It's been three weeks since teams were allowed to begin negotiations with free agents. The top-tier players flew off the shelf in the first week. Roster cuts have added to the pool, but the players who are left are mainly veteran names who are either looking for too much money or simply don't have enough in the tank to warrant a deal. There are still good values on the market and teams can benefit from finding the right fit. Here is a list of some of the top players available at each offensive position. The rankings are according to Rotoworld ...
Quarterbacks
1. Josh Freeman - Michael Vick held the top spot until Friday night when he signed a one-year deal with the Jets. Freeman's situation is interesting. The former first-round pick was the guy in Tampa Bay until he was released and signed by Minnesota in the middle of last season. Freeman was thrown into the fire just two weeks after joining the team and had a disastrous outing against the Giants. He wasn't re-signed by the Vikings and was reportedly on Oakland's radar, but the Raiders traded for Matt Schaub on Friday and declared him their starting quarterback.
2. Shaun Hill - The 13-year veteran is reportedly scheduled to visit with St. Louis early next week and be a potential backup option to Sam Bradford. The Jets also reportedly showed interest before signing Vick. Hill has spent the past four seasons as the backup to Matthew Stafford in Detroit.
3. Kevin Kolb - Rotoworld's rankings were not updated after Vick's signing with the Jets, so Mark Sanchez could be in this spot. The Jets released Sanchez after Vick joined the Jets. Kolb is reportedly still suffering from concussion symptoms and does not appear ready to play anytime soon. Sanchez was the starter in New York for four seasons and took the Jets to the AFC title game in his first two seasons, but was sidelined in 2013 after shoulder surgery and losing his job to Geno Smith.
Running Backs
1. Andre Brown - There has been very little free agency buzz for running backs this offseason. Injuries have limited Brown's production. He had 492 yards and three touchdowns for the Giants in 2013. However, the Giants signed Rashad Jennings in free agency. The Raiders have reportedly shown interest in the 27-year-old Brown.
2. Knowshon Moreno - Moreno had a career year for the AFC Champion Broncos rushing for 1,039 yards and accounting for 13 total touchdowns last season. The Broncos however showed no interest in bringing back Moreno. The former first-round pick visited Miami this past week.
3. Maurice Jones-Drew - One of the league's best running backs from 2009-11 when he posted three-straight 1,000-yard campaigns, Jones-Drew is reportedly looking for a big payday on the open market. After an injury-plagued 2012 season, Jones-Drew had 803 yards and five touchdowns as well as 43 receptions last season. He visited the Steelers this past week, but left without a deal.
Wide Receivers
1. Santonio Holmes - He was released by the Jets a few weeks ago before being paid a roster bonus. The 30-year-old Holmes has battled injuries in recent seasons. He caught just 23 passes for 456 yards last season one year after hauling in a grand 20 receptions for 272 yards. And he's still considered the best receiver on the market. Enough said.
2. Sidney Rice - Rice is coming off an ACL injury, but has size (6-foot-4, 202 pounds) and is 27. He spent the past three seasons in Seattle and the Seahawks are still interested in bringing him back. The Saints have also expressed interest. His best season was in 2009 when he had 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns. He did have seven scores two years ago.
3. Kenny Britt – Britt burned bridges at the end of his tenure in Tennessee as he was a healthy scratch late in the season. He has size and talent - he had 225 receiving yards in a win over the Eagles in 2010, but injuries and off-field issues have negated that. Four teams have shown interest and it looks like someone will give Britt a chance in 2014.
Tight Ends
1. Jermichael Finley - A physical freak when healthy, Finley's 2013 season ended early after a scary injury which resulted in neck surgery for a bruised spinal cord. There is no exact timetable for when he'll be able to return.
2. Owen Daniels - A Pro Bowl selection as recently as 2012, Daniels caught just 24 passes for 252 yards in 2013 and was a salary cap casualty this offseason. The nine-year veteran has received interest from Green Bay and Washington.
3. Dustin Keller - Missed all of 213 after suffering a nasty ACL, MCL and PCL injury in his right knee. He will be 30 in September. In 2011, Keller did have 65 catches for 815 yards for the Jets.
Offensive Line
Center Alex Mack is arguably one of the top free agents left overall, but he was named the Browns' transition player which gives Cleveland the right to match any deal. The top tackle is Charles Brown, who has 22 career starts (14 in 2013) and experience at both tackle spots. However, Brown lost his starting job to rookie Terron Armstead late in the season. The Giants have expressed interest in Brown as a backup. Another former Saint, Brian De La Puente, has also drawn interest from the Giants to replace David Baas at center. Guard Travelle Wharton has reportedly contemplated retirement, but is still drawing interest. The Vikings are reportedly eyeing the 32-year-old veteran.
