We are a little over a week away from the 2018 NFL season, but it’s never too early to look ahead. The 2019 crop of free agents looks to be absolutely loaded as things currently stand, though it’s worth noting that several players will likely sign contract extensions this year. Still, I’ve ranked the potential options at each position that could hit the open market next March, factoring age, injuries, past performance, scheme, etc. [Note: this list only includes unrestricted free agents, as any restricted free agents that would appear are probably not leaving their current team.]

 

Quarterback

1. Teddy Bridgewater, NYJ

2. Tyrod Taylor, BUF

3. Robert Griffin III, BAL

4. Josh McCown, NYJ

5. Geno Smith, LAC

 

Thoughts: Teddy Bridgewater is the obvious headliner of the group, but compared to this year’s options through free agency and the draft, 2019 looks very thin at the quarterback position. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Teddy get a multi-year deal that pays him $20+ million annually.

 

Running back

1. David Johnson, ARI

2. Le’Veon Bell, PIT

3. Tevin Coleman, ATL

4. Mark Ingram, NO

5. Latavius Murray, MIN

6. Jay Ajayi, PHI

7. Ty Montgomery, GB

8. T.J. Yeldon, JAX

9. Bilal Powell, NYJ

10. Spencer Ware, KC

 

Thoughts: The running back market could be turned upside down if both Le’Veon Bell and David Johnson hit free agency, but I would also love to see Tevin Coleman get a featured role somewhere (perhaps Buffalo?). Plus, backup options like Latavius Murray and Ty Montgomery could provide great value for teams, and Jay Ajayi would be as high as No. 3 or No. 4 if long-term knee concerns are no longer seen as a big deal.

 

Wide receiver

1. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI

2. Devin Funchess, CAR

3. Chris Hogan, NE

4. John Brown, BAL

5. Golden Tate, DET

6. Kelvin Benjamin, BUF

7. Phillip Dorsett, NE

8. Randall Cobb, GB

9. Tyler Lockett, SEA

10. Martavis Bryant, OAK

 

Thoughts: Perhaps Larry Fitzgerald shouldn’t top the list, especially considering he won’t play anywhere other than Arizona, but his impeccable character combined with his ability to hold off Father Time would probably have all 32 teams lining up to sign him if he continued playing beyond this season. Overall, there looks to be a market for everyone with speedsters (Brown and Dorsett), big-bodied targets (Funchess and Benjamin), and proven veterans (Tate and Cobb).

 

Tight end

1. Tyler Eifert, CIN

2. Jared Cook, OAK

3. Luke Willson, DET

4. Jesse James, PIT

5. Tyler Kroft, CIN

 

Thoughts: Unless Tyler Eifert strings together a healthy and productive season in his age-28 campaign, the free agents at tight end are mostly just solid secondary options. It would be interesting to see how teams value a big year by Eifert with just 24-of-64 games played over the past four seasons.

 

Offensive tackle

1. Trent Brown, NE

2. Daryl Williams, CAR

3. Donovan Smith, TB

4. Bobby Massie, CHI

5. Cameron Fleming, DAL

6. Ereck Flowers, NYG

7. Ja’Wuan James, MIA

8. Jared Veldheer, DEN

9. Jake Fisher, CIN

10. Cedric Ogbuehi, CIN

 

Thoughts: This looks to be a very strong class for offensive tackles, but the top three guys might all be locked up with long-term deals relatively soon. He wasn’t a fit on the left side, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Ereck Flowers rebuild his value at right tackle.

 

Guard

1. Rodger Saffold, LAR

2. Quinton Spain, TEN

3. Ramon Foster, PIT

4. Andy Levitre, ATL

5. Jamon Brown, LAR

6. Jonathan Cooper, SF

7. James Carpenter, NYJ

8. Cameron Erving, KC

9. Mike Iupati, ARI

10. John Jerry, NYG

 

Thoughts: There are a handful of above-average options at guard, but beyond that, teams will have to target veterans or disappointing former first-round picks that are looking to get their careers on track like Jonathan Cooper, Cameron Erving, and Chance Warmack (who doesn’t make the list).

 

Center

1. Matt Paradis, DEN

2. Ali Marpet, TB

3. Nick Easton, MIN

4. Ryan Kalil, CAR

5. Travis Swanson, NYJ

 

Thoughts: I think Matt Paradis and Ali Marpet could both get top-market deals if they hit free agency, as a really good center is hard to find in the NFL. Behind them, Nick Easton has played center and guard over the past two years but is on injured reserve with a neck injury, and 33-year-old Ryan Kalil needs to be better for Carolina than he was in 2017.

 

Interior defensive lineman

1. Geno Atkins, CIN

2. Ndamukong Suh, LAR

3. Sheldon Richardson, MIN

4. Malcolm Brown, NE

5. Bennie Logan, TEN

6. David Irving, DAL

7. Muhammad Wilkerson, GB

8. Danny Shelton, NE

9. Eddie Goldman, CHI

10. Allen Bailey, KC

 

Thoughts: Aaron Donald notably doesn’t make the list because he’s a restricted free agent and the Rams are expected to sign him to a long-term deal anyway. However, this is still a great group with All-Pros in Atkins and Suh, versatile options in Richardson and Irving, and run stuffers in Logan, Shelton, and Goldman.

 

Edge defenders

1. Khalil Mack, OAK

2. Jadeveon Clowney, HOU

3. Brandon Graham, PHI

4. Ezekiel Ansah, DET

5. DeMarcus Lawrence, DAL

6. Clay Matthews, GB

7. Cameron Wake, MIA

8. Dante Fowler Jr., JAX

9. Dee Ford, KC

10. Carlos Dunlap, CIN

 

Thoughts: The Khalil Mack versus Jadeveon Clowney debate could start again next year, and both guys are going to demand top dollar if they reach the open market. Unless one of them has a monster season, Brandon Graham (31 next year), Ezekiel Ansah (30 next year), Clay Matthews (33 next year), and Cameron Wake (37 next year) might all be forced to settle for short-term or not-so-lucrative deals.

 

Linebackers

1. C.J. Mosley, BAL

2. Jordan Hicks, PHI

3. Anthony Barr, MIN

4. Avery Williamson, NYJ

5. Kwon Alexander, TB

6. Thomas Davis, CAR

7. Mychal Kendricks, CLE

8. Jake Ryan, GB

9. Deone Bucannon, ARI

10. Denzel Perryman, LAC

 

Thoughts: Linebacker is just about as loaded as running back, but I would think that C.J. Mosley and Jordan Hicks in particular are never allowed to hit free agency. The rest of the group could all possibly be available though, and they’ve each shown flashes of greatness in the league.

 

Cornerbacks

1. Eric Rowe, NE

2. Bradley Roby, DEN

3. Morris Claiborne, NYJ

4. Rashaan Melvin, OAK

5. Jason Verrett, LAC

6. Ronald Darby, PHI

7. Darqueze Dennard, CIN

8. E.J. Gaines, CLE

9. Byron Maxwell, SEA

10. Vontae Davis, BUF

 

Thoughts: At cornerback, it will be all about scheme when deciding who to target out of these guys, the top six of which could probably be in any order. Those who miss out on the players in their prime might be hoping for one or two more good seasons from Byron Maxwell or Vontae Davis if they show well in 2018.

 

Safeties

1. Earl Thomas, SEA

2. Landon Collins, NYG

3. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, GB

4. LaMarcus Joyner, LAR

5. Adrian Amos, CHI

6. Tyrann Mathieu, HOU

7. Marcus Gilchrist, OAK

8. Jimmie Ward, SF

9. Kareem Jackson, HOU

10. Tre Boston, ARI

 

Thoughts: Thomas, Collins, and Clinton-Dix are all former All-Pros that could easily earn the honor again this season, but the other options could be difference-makers for a new team, too. I think next year’s free agents at the position will have much better luck that this year’s because they are simply better players.