The gold rush to land free agents can make or break a franchise’s Super Bowl dreams. A Mike Vrabel or a Stephon Gilmore or an Andrew Whitworth can be a godsend. A Kirk Cousins or a Case Keenum or a Neil O’Donnell can cost you. An Albert Haynesworth or a Nnamdi Asomugha can kill you. Buyer beware.
The Colts ($106 million) and Jets ($93.1 million) will own the largest wallets when the frenzy begins with the legal tampering Monday and signings are made official beginning Wednesday. Desperate teams will overpay. Smart teams will overachieve.
Money madness.
Thirty-two teams at the starting line, for a race as dizzying as the Indy 500.
Gentlemen, start your wallets.
Here are 30 free agents who will be in demand:
1. Le’Veon Bell, RB
If he leaves his baggage at the door, he can impact an offense as a dual threat like Saquon Barkley. How will the year off affect him? Will he just take the money and run? Should have enough tread on his 27-year-old tires for two or three years. Sam Darnold would love him.
Expected suitors: Colts, Jets, Raiders, Packers, Texans, Chiefs and Ravens.
2. Nick Foles, QB
Tom Coughlin needs a quarterback but won’t want to overpay. Doug Marrone has to win. Will cost much more than Teddy Bridgewater.
Expected suitors: Jaguars.
3. Earl Thomas, S
Turns 30 in May, and he’s missed 19 games over the past three seasons. Fractured his leg in October. Still considered an elite difference-maker, and Richard Sherman craves a Legion of Boom reunion in San Francisco. Looking to break the bank in a saturated safety market.
Expected suitors: 49ers, Cowboys, Packers, Broncos, Colts.
4. Trey Flowers, DE
Won’t turn 26 until August. He has 21 sacks and 164 total tackles over the past three seasons. Former fourth-round steal who is a complete player with versatility. Third-ranked edge defender in 2018 by Pro Football Focus.
Expected suitors: Dolphins and coach Brian Flores, Flowers’ defensive coordinator last season; Jets, who have the money to afford a $14 million-$17 million man; Lions and coach Matt Patricia, Flowers’ other former coordinator; Titans; Chiefs.
5. Landon Collins, S
Tackling machine closer to line of scrimmage, and a co-captain and three-time Pro Bowler on Big Blue defense. Just 25.
Expected suitors: Chiefs, Redskins, Texans, Colts, Saints.
6. Justin Houston, OLB
Cap casualty — after signing six-year, $101 million contract in 2015 — who has registered 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Still dangerous at age 30.
Expected suitors: Packers, 49ers, Browns, Falcons.
7. Tyrann Mathieu, S
The Honey Badger started all 16 games for the Texans (89 combined tackles, three sacks, eight pass breakups, two interceptions and a fumble recovery) and is poised to become the Money Badger. Was voted captain in preseason and is negotiating to stay.
Expected suitors: Texans, Buccaneers, Ravens (to replace Eric Weddle), 49ers, Saints (a homecoming).
8. Trent Brown, OT
Anyone need a 6-foot-8, 380-pound blindside bodyguard who will turn 26 in April? He has surrendered three sacks, 12 QB hits, 39 pressures in 744 pass-block snaps. Tom Brady will miss him.
Expected suitors: Jets, Texans, Panthers, Vikings, Browns and Chargers.
9. C.J. Mosley, MLB
Former first-rounder with 579 tackles, 8.5 sacks and nine interceptions in five years as a popular Raven. A four-time Pro Bowler. Turns 27 in June.
Expected suitors: Cardinals, Rams (to replace Mark Barron), Raiders, Browns, 49ers, Steelers, Broncos, Ravens.
10. Tyrell Williams, WR
A towering 6-foot-4 deep threat (nine of his 17 career touchdowns are from 30 yards or more). Considers himself a No. 1 receiver. Just 27.
Expected suitors: Colts, 49ers, Raiders, Steelers.
11. Golden Tate, WR
Clutch, savvy slot receiver with four straight 90-plus catch seasons as a Lion. Would love to keep catching passes from Carson Wentz. Turns 31 in August.
Expected suitors: Ravens (to replace Michael Crabtree and John Brown), Panthers (Devin Funchess), Patriots (Chris Hogan), Steelers (Antonio Brown), Colts and Eagles.
12. Anthony Barr, OLB
Former first-rounder who recorded 338 tackles and 13.5 sacks in five seasons as a Viking. Seeking $12 million per following four straight Pro Bowls. Turns 27 on March 18.
Expected suitors: Browns (to replace Jamie Collins), Colts, Panthers, Bills, Raiders, Jets and 49ers.
13. Za’Darius Smith, OLB
A 6-foot-4, 272-pound riser with 61 pressures and 8.5 sacks last season in Baltimore. Just 26. Won’t come cheap.
Expected suitors: Packers, Panthers, Titans, Giants, Jets, Colts, Raiders, Patriots
14. Ronald Darby, CB
Four INTs and 21 pass deflections in 17 career games as an Eagle. Tore his ACL in Week 10 last year and has missed 15 games over past two seasons. But he can cover, and he’s just 25. More expensive than Kevin Johnson.
Expected suitors: Texans, Broncos.
15. Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah, DE
Former first-round pick who turns 30 in May. A double-digit sacker when healthy, but played just 34 games over the past three seasons. Has 56 career sacks.
Expected suitors: Jets, Rams (to replace Dante Fowler Jr.), Packers.
16. Dante Fowler Jr., DE
Former top-five first-round draft choice who has recorded 16.5 sacks over 47 games but is just 24, and Sean McVay likes his explosiveness and violence.
Expected suitors: Jets, Colts, Rams, 49ers.
17. Sheldon Richardson, DT
Former John Idzik first-round pick who repaired his reputation on a one-year prove-it deal with Vikings — and won’t turn 29 until November.
Expected suitors: Rams, Colts, Browns, Broncos and Falcons.
18. Tevin Coleman, RB
A dangerous dual threat with 92 career receptions and 11 receiving TDs and a career average of 11 yards per catch. Just 528 carries over four seasons in committee with Devonta Freeman.
Expected suitors: Jets, Bills, Eagles, Saints.
19. Lamarcus Joyner, FS
Underachieved with Rams on $11.3 million franchise tag, is just 5-foot-8 and turns 29 in November. A sure tackler who has also played nickelback.
Expected suitors: Packers.
20. Rodger Saffold, G
Longest-tenured Ram is a high-character bulldozer with athleticism who allowed only one sack. Turns 31 in June.
Expected suitors: Jets, Packers, Rams.
21. Hah Ha Clinton-Dix, S
PFF ranked him 14th among safeties (93 tackles, three INTs and two forced fumbles) in 2018. Former first-round pick who could command $10 million per. Just 26.
Expected suitors: Giants (to replace Collins), Raiders (Marcus Gilchrist and Reggie Nelson), Rams (Joyner), Cowboys.
22. Ndamukong Suh, DT
Now 32, he might have to settle for less than the one-year, $14 million he signed last season with the Rams (59 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four pass deflections, two fumble recoveries).
Expected suitors: Browns, Chargers, Saints.
23. Daryl Williams, RT
A Week 1 knee injury sabotaged his 2018 season following an impressive 2017 (39 pressures, four sacks). But is he a 6-foot-6, 335-pound one-hit wonder? Some might prefer Ja’Wuan James.
Expected suitors: Giants, Bills, Bengals, Broncos, Chargers, Vikings.
24. Jordan Hicks, MLB
Coverage linebacker (fifth-most INTs among linebackers since entering league in 2015) and sure tackler who turns 27 in June. Only concern is durability (2015 pec, 2017 Achilles) — 21 regular-season games missed.
Expected suitors: Browns, Broncos.
25. Bryce Callahan, CB
One of the league’s elite slot corners (two INTs, two sacks in 2018). Durability a concern. Turns 28 in October. Will he get Tavon Young money (three years, $25.8 million)?
Expected suitors: Bears, Lions, Browns.
26. Mark Ingram, RB
Former first-round pick who has enjoyed a pair of 50-catch seasons and a pair of 1,000-yard rushing years in New Orleans. A young 29 thanks to sharing the workload with Alvin Kamara, Tim Hightower and Pierre Thomas at various stages in his career.
Expected suitors: Saints, Eagles and Bills.
27. Adrian Amos, S
PFF’s eighth-rated safety flourished under former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, now Broncos coach . But just three INTs in four years. Turns 26 in April.
Expected suitors: Broncos, Bears.
28. Preston Smith, OLB
Just four sacks last season, but capable of bringing the heat, hasn’t missed a game in four seasons and is 26. Long and strong.
Expected suitors: Packers, Jets, Colts, Panthers, Lions.
29. Matt Paradis, C
High-character Broncos captain who fractured fibula in early November. Keenum raved about him.
Expected suitors: Jets (to replace Spencer Long), Bills.
30. Adam Humphries, WR/PR
Slot receiver who broke out in Tampa Bay with 76 catches for 816 yards and five TDs. Will cost more than Cole Beasley and Jamison Crowder.
Expected suitors: Saints, Broncos.
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