lamarcus Joyner.

The goal with all of this maneuvering would be clear with in-house free agents such as wide receiver Watkins and with All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald needing a long-term extension. They already made two aggressive moves in the secondary by trading for off-man specialist Marcus Peters and acquiring press-man specialist Aqib Talib.

Watkins' value will be fascinating. Many look at his 39 receptions, 593 yards and eight touchdowns and wonder why he's so valuable, but the tape tells no lies in regard to his impact on the offense. Watkins is a tremendously gifted talent, blending excellent athleticism and nuance, and it draws multiple defenders' attention his way often.

He's a major reason why head coach Sean McVay's scheme worked so well, as he opened up everything underneath for Robert Woods and company. He's only 24, and his re-signing should be a deemed as a priority considering the weak rest of the market and incapable immediate replacements via the draft.

Incumbent slot corner Robey-Coleman was also solid last year and should be brought back if the price is reasonable. Otherwise, the team may favor a veteran like Terence Newman or Patrick Robinson on a short-term deal to keep their flexibility. Former Oakland Raiders slot T.J. Carrie is an interesting player who could excel with better players around him and underneath defensive genius Wade Phillips.

3. Cleveland Browns

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The team most expected to spend big money this offseason is one that recently had only 29 percent of the $177.2 million cap space allocated to its roster.

The Cleveland Browns have struggled in many ways, but retaining their few quality free agents over price haggling under past regimes is part of their 1-31 stretch over the past two years. Now under the guidance of general manager John Dorsey and an impressive who's who of front office talent, Cleveland looks poised to be more of a factor in the market.

Dorsey's presence should be a positive for the Browns' free-agent pitches, and he's already begun to use up some of the draft assets that were in place when he was hired in December. The Browns have already committed a total of $31.9 million to newly acquired quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Jarvis Landry, injecting much-needed talent who could help the team win immediately. Their three recent trades may be the bulk of what they plan on doing until the draft.

With a veteran quarterback in tow and an impact receiver to help the offense, the defensive backfield could use another playmaker. Washington corner Breeland would be an excellent, underrated signing despite others having bigger national profiles. It depends on how the team plans to utilize Damarious Randall, who was recently acquired via a trade with the Green Bay Packers.

Randall struggled to fit in with the Packers, playing slot safety, slot corner and boundary corner, so he may be more of a depth piece than some may assume because he was a starter for a bad secondary.

Safety is a more limited pool of talent if they decide Randall is a corner, but if Los Angeles Chargers safety Tre Boston hits the market, the Browns should be aggressive in pursuit, as he would allow incumbent Jabrill Peppers to play inside the box more often. Boston is the only qualified rangy safety available to sign and should demand a solid contract.

2. Minnesota Vikings

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Most teams that experience deep playoff runs have limited flexibility to improve their rosters, as it's taken time for players to develop and dead money from past contracts to disappear.

The Minnesota Vikings, however, are facing a unique situation to improve their chances of competing for a Super Bowl because general manager Rick Spielman and has been extremely successful drafting talent, and the coaching staff has excelled at developing those players. Because of careful cap management and squeezing production out of cost-controlled players, the Vikings may upgrade the most important position on the field while not gutting their team in order to do so.

At more than $47 million under the cap, the Vikings aren't limited in the short term and can act without too much fear of long-term roster overhaul. They should be considered the favorites to land Cousins, as they have plenty of money to fulfill his demands and are easily the best situation he will be choosing from.

If Spielman can land Cousins, Minnesota would have a much more stable situation than any of its incumbent three quarterbacks can provide, and the quarterback would be surrounded by prolific receivers and a top-three defense. If Cousins opts to go elsewhere, then retaining either Case Keenum or Teddy Bridgewater and adding a draft pick to the mix would be cost-efficient.

The team could continue to open space if they want, such as releasing defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and running back Latavius Murray, allowing them even more breathing room to retain running back Jerick McKinnon and defensive tackle Tom Johnson or to roll over with intentions of extending defensive stalwarts.

Linebacker Anthony Barr, cornerback Trae Waynes, linebacker Eric Kendricks, defensive end Danielle Hunter and receiver Stefon Diggs are all up for extensions this summer and will be free agents in 2019. A Cousins deal would leave the team with less to spend, but the Vikings could restructure deals in the future to retain all of their free agents if interest remains. They are incredibly cap healthy and are in a good position to maintain the backbone of an impressive roster.

Since second-year running back Dalvin Cook will be coming off injury, the team may also look at cheap free-agent backs if McKinnon departs and they decide Murray isn't worth his $6.35 million cap hit.

Workhorse veteran Frank Gore may be willing to take less to play for a contender, while Dallas Cowboys back Alfred Morris and Philadelphia Eagles back LeGarrette Blount both fit the mold as grinders who could soak up carries until Cook is comfortable.

1. San Francisco 49ers

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The San Francisco 49ers are poised to be the most active team this offseason.

They began the offseason by rewarding quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with a five-year, $137.5 million contract, a move that wisely took advantage of their ability to front-load the deal and still have around $60 million in cap space left over. That also accounts for an extension for wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and the surprise signing of former Seattle Seahawks star corner Richard Sherman. The two major needs for the team—wide receiver and offensive guard—come at positions that have a star or two available, and the 49ers will surely be major influencers on who lands where.

Similarly to the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, the 49ers will need to start their exploration of improving their receiver depth chart at the top of the talent pool. Both Watkins and Robinson would be massive upgrades despite possessing opposite skill sets, and San Francisco offers one of the best offensive minds in the game with head coach Kyle Shanahan, as well as the fact Garoppolo is an asset as a young quarterback on the clear upswing.

Watkins or Robinson may be inclined to take a short-term deal with the hopes of turning a strong 2018 into a large extension, a la Alshon Jeffery with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. San Francisco can offer that opportunity.

At guard, the clear top available talent is Norwell, who is a terrific pass-blocker and would have no issues fitting in with Shanahan's zone-centric rushing attack. He will command top guard money, approximately $12 million per year or more. That would be a wise investment for the 49ers, who need to protect Garoppolo more than anything else. If they miss out on Norwell, New York Giants guard Justin Pugh is likely next in line in terms of talent and may cost around $10 million per year.

All salary information is courtesy of Over the Cap.