With franchise tags allocated and the NFL’s March 7 negotiating window on the horizon, this is the revised Rotoworld Top 100 Board for 2016 Free Agency. The free agent signing period opens Wednesday, March 9 at 4pm ET.
These players have been tagged: Broncos OLB Von Miller (franchise - exclusive), Redskins QB Kirk Cousins (franchise), Rams CB Trumaine Johnson (franchise), Panthers CB Josh Norman (franchise), Chiefs SS Eric Berry (franchise), Ravens K Justin Tucker (franchise), Bills LT Cordy Glenn (franchise), Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson (franchise), Bears WR Alshon Jeffery (franchise), Dolphins DE Olivier Vernon (transition).
**The Top 100 Board is limited to unrestricted free agents. Restricted free agents like Broncos RB C.J. Anderson very rarely change teams.
1. Malik Jackson -- Just turned 26. Can play DE & DT. Consistently disruptive.
2. Kelechi Osemele -- 27 in June. Elite guard made 4 starts at left tackle in ’15.
3. Ryan Fitzpatrick -- 33. Ranked top ten in TD passes (31). Won’t leave NYJ.
4. Janoris Jenkins -- 27. Inconsistent despite elite tools. Had best year in ’15.
5. Russell Okung -- 28. Quality LT, but has missed 24 games last six seasons.
6. Alex Mack -- 30. 3-time Pro Bowler. Exercised player opt-out on Wednesday.
7. George Iloka -- 26. Interchangeable FS/SS can support the run and cover.
8. Brandon Brooks -- Entering age-27 season. Freakishly athletic 6'5/346 OG.
9. Prince Amukamara -- 27 in June. Has missed 13 games the last two years.
10. Jason Pierre-Paul -- 27. Can still beat O-Linemen, but struggles to finish.
11. Eric Weddle -- 31. 3-time Pro Bowler coming off a career-worst season.
12. Alex Boone -- 29 in May. Mauler can play both guard spots & right tackle.
13. Mario Williams -- Next team will hope for Peppers-like late-career push.
14. Greg Hardy -- 28 in July. Would be a top-3 FA if not for character issues.
15. Danny Trevathan -- 26 in March. 3-down ILB can stop the run and cover.
16. Casey Hayward -- 26. Mainly slot CB but has size to play outside (5'11/192).
17. Sean Smith -- Going on 29. Steady press CB with imposing build (6'4/214).
18. Matt Forte -- 30. His game should age well. Wants to play for contender.
19. Doug Martin -- 27. 2nd in NFL in rushing in ’15. Liability in pass protection.
20. Lamar Miller -- 25 in April. Big-play back severely underutilized in Miami.
21. Ian Williams -- 27 in August. Quietly 49ers’ best player on defense in ’15.
22. Jerrell Freeman -- 30 in May. PFF’s No. 2 ILB in 2015, behind Luke Kuechly.
23. Donald Penn -- 33 in April. Still one of NFL’s steadiest pass-protecting LTs.
24. Kelvin Beachum -- 27 in June. Undersized LT (6'3/303) tore ACL in October.
25. Jaye Howard -- 27. Should interest teams that miss out on Malik Jackson.
26. Mitchell Schwartz -- 27 in June. Consistent RT has made 64 straight starts.
27. Nick Fairley -- 28. Rotational DT only but can still dominate for stretches.
28. Jeff Allen -- Just turned 26. Capable starter at both guard spots and RT.
29. Reggie Nelson -- Entering age-33 season. PFF’s No. 4 cover safety in ’15.
30. Tashaun Gipson -- 26 in August. 11 INTs 2013-2014, injury plagued in ’15.
31. Adam Jones -- Entering age-33 season. Still Bengals’ best CB last year.
32. Derrick Johnson -- 33. Virtual lock to finish his career with Kansas City.
33. Antonio Gates -- Turns 36 in June. Virtual lock to finish his career in S.D.
34. Brock Osweiler -- 25. Could become a functional starter in Kubiak’s O.
35. Travis Benjamin -- 26. 4.36 speedster expected to re-sign with Browns.
36. Marvin Jones -- 26 in March. Prototype Z receiver in Donald Driver mold.
37. William Hayes -- 31 in May. Had 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles in 11 starts.
38. Bruce Irvin -- 28. Played SAM in Seattle’s 4-3. Overrated as pass rusher.
39. Damon Harrison -- 27. Mammoth run-stopping 3-4 nose tackle at 6'3/339.
40. Richie Incognito -- 33 in July. Coming off arguably his career-best year.
41. Robert Ayers -- Entering age-31 campaign. Coming off 9.5-sack season.
42. Anquan Boldin -- 35. Can still win with old man strength and crisp routes.
43. Ladarius Green -- 26 in May. Runs 4.56 at 6'6/238. Underutilized in S.D.
44. Dwayne Allen -- 26. Do-it-all TE has missed 21 games the last 3 seasons.
45. Haloti Ngata -- 32. No longer a superstar but still a plus starter at DT/NT.
46. Walter Thurmond -- Entering age-29 season. Had breakout year at safety.
47. Patrick Robinson -- 28. Ex-draft bust turned career around with Chargers.
48. Akiem Hicks -- 26. Massive (6'5/318) DT/DE. Was difference maker in NE.
49. Tamba Hali -- 32. Can still rush the QB. Has spent his entire career in K.C.
50. Coby Fleener -- 27. Finesse tight end improved as a run blocker in 2015.
51. Rodney McLeod -- 25. Undersized (5'10/186) but was top-ten safety at PFF.
52. Cedric Thornton -- 28 in June. Two-down, edge-setting 5-technique DE.
53. Tyvon Branch -- 29. Shined as Chiefs 3rd safety, should get starting job.
54. Ramon Foster -- 30. PFF’s No. 17 guard among 82 qualifiers last season.
55. Rashad Johnson -- 30. Calling card is his ball skills. 12 INTs last 3 seasons.
56. Mark Barron -- 26. Successfully transitioned from SS to WLB in St. Louis.
57. Rishard Matthews -- 26. Should interest teams that miss on Marvin Jones.
58. Chris Long -- 31. 14 missed games last 2 seasons. 3 sacks in last 16 games.
59. Geoff Schwartz -- 29. Good player, bad luck. 19 missed games last 2 years.
60. Brandon Boykin -- 26 in July. Feisty slot corner with playmaking ability.
61. Jahri Evans -- 32. Cut by Saints. Declining, but still a capable starting guard.
62. Leon Hall -- 31. His play outside has declined but still a quality slot corner.
63. Evan Mathis -- 34. Was PFF’s No. 1-rated run-blocking guard last season.
64. Adrian Clayborn -- 27. Rehabbed value as interior pass rusher in Atlanta.
65. Tahir Whitehead -- 26 in April. Ascending run stuffer can play OLB & ILB.
66. Jeremy Lane -- 25. Good slot CB when healthy. 19 missed games last 2 years.
67. Terrance Knighton -- 30 in July. 2-down nose tackle disappointed in WAS.
68. Zach Brown -- 26. Speedy linebacker best suited for weak side on 4-3 team.
69. Steve McLendon -- 30. Early-down NT only tends to fade late in seasons.
70. Chris Ivory -- 28 in March. Physical RB limited in pass game, often nicked.
71. Tyrunn Walker -- 26 in March. Promising DT broke fibula/ankle in October.
72. Derrick Shelby -- 27. Solid all-around DE best suited to work in a rotation.
73. Zach Miller -- 31. Shined in place of Martellus Bennett down 2015 stretch.
74. Will Beatty -- 31 in March. Missed 2015 with shoulder and pectoral tears.
75. Brandon Mebane -- 31. Stocky 1-technique NT best utilized in a rotation.
76. Stephen Tulloch -- 31. Has devolved into late-career two-down thumper.
77. Joe Barksdale -- 27. Able pass protector. Chargers most reliable OL in ’15.
78. James Laurinaitis -- 29. Lauriniatis’ name was always bigger than his game.
79. B.J. Raji -- 30 in July. Chronic underachiever gets pushed around in Run D.
80. Bobby Massie -- 27 in August. Inconsistent RT, especially in pass protection.
81. Andre Smith -- 29. A liability at RT in Cincinnati each of the last two years.
82. Kroy Biermann -- Entering age-31 season. Best used as early-down LE/SLB.
83. Michael Griffin -- 31. Cut by Titans. PFF’s No. 77 safety out of 88 last year.
84. Courtney Upshaw -- 26. Run-stopping OLB only. Does not rush the passer.
85. Ben Watson -- 35. Set career highs in catches, yards, and TDs last season.
86. Vernon Davis -- 31. Still a great athlete. Got benched in Denver for drops.
87. Nick Perry -- 26 in April. Former first-round bust. Rotational OLB in a 3-4.
88. Stefen Wisniewski -- 27 in March. Can pass protect, struggles in run game.
89. Jason Jones -- 30 in May. Useful role player at LE, can also play on interior.
90. William Moore -- 31 in May. Box safety has missed 14 games last 2 seasons.
91. Mohamed Sanu -- 26. Overrated gadget/slot receiver likely to get overpaid.
92. Jermaine Kearse -- 26. Another candidate to get overpaid in poor WR market.
93. Bilal Powell -- 27. Versatile back shines in pass game, coming off career year.
94. Mike Neal -- 29 in June. 18 sacks last 4 years. Best fit as rotational LB/DE/DT.
95. Craig Robertson -- 28. Coverage-maven ILB specializes in nickel/dime defense.
96. Greg Toler -- 31. Talented press-man CB coming off worst season of his career.
97. Alfred Morris -- 27. Very limited back. 2-down grinder only fits zone-run teams.
98. Mike DeVito -- 32 in June. Lunchpail-type 5-technique DE. 2-down role player.
99. Marcedes Lewis -- 32 in May. Slow-footed TE still useful as in-line presence.
100. LeGarrette Blount -- 29. Clock-killing power back needs OL to give him room.
More Noteworthy Unrestricted Free Agents: QBs Chase Daniel, Matt Moore, Tarvaris Jackson, and Colt McCoy; RBs James Starks, Ronnie Hillman, and Chris Johnson; FBs Mike Tolbert, John Kuhn, and Darrel Young; WRs Rueben Randle, James Jones, Brian Quick, Andre Holmes, and Percy Harvin; TEs Jermaine Gresham and Jared Cook; OTs Donald Stephenson and Jermon Bushrod; G/Cs Ben Jones, Ryan Wendell, J.R. Sweezy, Chris Chester, Mike Harris, and Amini Silatolu; DLs Henry Melton, Jared Crick, and Al Woods; EDGE players Dwight Freeney, Wallace Gilberry, and Junior Galette; ILBs Demario Davis and Rolando McClain; 4-3 LBs Vincent Rey, Chad Greenway, Emmanuel Lamur, Nigel Bradham, and Sean Weatherspoon; CBs Jerraud Powers, Tracy Porter, and Terence Newman; safeties Roman Harper and Husain Abdullah.