2014 Free Agents For The NFL

Who tops the list of the best players available?

Rushers

1. Michael Johnson - Johnson would have preferred to carry a performance like the one he had in 2012 (11.5 sacks) into free agency. However, that number plummeted to 3.5 last season. However, the 27-year-old Johnson still should find a friendly market given his talents.

2. Michael Bennett - Bennett deserves to cash in after helping the Seahawks to a Super Bowl, with 8.5 sacks in the regular season.

3. Lamarr Houston - Houston is coming off a career year in Oakland: six sacks, 69 tackles and more than 1,000 snaps.

4. Everson Griffen/Jared Allen - Sort of cheating here by pairing these two together. The Vikings appear to favor Griffen, who at 26 might be ready for a starting gig after chalking up 13.5 sacks over 2012-13 as a backup to Allen and Brian Robison. Allen will be 32 in April - age might be a factor!

5. Justin Tuck - Tuck recorded 8.5 sacks to bump him up to 11 for the year. That’s the third-highest total of his career.

Interior linemen

1. Henry Melton - Melton should have no problem cashing in this offseason despite missing 13 games last year. Melton earned a Pro Bowl trip in 2012 thanks to six sacks and 40-plus tackles.

2. Jason Hatcher - Hatcher made the Pro Bowl this season after recording a career-high 11 sacks. (his previous best: 4.5). Dallas’s up front change to a 4-3 look, proved invaluable for Hatcher.

3. Arthur Jones - Jones proved in Baltimore what a perfect fit he was as a 3-4 defensive end, but no one would consider him a true pass-rusher. Jones finished last season with four sacks. In my opinion, Jones” impact reached far beyond that number.

4. Linval Joseph - Joseph is, in my opinion, the most highly coveted interior lineman once free agency opens. There are several reasons. They are: his age (25), performance last season (three sacks and 59 tackles) and the versatility to fit in numerous positions (4-3 DT or 3-4 DE/NT).

5. Paul Soliai/Randy Starks - Soliai and Starks were part of Miami’s three-headed monster at DT, which also included Jared Odrick. Starks will, however, be the top dog in free agency. In addition, Soliai has talked about wanting to stay in Miami; Starks just wants the best deal.