Teams, players adjusting to new landscape
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Finding bargains in an overpriced market might be difficult. Every player who hits free agency Friday expects to hit the lottery. NFL teams enter this market with great trepidation. To sign top free agents, general managers must adjust to the idea of paying close to $7 million a year for guards, $5 million for a top tight end and more than $7 million for defensive ends. The hope for teams is that the market will settle down and good players will be available at decent prices.
Here are a few possibilities:
1. Running back T.J. Duckett, Washington Redskins -- The Falcons' top choice in 2002 understands he might not get the $5 million deal given to a featured back. His price might be around $2 million a year, a nice price for a 254-pound back who could complement a shifty feature runner. He'd look perfect in Steelers black-and-gold helping out Willie Parker.
2. Center Hank Fraley, Cleveland Browns -- The center market exploded when Andre Gurode got a six-year, $30 million contract. Giants center Shaun O'Hara is the next option, but the Giants are trying to sign him for a little less than $4 million a year. Fraley, a former Eagles center, bailed out the Browns after LeCharles Bentley went down with a knee injury last summer. The Browns are trying to re-sign him, but he could be available for between $2 million and $3 million a year.
3. Safety Kevin Kaesviharn, Cincinnati Bengals -- He might not go for a bargain price because he's one of the best coverage safeties available, but he's probably not going to break the bank. In other words, he won't go for Ed Reed, $6.35-million-a-year money. The safety market hasn't been set. Most of the available safeties are more strong safeties than free safeties.
Kelley Washington
Wide receiver
Cincinnati Bengals
4. Wide receiver Kelley Washington, Cincinnati Bengals -- The Bengals have never doubted his talent. Washington is a big receiver with speed. He's had some off-the-field issues, but the reason the Bengals won't be able to keep him is because Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry are ahead of him.
5. Tight end Eric Johnson, San Francisco 49ers -- When healthy, Johnson is one of the better pass-catching tight ends in football. Injuries have hurt him the past couple of season. The 49ers would like to get him back, but he might be a target for the team that doesn't land Daniel Graham.
Here are a few players who might be slightly dangerous at big money.
1. Cornerback Travis Fisher, St. Louis Rams -- Free agency has only about a half dozen starting cornerbacks, so teams in need of the position will be scrambling if they don't get Nate Clements, perhaps the top defensive player in free agency. Fisher has 53 starts to his credit, but the price has to be right. He's had only 17 starts in the past two years and hasn't had an interception since 2004.
2. Wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, Philadelphia Eagles -- Stallworth is a great deep threat, but he can't seem to shake injuries. The Eagles thought they picked up a No. 1 receiver when they traded for him last season. He showed only flashes. Paying $5 million a year for him might not net a No. 1 receiver.
3. Center Al Johnson, Dallas Cowboys -- Word is Johnson could get $4 million a year, but $4 million a year might be a little risky for a player who has had some injury questions. Johnson is clearly a talent and deserves a fresh start. He was a high second-round pick.
Dewayne White
Defensive end
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Defensive end Dewayne White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- White should do well in free agency because most of the top defensive ends are gone. The Bills gave a $13 million signing bonus to Chris Kelsay, a defensive end with 12½ career sacks, so White should have some leverage. But he has only 14 career sacks and only 13 career starts.
5. Defensive end Patrick Kerney, Atlanta Falcons -- Kerney is truly one of the top impact players in free agency, if not the best. He's all hustle and could produce double-digit sacks. But structure has to be everything with this deal. This will be his third contract, and teams getting players on their third contract sometimes don't get long-term security. The winner in this sweepstakes might not get great value toward the end of the deal.
John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/colum...n&id=2784116&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Finding bargains in an overpriced market might be difficult. Every player who hits free agency Friday expects to hit the lottery. NFL teams enter this market with great trepidation. To sign top free agents, general managers must adjust to the idea of paying close to $7 million a year for guards, $5 million for a top tight end and more than $7 million for defensive ends. The hope for teams is that the market will settle down and good players will be available at decent prices.
Here are a few possibilities:
1. Running back T.J. Duckett, Washington Redskins -- The Falcons' top choice in 2002 understands he might not get the $5 million deal given to a featured back. His price might be around $2 million a year, a nice price for a 254-pound back who could complement a shifty feature runner. He'd look perfect in Steelers black-and-gold helping out Willie Parker.
2. Center Hank Fraley, Cleveland Browns -- The center market exploded when Andre Gurode got a six-year, $30 million contract. Giants center Shaun O'Hara is the next option, but the Giants are trying to sign him for a little less than $4 million a year. Fraley, a former Eagles center, bailed out the Browns after LeCharles Bentley went down with a knee injury last summer. The Browns are trying to re-sign him, but he could be available for between $2 million and $3 million a year.
3. Safety Kevin Kaesviharn, Cincinnati Bengals -- He might not go for a bargain price because he's one of the best coverage safeties available, but he's probably not going to break the bank. In other words, he won't go for Ed Reed, $6.35-million-a-year money. The safety market hasn't been set. Most of the available safeties are more strong safeties than free safeties.
Kelley Washington
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Wide receiver
Cincinnati Bengals
4. Wide receiver Kelley Washington, Cincinnati Bengals -- The Bengals have never doubted his talent. Washington is a big receiver with speed. He's had some off-the-field issues, but the reason the Bengals won't be able to keep him is because Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry are ahead of him.
5. Tight end Eric Johnson, San Francisco 49ers -- When healthy, Johnson is one of the better pass-catching tight ends in football. Injuries have hurt him the past couple of season. The 49ers would like to get him back, but he might be a target for the team that doesn't land Daniel Graham.
Here are a few players who might be slightly dangerous at big money.
1. Cornerback Travis Fisher, St. Louis Rams -- Free agency has only about a half dozen starting cornerbacks, so teams in need of the position will be scrambling if they don't get Nate Clements, perhaps the top defensive player in free agency. Fisher has 53 starts to his credit, but the price has to be right. He's had only 17 starts in the past two years and hasn't had an interception since 2004.
2. Wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, Philadelphia Eagles -- Stallworth is a great deep threat, but he can't seem to shake injuries. The Eagles thought they picked up a No. 1 receiver when they traded for him last season. He showed only flashes. Paying $5 million a year for him might not net a No. 1 receiver.
3. Center Al Johnson, Dallas Cowboys -- Word is Johnson could get $4 million a year, but $4 million a year might be a little risky for a player who has had some injury questions. Johnson is clearly a talent and deserves a fresh start. He was a high second-round pick.
Dewayne White
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Defensive end
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Defensive end Dewayne White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- White should do well in free agency because most of the top defensive ends are gone. The Bills gave a $13 million signing bonus to Chris Kelsay, a defensive end with 12½ career sacks, so White should have some leverage. But he has only 14 career sacks and only 13 career starts.
5. Defensive end Patrick Kerney, Atlanta Falcons -- Kerney is truly one of the top impact players in free agency, if not the best. He's all hustle and could produce double-digit sacks. But structure has to be everything with this deal. This will be his third contract, and teams getting players on their third contract sometimes don't get long-term security. The winner in this sweepstakes might not get great value toward the end of the deal.
John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/colum...n&id=2784116&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
