SPECIAL AGENTS
Ranking NFL’s top available talent ahead of open market
IF NFL free agents were items stuffed into a stadium vendor’s tray, here is what you would hear on loop: Receivers! Pass-rushers! Blockers! Get your difference-makers here!
The next few weeks won’t match the quarterback movement seen in 2020 free agency, when Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Cam Newton changed teams — or in the recent trade market, when Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford moved around — but the NFL is a passing league, and there is a wealth of elite talent available to make a quarterback’s life easy. Or miserable.
A brutal week of veteran cuts is over, and free-agency negotiations begin Monday during what is considered by many NFL agents to be a bad year for clients to hit the open market, with many teams squeezed by the salary-cap reduction to $182.5 million and looking for bargains. Advantage to the Jaguars, Jets and Patriots, all of whom have $64 million or more in cap space to go on a spending spree.
Here is The Post’s list of the top 30 free agents. Suitors and predictions are based on background conversations with informed NFL personnel as well as an attempt to think along with clubs and players.
» 1. Trent Williams, LT Returned from sitting out 2019 as dominant as ever after a trade from Washington to the 49ers. Future Hall of Famer could reset the market above $23 million per year as tackles continue to play into their late 30s. Suitors: 49ers, Colts, Chargers, Bengals. Prediction: 49ers.
» 2. Shaquil Barrett, DE/OLB Avoided a second straight franchise tag when the Buccaneers chose Chris Godwin. Notched 27.5 sacks in his past 31 games after an unremarkable first four seasons. Suitors: Buccaneers, Jets, Bengals, Titans, Jaguars. Prediction: Dolphins.
» 3. Kenny Golladay, WR
Price went up when Lions didn’t tag Golladay, like other top receivers Godwin and Allen Robinson. Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons gave way to an injury-shortened five games in 2020. Suitors: Giants, Jets, Patriots, Washington, Dolphins. Prediction: Dolphins. » 4. Joe Thuney, G
Surprisingly tagged in 2020 but not again, as the Patriots reshuffled parts along the line. Started all 80 games in his career. Suitors: Jaguars, Jets, Chiefs, Bengals. Prediction: Jets.
» 5. Bud Dupree, DE/OLB Tagged in 2020, season-ending ACL injury, left for free agency. That’s the risk of contracts in the vicious NFL. Might not be high impact in 2021, but should be over a multi-year deal. Suitors: Giants, Falcons, Colts, Panthers, Titans. Prediction: Titans.
» 6. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Me-first on- and off-field persona overshadows some of his production, including nine touchdowns last season. Blocks in the run game, runs routes in traffic and does all the dirty work. Suitors: Jets, Jaguars, Washington, Cardinals, Lions. Prediction: Washington.
» 7. Yannick Ngakoue, DE/OLB Traded twice in the past six months, but has never had fewer than eight sacks in any of his first five seasons. Struggles to set the boundary against the run. Suitors: Dolphins, Ravens Colts, Bengals, Jets. Prediction: Jets.
» 8. Aaron Jones, RB Melvin Gordon learned last season that accomplished running backs aren’t in high demand in free agency. Jones took his game to another level the past two seasons, especially as a receiver. Suitors: Jets, Dolphins, 49ers, Cardinals. Prediction: Dolphins.
» 9. Hunter Henry, TE Injuries have lowered a once sky-high ceiling, but he is coming off a career-best 60 receptions. Stretches the middle of the field. Suitors: Colts, Panthers, Patriots, Titans. Prediction: Colts.
» 10. Carl Lawson, DE/OLB Look beyond the 5.5 sacks to the 10.1 percent pressure rate, 24 quarterback hits and 64 pressures in his first year as a starter, according to Pro Football Focus. Suitors: Vikings, Browns, Cowboys, Patriots, Bengals. Prediction: Patriots. » 11. Corey Linsley, C Good time for the seven-year veteran to enter free agency — off his first career
First-Team All-Pro season. Suitors: Chargers, Seahawks, Dolphins, Bengals. Prediction: Chargers. » 12. Trey Hendrickson, DE/OLB Cap-crunched Saints tagged Marcus Williams over Hendrickson, who had 13.5 sacks and defended the run, too. Not much wear on his tires, either. Suitors: Vikings, Browns, Jaguars, Falcons. Prediction: Jaguars. » 13. Anthony Harris, S
Do-it-all safety who had nine interceptions combined in 2018-19 and 104 tackles in 2020. Suitors: Raiders, Falcons, Cowboys, Browns. Prediction: Cowboys.
» 14. Will Fuller, WR Speedster averaged 16.6 yards per catch in his first season out of DeAndre Hopkins’ shadow. Suspended for the 2021 season-opener to complete his six-game PEDs ban. Suitors: Jets, Washington, Colts, Texans. Prediction: Colts.
» 15. Matthew Judon, DE/OLB Faces same question as all great passrushers leaving the Ravens: Is he a product of the scheme? Denied report he is seeking $20 million per year. Suitors: Ravens, Titans, Browns, Seahawks. Prediction: Seahawks.
» 16. Shaquill Griffin, CB Better corners were available last offseason, but that’s when Griffin was coming off a career-best 14 passes defended. Could benefit from a bidding war. Suitors: Packers, Jets, Cowboys, Raiders, Cardinals. Prediction: Raiders.
» 17. Alejandro Villanueva, LT Two Pro Bowl selections and 90 starts since serving three tours of duty in Afghanistan as an Army captain. Steelers likely can’t afford to keep their top three free agents. Suitors: Steelers, Colts, Jaguars, Broncos. Prediction: Colts.
» 18. Jonnu Smith, TE Checks two important boxes for tight ends: red-zone weapon and a tacklebreaker. Requires some projection because he has never produced like an elite tight end. Suitors: Bills, Patriots, Panthers. Prediction: Patriots.
» 19. Jadeveon Clowney, DE/OLB If he didn’t like last year’s free-agent market, he’s going to hate his offers after a no-sack, eight-game season. Shouldn’t wait around until a late August offer this time. Suitors: Browns, Raiders, Rams. Prediction: Browns.
» 20. Jameis Winston, QB Sacrificed money and playing time last year to learn from Drew Brees and Sean Payton. Is that the answer to limiting his turnovers? Caught between low-end starter and high-end backup. Suitors: Saints, Washington, Panthers, Texans. Prediction: Saints.
» 21. Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Giants want to keep their homegrown, run-stuffing Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, but likely will be outbid, especially with a weak draft class at defensive tackle. Suitors: Giants, Vikings, Raiders, Jaguars, Lions, Texans. Prediction: Raiders.
» 22. Corey Davis, WR Former No. 5-overall draft pick has never had 1,000 yards or more than five touchdowns in a season but offers tantalizing red-zone size (6-foot-3). Sentiment is he’s about to break out. Suitors: Giants, Jets, Ravens, Eagles, Colts. Prediction: Ravens.
» 23. John Johnson, S Jalen Ramsey deservedly gets the bulk of attention in Rams’ secondary, but Johnson’s savvy as a four-year starter made the defense work. Suitors: Chargers, Browns, Falcons, Raiders, Eagles. Prediction: Falcons.
» 24. William Jackson, CB Bengals proactively replaced him last offseason and have other pressing needs for their spending spree. Is he enough of a ball hawk? Suitors: Steelers, Bengals, Cardinals, 49ers, Colts, Jets. Prediction: Cardinals.
» 25. Trai Turner, G Five-time Pro Bowler at age 28 was cut for $11.5 million in savings after one injury-plagued season with Chargers and a failed trade market. Suitors: Giants, Jets, Bengals, Chiefs, Ravens. Prediction: Bengals.
» 26. Curtis Samuel, WR Drafted by Giants GM Dave Gettleman while with the Panthers. One of Urban Meyer’s favorite players at Ohio State. More of a specialized weapon than a No. 1 receiver. Suitors: Giants, Patriots, Jaguars, Washington. Prediction: Jaguars.
» 27. Haason Reddick, DE/OLB Former first-round pick finally broke through with 12.5 sacks (five in one game against the Giants) but also ranked No. 19 in pressures. Suitors: Giants, Panthers, Falcons, Patriots. Prediction: Giants.
» 28. Mitchell Schwartz, RT Started 128 straight games from 2012-19 and became an All-Pro. Surprise cap casualty who probably will need to wait to sign until he can pass a physical after back surgery. Suitors: Bengals, Ravens, Raiders, Seahawks. Prediction: Seahawks.
» 29. Patrick Peterson, CB Two of the best cornerbacks of the 2010s are available and could have similar markets. Peterson has stayed healthier and gets the edge over Richard Sherman. Suitors: Chiefs, Raiders, Colts, Packers. Prediction: Chiefs.
» 30. Leonard Floyd, DE/OLB Former top-10 pick is in free agency for the second straight year, but with greater leverage off a career revival with 10.5 sacks for the Rams. Suitors: Giants, Vikings, Chargers, Titans. Prediction: Chargers.