| The King 50: Ranking Top NFL Free Agents |
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| 1 |
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| Peyton Manning | | Position: QB Age: 35 | Old Team: COLTS Signed With:
Set free. So many teams will want him. Miami likely to offer the most. | |
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| 2 |
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| Mario Williams | | Position: DE/OLB Age: 27 | Old Team: TEXANS Signed With:
Don't be greedy, Mario. Go to the Pats for less money, better chance to win. | |
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| 3 |
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| Cortland Finnegan | | Position: CB Age: 28 | Old Team: TITANS Signed With:
Feisty guy who can play outside and in the slot. Rams, Lions will look hard. | |
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| 4 |
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| Carl Nicks | | Position: OG Age: 26 | Old Team: SAINTS Signed With:
If he can control his weight -- a risk -- Nicks will be a great signing. | |
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| 5 |
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| Matt Flynn | | Position: QB Age: 26 | Old Team: PACKERS Signed With:
I know he's started only two NFL games. Did you watch them? | |
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| 6 |
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| Brandon Carr | | Position: CB Age: 25 | Old Team: CHIEFS Signed With:
Paucity of CBs makes his value skyrocket. He'll have at least five suitors. | |
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| 7 |
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| Vincent Jackson | | Position: WR Age: 29 | Old Team: CHARGERS Signed With:
Determined to show he's been underpaid his whole career. | |
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| 8 |
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| Jeremy Mincey | | Position: DE Age: 28 | Old Team: JAGUARS Signed With:
Too high, probably. But D now is about getting to the QB, and he does. | |
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| 9 |
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| Stephen Tulloch | | Position: MLB Age: 27 | Old Team: LIONS Signed With:
Lions think he wants too much. Eagles might have just the financial slot for him. | |
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| 10 |
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| Brodrick Bunkley | | Position: DT Age: 28 | Old Team: BRONCOS Signed With:
Might be too high for a run-stuffer, but he was superb last year. | |
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| 11 |
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| Carlos Rogers | | Position: CB Age: 30 | Old Team: 49ERS Signed With:
Niners want him to stay, but won't be able to pay him like some teams can. | |
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| 12 |
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| Jared Gaither | | Position: OT Age: 26 | Old Team: CHARGERS Signed With:
Ill-fated stay in K.C. led to promising end of season starting at LT for Chargers. | |
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| 13 |
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| Alex Smith | | Position: QB Age: 27 | Old Team: 49ERS Signed With:
He'll stay with Niners, barring a major upset. That's why he's so low. | |
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| 14 |
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| Jarret Johnson | | Position: DE/OLB Age: 30 | Old Team: RAVENS Signed With:
Latest in a line of Raven defenders who outgrow their cap. Stout, tough rusher. | |
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| 15 |
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| Red Bryant | | Position: DL Age: 27 | Old Team: SEAHAWKS Signed With:
Perfect 3-4 end, but can also excel inside in 4-3. Seattle wants to keep him. | |
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| 16 |
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| Brandon Lloyd | | Position: WR Age: 30 | Old Team: RAMS Signed With:
I like him more than almost everyone. Pats should take him off the market. | |
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| 17 |
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| Chris Myers | | Position: C Age: 30 | Old Team: TEXANS Signed With:
Widely respected ProFootballFocus.com calls him NFL's best center. | |
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| 18 |
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| Scott Wells | | Position: C Age: 31 | Old Team: PACKERS Signed With:
Widely respected (well, maybe) yours truly thought he was the best center in 2011. | |
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| 19 |
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| Chad Henne | | Position: QB Age: 26 | Old Team: DOLPHINS Signed With:
Surprised to hear so many interested teams. Manning fallback for two teams. | |
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| 20 |
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| Sione Pouha | | Position: DT Age: 33 | Old Team: JETS Signed With:
Made my All-Pro team last year. Would be higher here if he were younger. | |
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| 21 |
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| Evan Mathis | | Position: OG Age: 30 | Old Team: EAGLES Signed With:
Hasn't always been a regular, so still has lots left. Stout, reliable blocker. | |
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| 22 |
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| Paul Soliai | | Position: DT Age: 28 | Old Team: DOLPHINS Signed With:
Younger than Pouha. Still mainly a run-stuffer, and a very good one. | |
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| 23 |
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| Pierre Garcon | | Position: WR Age: 25 | Old Team: COLTS Signed With:
Great value player. If I were Manning, I'd tell my new team: "Go get this guy." | |
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| 24 |
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| Curtis Lofton | | Position: MLB Age: 25 | Old Team: FALCONS Signed With:
Good leader. Falcons want to keep him, but won't be lost if he leaves. | |
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| 25 |
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| John Abraham | | Position: DE Age: 33 | Old Team: FALCONS Signed With:
He'll be 34 in two months, but should be a 10-sack guy at least once more. | |
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| 26 |
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| Cedric Benson | | Position: RB Age: 29 | Old Team: BENGALS Signed With:
Seems like he's been around forever, but he's only 29. Still a 1,200-yard threat. | |
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| 27 |
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| Marques Colston | | Position: WR Age: 28 | Old Team: SAINTS Signed With:
One big problem: Microfracture surgery on both knees. I'd be skeptical. | |
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| 28 |
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| Tracy Porter | | Position: CB Age: 26 | Old Team: SAINTS Signed With:
Inconsistent, but 26-year-old CBs with guts usually get paid. Porter will. | |
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| 29 |
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| Reggie Wayne | | Position: WR Age: 33 | Old Team: COLTS Signed With:
Bound for wherever Peyton's bound, if both get their wish. Turns 34 this year. | |
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| 30 |
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| Demetrius Bell | | Position: OT Age: 27 | Old Team: BILLS Signed With:
One of few true LTs out there, which will get him paid -- maybe by San Diego. | |
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| 31 |
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| Mike Tolbert | | Position: RB Age: 26 | Old Team: CHARGERS Signed With:
Really like this guy. Versatile, physical (243 pounds), young. Good share-job RB. | |
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| 32 |
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| Dwight Lowery | | Position: S Age: 25 | Old Team: JAGUARS Signed With:
A converted safety, the ex-Jet provides good secondary versatility. | |
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| 33 |
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| Mario Manningham | | Position: WR Age: 25 | Old Team: GIANTS Signed With:
He'll likely get overpaid, in part because of his memorable Super Bowl catch. | |
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| 34 |
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| Ben Grubbs | | Position: OG Age: 26 | Old Team: RAVENS Signed With:
One of the two best guards in a weak crop for them. Good drive-blocker. | |
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| 35 |
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| Kyle Orton | | Position: QB Age: 29 | Old Team: CHIEFS Signed With:
Probably too low, but his window to be a productive starter is probably closed. | |
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| 36 |
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| Chris Kemoeatu | | Position: OG Age: 29 | Old Team: STEELERS Signed With:
He's free to sign before Tuesday. Agent says three teams are interested. | |
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| 37 |
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| Peyton Hillis | | Position: RB Age: 25 | Old Team: BROWNS Signed With:
Weird prospect, but has shown flashes of being a top-20 back if mind's right. | |
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| 38 |
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| Jason Jones | | Position: DT Age: 25 | Old Team: TITANS Signed With:
Have always liked his disruptive presence inside. He's itching to get paid. | |
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| 39 |
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| Laurent Robinson | | Position: WR Age: 26 | Old Team: COWBOYS Signed With:
Took him a while to find a home, but became Tony Romo's fave in midseason. | |
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| 40 |
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| Juqua Parker | | Position: DE Age: 33 | Old Team: EAGLES Signed With:
Eagles can't pay everyone. In the right spot, with help, he'll get 10 sacks. | |
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| 41 |
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| Dave Tollefson | | Position: DE Age: 29 | Old Team: GIANTS Signed With:
Valuable sub-package guy, and versatile. All teams need hard-tryers like him. | |
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| 42 |
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| Jason Campbell | | Position: QB Age: 30 | Old Team: RAIDERS Signed With:
Life would be different for Carson Palmer, Hue Jackson if he had stayed healthy. | |
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| 43 |
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| London Fletcher | | Position: LB Age: 36 | Old Team: REDSKINS Signed With:
Yes, he's 36. I don't care if he's 46. He's a guy who plays younger than he is. | |
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| 44 |
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| Erin Henderson | | Position: LB Age: 25 | Old Team: VIKINGS Signed With:
Emerged from brother E.J.'s shadow in solid '11 season, his first starting. | |
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| 45 |
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| Mat McBriar | | Position: P Age: 32 | Old Team: COWBOYS Signed With:
He'll have to justify drop in punt average from 47.9 in 2010 to 43.8 in 2011. | |
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| 46 |
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| Josh Morgan | | Position: WR Age: 26 | Old Team: 49ers Signed With:
Averaged 15.9 per catch in '10, sat out '11 with injury. 49ers want him back. | |
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| 47 |
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| Robert Meachem | | Position: WR Age: 27 | Old Team: SAINTS Signed With:
Drew Brees loves his speed. Never had the chance to be an every-down WR. | |
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| 48 |
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| John Carlson | | Position: TE Age: 27 | Old Team: SEHAWKS Signed With:
Missed last year with a torn labrum, but he should be back healthy in 2012. | |
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| 49 |
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| Terrell Thomas | | Position: CB Age: 26 | Old Team: GIANTS Signed With:
Giants like him more than fellow FA Aaron Ross. Solid No. 2 corner. | |
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| 50 |
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| Abram Elam | | Position: S Age: 30 | Old Team: COWBOYS Signed With:
Smart, active safety who can start, be a good leader. Dallas should keep him. |
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