War Room Report Free Agent Preview
February 10, 2007
by Matt MacCoy, War Room Report Staff

The National Football League has developed into a year round obsession that does not end when the season is over. Fans are now looking to the future, including the Free Agency period that begins on March 11, 2007. The 2007 Free Agent class is headlined by several young defensive standouts. Here is the War Room Report’s Top 25 Free Agent list. (Editor's Note: This is part one in a three part series focusing on the best 2007 Free Agents, exclusive to the War Room Report) Part Two Part Three

1. Asante Samuel, CB, New England Patriots - UPDATE - Franchised by New England

Asante Samuel played as well as any defensive back in the National Football League this past season and is hitting Free Agency at the prime age of 25.  He had 10 interceptions this past season, which tied him with Champ Bailey for the most INTs in the league. He also made several big plays in the Patriots 2007 playoff run.  For most of the teams in the league it would be an afterthought to resign Samuel, but the Patriots have let prime free agents Ty Law and David Givens walk, and traded Deion Branch instead of caving into his salary demands. If Samuel is not franchised or re-signed by the Patriots, he would be the top player available and should cash in big time.

1. New England Patriots – Normally the team that currently has the rights to the Free Agent to be would have the inside track in courting the player, but the Patriots do business differently than most teams. The Pats want to re-sign Samuel, but at what price?  Will they franchise him? They should, but again they are the Patriots.  At the end of the day, it appears possible that the Patriots and let another player looking to cash in walk away and possibly use one of their two 1^st round draft picks (additional pick acquired in the Deion Branch trade to Seattle) to draft a CB to replace Samuel.

2. San Francisco 49ers – Reportedly the Niners have the most salary cap room to make moves with and they need work on defense in the worst way. Samuel has a tattoo that says “Get Paid”, and if the Patriots let him go, he should have his wish granted. Defensive minded Mike Nolan could use Samuel to rebuild the defense of the 49ers, much as Chris McAllister was an anchor for Nolan’s Baltimore Ravens defense. 

3. New York Jets – The Jets have sufficient cap room to pay Samuel and are desperate to find a CB for their 3-4 scheme. They knew that Ty Law was a temporary solution and watched him walk away last off-season to the Kansas City Chiefs. They never really replaced Law’s productivity. The Patriots are still upset at the Jets for that possible “tampering” incident that occurred with WR Deion Branch prior to the 2006 season. If the Jets were able to acquire Samuel, it would add even more of a jolt into what is turning into a budding rivalry.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Samuel would be an ideal fit with the Jaguars. Teaming Samuel and 2006 All Pro Rashean Mathis would give the Jaguars the best set of corners in the league. Adding Samuel could put a team that has been on the verge of having a great season over the top.

5. Cleveland Browns – Romeo Crennel would love to add his former pupil Samuel to a defense that sorely needs a leader to bring it together.  In a division where the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals all have a very solid nucleus the Browns need to add some talent on both sides of the ball, and Samuel would be an attractive target for a team that could seek to replace both 2006 starting corners. 

2. Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis Colts - UPDATE - Franchised by Indianapolis

The Colts would be crazy if they let the pass-rushing extraordinaire Freeney leave Indy after their Super Bowl victory.  He did not put up the numbers he has in past seasons, which could scare some, but it should not.  Freeney is one of the best defensive players in the game today and the Colts most assuredly are going to lock him up or in the very least place the franchise tag on him while they work out a long-term extension.

1. Indianapolis Colts – The team is most assuredly going to franchise tag him, so in all likelihood he will remain an Indianapolis Colt in the foreseeable future. Indianapolis should be able to rework their salary cap to resign Freeney, who by all indications, wishes to remain a Colt.

2. Buffalo Bills – The Bills would covet an opportunity to land a big time playmaking DE this off-season.  Marv Levy, who is back working with the Bills’ organization will definitely recall a time when pass-rushing machine DE Bruce Smith led the Bills to four Super Bowl trips. Adding Freeney would instantly inject a much needed pass rushing presence into the Bills’ defense. 

3. Tennessee Titans – The Titans have a good young duo at DT in Albert Haynesworth and Randy Starks, but could use some pressure of the edge to turn this team into a dynamic defense once again. Freeney would be an ideal player for a team on the rise to attack the quarterback. Plus Freeney would stay in the same division as Indianapolis. 

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs have a lot of holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball and with an aging Simeon Rice as their only DE who can pressure the QB, the Bucs would be eager to bring Freeney on board.  

5. Seattle Seahawks – In the off-season the Seahawks may seek to address the defensive end position opposite of Grant Wistrom. The Seahawks have not been shy lately about making moves on either side of the ball so signing Freeney if he becomes available would not come as much of a shock. 

3. Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago Bears - UPDATE - Franchised by Chicago

Briggs’ success may be attributed to playing along side All Pro Brian Urlacher, but his 2006 season was outstanding. He will be only 26 when the 2007 season kicks off, making him attractive to many teams. Briggs and MLB Brian Urlacher combine to make one of the best LB duos in the NFL and the Super Bowl trip probably makes it less likely that Chicago would let Briggs leave. 

1. Chicago Bears – The Bears are built on defense and they will likely not let one of their cornerstones leave town. The Bears have ample cap room so Briggs could cash in, but remain in a Bears uniform. At the very least, the Bears will franchise Briggs until they can work out a long-term extension. 

2. Philadelphia Eagles – Despite their recent success, the Eagles have a weakness at the OLB position, which was manned by Dhani Jones and Omar Gaither in 2006.  The Eagles have not had a playmaking OLB in some time and adding a stud like Briggs would add a new dimension to the Eagles defense. 

3. Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals just need to begin stock-piling defensive talent regardless of position. OLB may not be a primary need, but adding a player like Briggs is always an upgrade for a defense and a move in right direction for the Cardinals. Briggs played his college ball as a Wildcat at the University of Arizona and might consider joining an up and coming team in the Arizona Cardinals. 

4. New Orleans Saints – The Saints made it all the way to the NFC Championship this past season with one of the worst LB corps in the NFL.  The Saints need an upgrade at MLB and both OLB positions and acquiring Lance Briggs would speed up the defensive makeover while hurting their counter-parts in the NFC Championship game, the Chicago Bears. 

5. San Francisco 49ers – San Francisco is appearing often on this list, but with their abundant cap room and defensive needs, it is likely they will be very active in free agency. They have a good nucleus of good young talent on offense but must compile talent for Coach Mike Nolan’s 3-4 defensive scheme and LBs are critical to a 3-4’s success.  

4. Adalius Thomas, LB, Baltimore Ravens  

After several seasons of living in NFL obscurity, Adalius Thomas has emerged as one of the most athletic and versatile defenders in the game today. Playing along side MLB Ray Lewis, Thomas has made a name for himself, in many instances outplaying Lewis and now is ready to cash in on the open market.  

1. Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens are pretty cap-strapped and it is difficult to forecast them being able to re-sign another defensive player to a big contract, but expect them to pull out all stops to resign Thomas. Ray Lewis may be able to influence Thomas to stick around so the Ravens can make another run at winning the divisional crown and reaching Arizona next year for Super Bowl XLII.  

2. San Francisco 49ers – Again, expect the 49ers to be active in adding a defensive standout.  The 49ers are developing their own 3-4 defense and with 2006 rookie OLB Manny Lawson on the other side the 49ers would have two extremely versatile OLBs. 

3. New York Jets – Another team that runs a 3-4 defensive scheme and could use a playmaking OLB to add life to their defense is the New York Jets. Adalius Thomas would immediately be the leader of the surprising Jets, who seem intent to build a strong defense like New England. 

4. Buffalo Bills – The Bills LB corps is one of the oldest in the league.  MLB London Fletcher-Baker may be a possible free agent loss and OLB Takeo Spikes is coming back for yet another injury. The Bills could most assuredly make a run at a big time LB like Thomas. 

5. Washington Redskins – I know that it is an extreme long shot since the Redskins have major cap issues, but the Redskins love to make a big splash. Since they do not have many draft picks and should be able to restructure some contracts, they may have a room under the cap to pursue Thomas. 

5. Nate Clements, CB, Buffalo Bills  

Clements is one of the better young CBs in the league and could cash in as an unrestricted free agent in 2007.  Clements truly feels that he is the best CB in the National Football League and despite the fact that Buffalo wants him back; Clements may choose not to return. The Bills did have moderate success this season, but Clements may not be convinced that their future is bright. 

1. Buffalo Bills – The Bills may seek to place the franchise tag on Nate Clements again this season, despite assurances to Clements that they would not tag him again. They resisted the urge to trade him last season, and unless a team with willing to either grossly over pay Clements and give up two first round picks, or work out a trade with the Bills, it appears Clements may remain a Bill for one more season, if the Bills go back on their word. 

2. Cleveland Browns – Clements, the Ohio native may be lured away from the Bills by Romeo Crennel, if Cleveland is willing to part with the necessary compensation. The Browns are seeking to build through defense and could use a leader in the secondary like Clements.  

3. Tennessee Titans – The Titans flirted with the idea of bringing in veteran CB Ty Law prior to last season to play opposite youngster CB Adam “Pac Man” Jones.  Finding a counterpart for Pac-Man is one of the needs that must be addressed this off-season if the Titans are going to take that next step.  Having a CB duo of Clements/Jones with a team anchored in the middle by Haynesworth, Starks, and Bulluck would make the Titans a legit contender in the AFC South. 

4. New Orleans Saints – In the NFC Championship game, Fred Thomas was repeatedly torched by Rex Grossman and Bernard Berrian which is not going to supply much job security.  Clements would be a good addition to a team that already has an offensive identity, but needs a defensive identity in the worst way. 

5. New York Giants – The Giants have a decent amount of cap space to spend on free agents and could use a significant upgrade in the secondary.  They signed CB Sam Madison this past off-season, but he is getting a little long in the tooth and CB Corey Webster still has not settled into the role that many thought he would, so the Giants could easily take the plunge on Clements.

Click Here for Part Two!

Click Here for Part Three!