Cream of the crop: NFL’s top free agents
The new league year that gets underway at 3 p.m. Wednesday signals the start of free agency (the “tampering” period begins Monday). The Chronicle’s John McClain ranks the top five free agents at each position (with the teams they played for last season):
QUARTERBACKS
1. Drew Brees, New Orleans 2. Kirk Cousins, Washington 3. Case Keenum, Minnesota 4. A.J. McCarron, Cincinnati 5. Sam Bradford, Minnesota
GUARDS
1. Andrew Norwell, Carolina 2. Jack Mewhort, Indianapolis 3. D.J. Fluker, N.Y. Giants 4. Josh Kleine, Tennessee 5. Patrick Omagmeh, Jacksonville
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
1. NaVorro Bowman, Oakland 2. Avery Williamson, Tennessee 3. Preston Brown, Buffalo 4. Zach Brown, Washington 5. Todd Davis, Denver
RUNNING BACKS
1. Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 2. Dion Lewis, New England 3. DeMarco Murray, Tennessee 4. Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland 5. Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota
CENTERS
1. Weston Richburg, NY Giants 2. John Sullivan, L.A. Rams 3. Ryan Jensen, Baltimore 4. Russell Bodine, Cincinnati 5. Spencer Long, Washington
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
1. Nigel Bradham, Philadelphia 2. Tahir Whitehead, Detroit 3. Trent Murphy, Washington 4. Pernell McPhee, Chicago 5. Anthony Hitchens, Dallas
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Allen Robinson, Jacksonville 2. Sammy Watkins, L.A. Rams 3. Paul Richardson, Seattle 4. Marqise Lee, Jacksonville 5. Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis
TIGHT ENDS
1. Jimmy Graham, Seattle 2. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati 3. Trey Burton, Philadelphia 4. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NY Jets 5. Martellus Bennett, New England
DEFENSIVE ENDS
1. Muhammad Wilkerson, NY Jets 2. Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta 3. Alex Okafor, New Orleans 4. DaQuan Jones, Tennessee 5. Denico Autry, Oakland
CORNERBACKS
1. Malcolm Butler, New England 2. Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams 3. E.J. Gaines, Buffalo 4. Aaron Colvin, Jacksonville 5. Bashaud Breeland, Washington
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Nate Solder, New England 2. Cameron Fleming, New England 3. Justin Pugh, N.Y. Giants 4. Chris Hubbard, Pittsburgh 5. James Hurst, Baltimore
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Star Lotulelei, Carolina 2. Sheldon Richardson, Seattle 3. Dontari Poe, Atlanta 4. Bennie Logan, Kansas City 5. Beau Allen, Philadelphia
SAFETIES
1. Eric Reid, San Francisco 2. Morgan Burnett, Green Bay 3. Tre Boston, L.A. Chargers 4. Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans 5. Tyvon Branch, Arizona