AFC North: Free-agency primer

[oldschooler]

[b][size="5"][color="#000000"]AFC North: Free-agency primer[/color][/size][/b]
March, 4, 2010
By James Walker


[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/bal.gif[/img][b][url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=bal"][color="#225db7"]Baltimore Ravens[/color][/url][/b]

[b]Potential unrestricted free agents[/b]: DL [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3667"][color="#225db7"]Justin Bannan[/color][/url], DL [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5576"][color="#225db7"]Dwan Edwards[/color][/url], CB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2126"][color="#225db7"]Corey Ivy[/color][/url], WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1263"][color="#225db7"]Derrick Mason[/color][/url], TE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4519"][color="#225db7"]L.J. Smith[/color][/url], WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4669"][color="#225db7"]David Tyree[/color][/url], CB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4665"][color="#225db7"]Frank Walker[/color][/url], WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4523"][color="#225db7"]Kelley Washington[/color][/url]

[b]Potential restricted free agents:[/b] OT [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10705"][color="#225db7"]Jared Gaither[/color][/url], K [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4245"][color="#225db7"]Billy Cundiff[/color][/url], S [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9732"][color="#225db7"]Dawan Landry[/color][/url], CB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8438"][color="#225db7"]Fabian Washington[/color][/url], P [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9789"][color="#225db7"]Sam Koch[/color][/url], OG [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9642"][color="#225db7"]Chris Chester[/color][/url], QB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10484"][color="#225db7"]John Beck[/color][/url], QB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10617"][color="#225db7"]Troy Smith[/color][/url], OT [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9751"][color="#225db7"]Tony Moll[/color][/url], FB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10580"][color="#225db7"]Le'Ron McClain[/color][/url], LB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10650"][color="#225db7"]Prescott Burgess[/color][/url], WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8437"][color="#225db7"]Mark Clayton[/color][/url], WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9697"][color="#225db7"]Demetrius Williams[/color][/url]

[b]Franchise tag:[/b] None

[b]What to expect:[/b] The Ravens have a ton of quality free agents. It will be interesting because Baltimore is the only division team which has to abide by the "[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/8755/nfl-explains-final-eight-plan"][color="#225db7"]Final Eight Plan[/color][/url]" for making the divisional playoffs. This will restrict Baltimore from making a lot of moves. Therefore, expect the team to keep most of its key restricted free agents while trying to explore the trade market. On the unrestricted side, the Ravens are negotiating with receiver Derrick Mason and are expected to keep him. But two players who could get some interest in the open market are defensive linemen Dwan Edwards and Justin Bannan. Baltimore likes both players but could lose at least one.

[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/cin.gif[/img][b][url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cin"][color="#608fd6"]Cincinnati Bengals[/color][/url][/b]

[b]Potential unrestricted free agents[/b]: K [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3504"][color="#225db7"]Shayne Graham[/color][/url], FB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4576"][color="#225db7"]Jeremi Johnson[/color][/url], RB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4485"][color="#225db7"]Larry Johnson[/color][/url], DT [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5572"][color="#225db7"]Tank Johnson[/color][/url], TE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1794"][color="#225db7"]Reggie Kelly[/color][/url], OG [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2192"][color="#225db7"]Bobbie Williams[/color][/url], S [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3536"][color="#225db7"]Roy Williams[/color][/url], TE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9286"][color="#225db7"]J.P. Foschi[/color][/url]

[b]Potential restricted free agents:[/b] LB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9728"][color="#225db7"]Brandon Johnson[/color][/url], LB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9998"][color="#225db7"]Rashad Jeanty[/color][/url], OL [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8493"][color="#225db7"]Evan Mathis[/color][/url], C [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11136"][color="#225db7"]Kyle Cook[/color][/url], DE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9677"][color="#225db7"]Frostee Rucker[/color][/url], CB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10588"][color="#225db7"]David Jones[/color][/url], LB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9653"][color="#225db7"]Abdul Hodge[/color][/url], QB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10648"][color="#225db7"]Jordan Palmer[/color][/url], TE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10935"][color="#225db7"]Daniel Coats[/color][/url], DT [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5451"][color="#225db7"]Shaun Smith[/color][/url]

[b]Franchise tag:[/b] None

[b]What to expect:[/b] The Bengals have yet to announce their tenders, so this list could change by Thursday evening. But traditionally they are not big spenders in free agency and will stay true to that even with an uncapped year. Cincinnati could make one or two decent outside signings that may help the team. Finding a receiver would be the most likely target. The most interesting in-house name is offensive guard Bobbie Williams, who likely will test the market. Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer also would like to keep veteran Roy Williams and Tank Johnson. But the team hasn't made a major push for either player before they're let loose Friday.

[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/cle.gif[/img][b][url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle"][color="#225db7"]Cleveland Browns[/color][/url][/b]

[b]Potential unrestricted free agents:[/b] WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4939"][color="#225db7"]Mike Furrey[/color][/url], TE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5757"][color="#225db7"]Michael Gaines[/color][/url], OG [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5699"][color="#225db7"]Rex Hadnot[/color][/url], CB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2208"][color="#225db7"]Hank Poteat[/color][/url], OL [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1409"][color="#225db7"]Ryan Tucker[/color][/url], OG [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5326"][color="#225db7"]Billy Yates[/color][/url]

[b]Potential restricted free agents:[/b] RB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9731"][color="#225db7"]Jerome Harrison[/color][/url], LB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9620"][color="#225db7"]D'Qwell Jackson[/color][/url], FB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9766"][color="#225db7"]Lawrence Vickers[/color][/url], S [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8448"][color="#225db7"]Brodney Pool[/color][/url], S [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10174"][color="#225db7"]Abram Elam[/color][/url], DE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8460"][color="#225db7"]Matt Roth[/color][/url]

[b]Franchise tag:[/b] None

[b]What to expect:[/b] Cleveland has the money to spend and the biggest talent deficit. So look for the Browns to attempt to make up ground in free agency. Major names like defensive end [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3530"][color="#225db7"]Julius Peppers[/color][/url] and tailback [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2138"][color="#225db7"]Thomas Jones[/color][/url] have been mentioned as possibilities for Cleveland, but that remains to be seen. Internally, the Browns should be interested in keeping Harrison and Vickers in their backfield. Jackson also has value. None of their unrestricted players are priorities for the team and will be allowed to hit free agency.

[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/pit.gif[/img][b][url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit"][color="#225db7"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/color][/url][/b]

[b]Potential unrestricted free agents:[/b] QB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1490"][color="#225db7"]Charlie Batch[/color][/url], LB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3661"][color="#225db7"]Rocky Boiman[/color][/url], S [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2249"][color="#225db7"]Tyrone Carter[/color][/url], S [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4301"][color="#225db7"]Ryan Clark[/color][/url], DE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4572"][color="#225db7"]Nick Eason[/color][/url], WR [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=751"][color="#225db7"]Joey Galloway[/color][/url], DE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1325"][color="#225db7"]Travis Kirschke[/color][/url], RB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5880"][color="#225db7"]Willie Parker[/color][/url], CB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1515"][color="#225db7"]Deshea Townsend[/color][/url] , FB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5931"][color="#225db7"]Carey Davis[/color][/url], OG [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11086"][color="#225db7"]Darnell Stapleton[/color][/url]

[b]Potential restricted free agents:[/b] OT [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9717"][color="#225db7"]Willie Colon[/color][/url], CB [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10613"][color="#225db7"]William Gay[/color][/url], P [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10556"][color="#225db7"]Daniel Sepulveda[/color][/url], TE [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10521"][color="#225db7"]Matt Spaeth[/color][/url]

[b]Franchise tag:[/b] K [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4399"][color="#225db7"]Jeff Reed[/color][/url]

[b]What to expect:[/b] With the exception of Clark, the Steelers are pretty predictable. Pittsburgh intends to keep all of its restricted free agents, get a long-term deal complete with Jeff Reed, who has the franchise tag, and let nearly all of their unrestricted free agents test the market. The exception is Clark, who the Steelers targeted as a priority but has yet to reach a long-term extension before Friday's deadline. Negotiations have been ongoing and should go to the final hour to decide whether both sides can come to an agreement or allow Clark to test the market.





[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/10140/afc-north-free-agency-primer"]http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/10140/afc-north-free-agency-primer[/url]