We’re big fans of making countdown rankings here at BATSBY Sports, but we also loathe needless busy work.
This explains why we never bothered to rank the 2020 class of NFL free agents back in February, knowing full well the vast majority of star players — such as Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Chris Jones (Chiefs), Yannick Ngakoue (Jaguars), Derrick Henry (Titans), A.J. Green (Bengals), Bud Dupree (Steelers) and Shaquil Barrett (Buccaneers) — would be slapped with ‘franchise’ tags by their current clubs, thus never seeing the light of day in unfettered free agency.
But with Monday’s tag deadline come and gone (here’s the full listing of ‘franchise’ recipients), we can now confidently break down the listing of the Top 30 Unrestricted Free Agents, with the NFL’s new league year officially launching on Wednesday.
(NOTE: The period of legal tampering starts Monday.)
TOP 30 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
- Patriots QB Tom Brady
- Seahawks DE Jadeveon Clowney
- Cowboys WR Amari Cooper
- Saints QB Drew Brees
- Titans OT Jack Conklin
- Cowboys CB Byron Jones
- Rams OLB Dante Fowler Jr.
- Chargers RB Melvin Gordon
- 49ers DE Arik Armstead
- Falcons TE Austin Hooper
- Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston
- Broncos CB Chris Harris
- Vikings S Anthony Harris
- Rams LB Cory Littleton
- Texans DT D.J. Reader
- Lions OG/C Graham Glasnow
- 49ers WR Emmanuel Sanders
- Steelers DT Javon Hargrave
- Jets WR Robby Anderson
- Panthers CB James Bradberry
- Chargers QB Philip Rivers
- Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater
- Patriots LB Kyle Van Noy
- Vikings DE Everson Griffen
- Packers OT Bryan Bulaga
- Jets OT Kelvin Beachum
- Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes
- Eagles OT Jason Peters
- Titans QB Marcus Mariota
- Rams DE Michael Brockers
BREAKDOWN
a) OK, so Brady doesn’t have the greatest long-term upside of the players listed here, but he certainly comes with the most buzz. Plus, there’s no precedent for a quarterback in his early 40s hitting free agency, while coming off three consecutive campaigns of 4,000 yards passing.
In other words, this isn’t a Johnny Unitas situation, circa 1973, when he signed with the San Diego Chargers for big money … but was an unmitigated flop in his final NFL campaign. Possible Suitors: Patriots, Buccaneers, Colts, Raiders, Chargers
b) According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Austin Hooper is ‘definitely leaning’ toward signing with the Browns, who are prepared to make him the NFL’s highest-paid tight end.
If true, it gives Cleveland two prime options at tight end, with Hooper (75 catches, 97 targets, 787 yards, 6 TDs in 13 games last year) and David Njoku, an uber-athletic talent (8 total TDs for his age-21 and age-22 seasons) who battled injuries last season.