By ROB MAADDI, AP Pro Football Writer

Are you in search of an exceptional quarterback for the Pro Bowl, a defensive lineman who has been named All-Pro, or a wide receiver who is destined for the Hall of Fame?

Beginning on March 13, NFL teams have the opportunity to discover numerous talented players who could potentially become stars. A few notable names that will be up for grabs in the free agency period include Kirk Cousins, Chris Jones, and Mike Evans. However, their respective teams have until March 5 to use a franchise tag in order to retain them. The Bengals have already utilized this option for wide receiver Tee Higgins.

The group will also include talented players such as Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Josh Jacobs at the running back position, Josh Allen, Brian Burns, and Danielle Hunter as edge rushers, and several others at various positions including wide receiver, safety, and linebacker.

The defensive line has the most players, while the offensive tackle position has the fewest players considered to be starting-caliber on the list.

These are the 25 highest-ranking players who will soon be able to sign with any team they choose.

“Kirk Cousins, who is the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings and has been selected for the Pro Bowl four times, was performing exceptionally well until he suffered an Achilles tendon injury in October. He has conveyed his desire to remain with the Vikings, and coach Kevin O’Connell has also affirmed the team’s sentiments towards keeping him.”

O’Connell stated on Tuesday that he thinks Kirk has a desire to become a Viking and we will make efforts to achieve that goal.

2. CHRIS JONES, DEFENSIVE TACKLE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: The two-time All-Pro is a game-changer, as evidenced in Kansas City’s win over San Francisco in the Super Bowl. It would cost the Chiefs about $32 million to use the franchise tag on Jones again this season, a decision they haven’t yet made.

General manager Brett Veach expressed his desire for the player to return and continue being a valuable member of the team. He hopes to see the player retire as a member of the Kansas City team.

Josh Allen, a defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars, recorded his highest number of sacks, 17 1/2, in the final year of his contract. As Jacksonville’s top defensive player, they cannot risk losing him, but other teams will likely show interest in signing him.

4. CHRISTIAN WILKINS, DEFENSIVE TACKLE, MIAMI DOLPHINS: Already one of the best run defenders in the NFL, Wilkins had a career-best nine sacks to increase his value on the open market.

5. JUSTIN MADUBUIKE, DEFENSIVE TACKLE, BALTIMORE RAVENS: Madubuike’s sack count last season (13) surpassed his total from his first three seasons combined. With his impressive performance, he is likely to receive a lucrative contract and potentially a franchise tag.

Reword: Brian Burns, an edge rusher for the Carolina Panthers, has been the standout defensive player on a struggling team. Despite his possible desire for a new beginning with another team, the Panthers seem determined to hold onto him.

Dan Morgan, the General Manager, has previously stated that the team is anticipating using the franchise tag, worth $24 million, on Burns.

Morgan expressed a strong preference for utilizing the item and praised Brian.

Antoine Winfield Jr., a safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was crucial in the team’s success this season. Heplayed at an All-Pro level, contributing to the Buccaneers’ domination in their division and their advancement to the second round of the playoffs. The team is focused on securing Winfield with a multi-year contract, rather than using the franchise tag which would cost them $17.1 million.

Reworded: L’Jarius Sneed, a cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, is known for his toughness and physicality on the field. He played a crucial role in Steve Spagnuolo’s winning defense during the championship season, and did not allow any touchdowns. It is possible that the Chiefs may choose to apply the franchise tag to Sneed, which typically costs around $19 million for cornerbacks.

Alone amongst his peers, Mike Evans, the wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has achieved the feat of recording 1,000 yards receiving in ten consecutive seasons at the start of his career. Despite approaching the age of 31 in August, Evans has shown no decline in performance. While the Buccaneers are keen to retain him, he would undoubtedly be a valuable member of several other teams.

10. DANIELLE HUNTER, EDGE RUSHER, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: The four-time Pro Bowl pick had a career-best 16 1/2 sacks, his fifth season reaching double digits in eight years.

Jaylon Johnson, a cornerback for the Chicago Bears, is known for his physicality and consistent performance on the field. He also has the potential to be a top-notch player who can shut down opposing players.

In the upcoming season, Michael Pittman, a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, achieved 109 catches and 1,152 receiving yards, his personal best. He will turn 27 in October and is being considered for a franchise tag.

Running back Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants, who has been chosen for the Pro Bowl twice, may receive the franchise tag for a second consecutive year. If not, he is likely to garner a lot of attention in free agency despite the league’s trend of diminishing the value of the running back position.

In the past three years, Smith was unable to participate in many games, but in the most recent season, he made a comeback and played in 13 games at his high level as the left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys.

In 2022, quarterback Baker Mayfield moved around before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year contract as a replacement for Tom Brady. This proved to be his most successful season yet. Mayfield has expressed a desire to stay with the Buccaneers, and the team is also interested in retaining him.

16. DERRICK HENRY, a RUNNING BACK for the TENNESSEE TITANS, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection at the age of 30. Despite his accumulated injuries and fatigue, he has played in 17 games and rushed for 1,167 yards while also scoring 12 touchdowns. Over the past six years, he has recorded five 1,000-yard rushing seasons and in 2020, he achieved a career-high of 2,027 yards. He has consistently scored double-digit touchdowns for six consecutive years. He would undoubtedly be a valuable addition to any top-tier team.

Leonard Williams, a defensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, is known for his ability to defend against the run and was also a dominant pass rusher last season. Seattle gave up two draft picks in order to acquire Williams, so they will likely make a strong effort to retain him.

Kendall Fuller, a cornerback for the Washington Commanders, is a versatile player on defense who can excel at playing on the outside, in the slot, or at safety.

In 2022, Josh Jacobs, a running back for the Las Vegas Raiders, had a difficult time replicating his All-Pro performance. However, he ended the season on a high note.

20. KYLE DUGGER, SAFETY for the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Performs well against the run but could improve consistency in pass coverage.

Mike Onwenu, the right tackle for the New England Patriots, has the ability to play both guard and serve as a bookend tackle.

Calvin Ridley, a wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, had a successful season with 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and 8 touchdowns after returning from a suspension. He would be a great addition to any team that already has a top-performing number one receiver.

23. STEPHON GILMORE, CORNERBACK, DALLAS COWBOYS: The 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has played for four teams in the past four seasons but still is among the top guys at his position.

24. MARQUISE BROWN, WIDE RECEIVER, ARIZONA CARDINALS: Still waiting for that breakout year after his best season with Baltimore in 2021. Has game-changing deep speed that will interest many teams.

25. BRYCE HUFF, EDGE RUSHER, NEW YORK JETS: Huff goes from undrafted to a big payday after recording a career-best 10 sacks last season. He still needs to develop as a run defender to be more than a pass-rush specialist.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Source: wralsportsfan.com