2011 NFL Free Agents: The Top 12 Potential Free Agents at Every Position

With reports saying the end of the NFL lockout is near, it is officially time to shift gears and start focusing on the potential of free agency starting very soon.

As NFL teams scramble to sign free agents once the lockout is lifted, we are doing our best to identify the top free agents expected to be available once the clock strikes midnight on the day things go back to normal.

Note

No one knows for sure at this point if franchise tags will be valid, or if players involved in the NFLPA lawsuit will be eligible for the franchise tag. It also remains to be seen how many years of service are required for unrestricted free agency.

Quarterbacks

The free-agent quarterback class of 2011 hinges on two players: Michael Vick and Peyton Manning.

Both players were tagged by their respective clubs as franchise players before the lockout began, but it remains to be seen how the franchise tag will be used under a new collective bargaining agreement. There is a chance that both Vick and Manning could hit the open market.

While we would not expect either player to leave their current city, it would definitely make the offseason a little more interesting.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Peyton Manning	Indianapolis Colts	Franchise tag
2	Michael Vick	Philadelphia Eagles	Franchise tag
3	Alex Smith	San Francisco 49ers
4	Matt Hasselbeck	Seattle Seahawks
5	Matt Moore	Carolina Panthers
6	Matt Leinart	Houston Texans
7	Seneca Wallace	Cleveland Browns
8	Rex Grossman	Washington Redskins
9	Kerry Collins	Tennessee Titans
10	Brady Quinn	Denver Broncos
11	Dennis Dixon	Pittsburgh Steelers
12	Troy Smith	San Francisco 49ers

Running Backs

The running back class of 2011 belongs to DeAngelo Williams.

While other running backs in this class will get some attention on the open market. Williams will be the highest-paid runner from this class once it's all said and done.

Outside of Williams, there are great options for starters, complementary backs and third-down options—unless Arian Foster, who should be an exclusive-rights free agent, gets out of Houston. The Texans will have incredible leverage in re-signing him but it is possible he could slip away.

We also like Ahmad Bradshaw, who is a powerful runner with great hands. He could be very tempting to many teams.

One player to keep an eye on as a sleeper is Michael Bush of Oakland. If given a chance as a starter, he could really do some damage.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Arian Foster	Houston Texans	Exclusive Rights (ERFA)
2	DeAngelo Williams	Carolina Panthers
3	Ahmad Bradshaw	New York Giants
4	Michael Bush	Oakland Raiders	Restricted Free Agent (RFA)
5	Cedric Benson	Cincinnati Bengals
6	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	New England Patriots	RFA
7	Ricky Williams	Miami Dolphins
8	Ronnie Brown	Miami Dolphins
9	Pierre Thomas	New Orleans Saints
10	Tim Hightower	Arizona Cardinals
11	Leon Washington	Seattle Seahawks
12	Darren Sproles	San Diego Chargers

Fullbacks

The fullback position is enjoying a small revival in the NFL over the past few years. Players like Peyton Hillis making a successful move from fullback in Denver to star running back in Cleveland certainly help.

The 2011 fullback class is surprisingly strong, with classic blocking backs and athletic runner/receivers available.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Vonta Leach	Houston Texans
2	Mike Tolbert	San Diego Chargers
3	Le'Ron McClain	Baltimore Ravens
4	John Kuhn	Green Bay Packers
5	Jason Snelling	Atlanta Falcons
6	Jerome Felton	Detroit Lions
7	Lawrence Vickers	Cleveland Browns
8	Brian Leonard	Cincinnati Bengals
9	Heath Evans	New Orleans Saints
10	Lex Hilliard	Miami Dolphins
11	Marcel Reece	Oakland Raiders
12	Korey Hall	Green Bay Packers

Wide Receivers

Perhaps the deepest and strongest free-agent position this year is at wide receiver.

NFL teams will find themselves swimming with options at wide receivers who are of a Pro Bowl-caliber and able to make immediate impacts in their new cities.

The availability of the franchise tag will affect teams here as well. San Diego would love to keep Vincent Jackson if the franchise tag can be applied. Minnesota confused many when they chose to tag linebacker Chad Greenway over Sidney Rice—who will be a hot player on the market this summer.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Sidney Rice	Minnesota Vikings
2	Vincent Jackson	San Diego Chargers	Franchise tag
3	Santonio Holmes	New York Jets
4	Steve Smith	New York Giants
5	Braylon Edwards	New York Jets
6	Malcolm Floyd	San Diego Chargers
7	Mike Williams	Seattle Seahawks
8	James Jones	Green Bay Packers
9	Santana Moss	Washington Redskins
10	Terrell Owens	Cincinnati Bengals
11	Brad Smith	New York Jets
12	Randy Moss	Tennessee Titans

Tight Ends

The tight end class of 2011 is not as strong as those at wide receiver or cornerback, but there are three Pro Bowl-caliber tight ends hitting the market this summer.

No. 1 among them is Zach Miller.

Miller has been the best offensive weapon in the passing game for Oakland over the last two seasons. He's not just a receiver though; Miller can get dirty as an in-line blocker.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Zach Miller	Oakland Raiders
2	Marcedes Lewis	Jacksonville Jaguars	Franchise tag
3	Owen Daniels	Houston Texans
4	Kevin Boss	New York Giants
5	David Thomas	New Orleans Saints
6	Matt Spaeth	Pittsburgh Steelers
7	Bo Scaife	Tennessee Titans
8	Ben Patrick	Arizona Cardinals
9	Leonard Pope	Kansas City Chiefs
10	Desmond Clark	Chicago Bears
11	Reggie Kelly	Cincinnati Bengals
12	Daniel Felts	St. Louis Rams

Offensive Tackle

Matt Light of the New England Patriots may be the most accomplished tackle available this offseason but it is the young guns at the tackle position who are worth watching.

Players like Tyson Clabo, who has become one of the best right tackles in football, will be the early signings once free agency begins.

Light and other veterans like Doug Free will be attractive options at left tackle, but it's Clabo who will command the early attention.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Tyson Clabo	Atlanta Falcons	RFA
2	Doug Free	Dallas Cowboys
3	Jared Gaither	Baltimore Ravens
4	Matt Light	New England Patriots
5	Willie Colon	Pittsburgh Steelers
6	Jermon Bushrod	New Orleans Saints
7	Ryan Harris	Denver Broncos
8	Jamaal Brown	Washington Redskins
9	Ryan Cook	Minnesota Vikings
10	Mario Henderson	Oakland Raiders
11	Sean Locklear	Seattle Seahawks
12	Jeremy Trueblood	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Interior Linemen

Rarely do offensive guards who have made All-Pro teams hit the open market, but that will happen if no franchise tag is allowed to be used this year.

Logan Mankins, one of the best guards in the NFL, has an expired contract and a bad relationship with the ownership in New England. Without a franchise tag he will see huge money on the open market.

Mankins might not be the best guard available though. That could be Carl Nicks.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Carl Nicks	New Orleans Saints	RFA
2	Logan Mankins	New England Patriots	Franchise tag
3	Ryan Kalil	Carolina Panthers	Franchise tag
4	Harvey Dahl	Atlanta Falcons	RFA
5	Marshall Yanda	Baltimore Ravens
6	Daryn Colledge	Green Bay Packers
7	Davin Joseph	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8	Justin Blalock	Atlanta Falcons
9	Lyle Sendlein (center)	Arizona Cardinals
10	David Baas (center)	San Francisco 49ers
11	Chris Chester	Baltimore Ravens
12	Kyle Kosier	Dallas Cowboys

Defensive Ends

There are not any "can't-miss" players in the 2011 defensive end class of free agents, but there is a solid group of pass-rushers and run-stuffers for both the 4-3 and 3-4 defense here.

The fight for top dollars will come down to Ray Edwards, formerly of the Vikings, and defensive end/outside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka. Edwards is a traditional 4-3 defensive end, which bodes well for his bank account, but Kiwanuka is a stand-up pass-rusher made for the 3-4.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Mathias Kiwanuka	New York Giants
2	Ray Edwards	Minnesota Vikings
3	Charles Johnson	Carolina Panthers	RFA
4	Jason Babin	Tennessee Titans
5	Cullen Jenkins	Green Bay Packers
6	Cliff Avril	Detroit Lions	RFA
7	Shaun Ellis	New York Jets
8	Stephen Bowen	Dallas Cowboys
9	Ray McDonald	San Francisco 49ers
10	Tim Crowder	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11	Jason Hatcher	Dallas Cowboys
12	Kenny Iwebema	Arizona Cardinals

Defensive Tackles

Looking for a game-changing defensive tackle? Unfortunately, the free-agent class at the position is weak.

The NFL's best defensive lineman, Haloti Ngata, will become available this summer, and so will savvy veteran nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin.

Ngata is a likely recipient of the franchise tag, if one exists, and deservedly so.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Haloti Ngata	Baltimore Ravens	Franchise tag
2	Aubrayo Franklin	San Francisco 49ers
3	Brandon Mebane	Seattle Seahawks
4	Barry Coefield	New York Giants
5	Pat Williams	Minnesota Vikings
6	Anthony Adams	Chicago Bears
7	John Henderson	Oakland Raiders
8	Gerard Warren	New England Patriots
9	Alan Branch	Arizona Cardinals
10	Eric Foster	Indianapolis Colts
11	Clifton Ryan	St. Louis Rams
12	Gabe Watson	Arizona Cardinals

Linebackers

If there is no franchise tag when the 2011 offseason rolls around, the talent at outside linebacker will be simply incredible.

With a franchise tag, this is still a talented group, but nothing like the flood of marquee players we will see if there is no franchise designation.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	LaMarr Woodley	Pittsburgh Steelers	Franchise tag
2	Tamba Hali	Kansas City Chiefs	Franchise tag
3	David Harris	New York Jets	Franchise tag
4	Paul Posluszny	Buffalo Bills
5	Stephen Tulloch	Tennessee Titans
6	James Anderson	Carolina Panthers
7	Barrett Ruud	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8	Rocky McIntosh	Washington Redskins
9	Kevin Burnett	San Diego Chargers
10	Thomas Davis	Carolina Panthers
11	Quincy Black	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12	Manny Lawson	San Francisco 49ers

Cornerbacks

No position group has the number of dominant players available to free agency like the cornerback position this summer.

The NFL's best cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha, is joined by other elite cornerbacks—Johnathan Joseph and Antonio Cromartie—to form an exceptionally talented and deep group of free agents for cornerback-needy NFL teams to bid for.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Nnamdi Asomugha	Oakland Raiders
2	Johnathan Joseph	Cincinnati Bengals
3	Antonio Cromartie	New York Jets
4	Brent Grimes	Atlanta Falcons	RFA
5	Carlos Rogers	Washington Redskins
6	Ike Taylor	Pittsburgh Steelers
7	Eric Wright	Cleveland Browns
8	Josh Wilson	Baltimore Ravens
9	Richard Marshall	Carolina Panthers
10	Chris Carr	Baltimore Ravens
11	Jason Allen	Houston Texans
12	Ronde Barber	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Safety

The group at safety this summer is not particularly strong or heavy, but Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers figures to cash in big time.

Weddle has excellent range and is a good tackler—basically the only two things you need from a safety. He will be a top-10 player on the open market.

Rank	Player	2010 Team	Designation
1	Eric Weddle	San Diego Chargers
2	Quintin Mikell	Philadelphia Eagles
3	Michael Huff	Oakland Raiders
4	Dawan Landry	Baltimore Ravens
5	Roman Harper	New Orleans Saints
6	Tanard Jackson	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7	Atari Bigby	Green Bay Packers
8	Bernard Pollard	Houston Texans
9	Tom Zbikowski	Baltimore Ravens
10	Tyrell Johnson	Minnesota Vikings
11	Melvin Bullitt	Indianapolis Colts
12	Danieal Manning	Chicago Bears