Top 2013 NFL free agents (offense): Receivers are top targets

If your team is looking for a wide receiver, this could be a fun March. There are always caveats in free agency, and NFL rosters are littered with many a big-money bust, but this is one position where there should be an abundance of options.

Keep in mind that in general many of the names you see in these lists will not actually hit the market. Some will be franchised. Others will be re-signed by their current clubs before the league year begins March 13. So these names will be in flux, particularly some of the more attractive options. But this is as good of a guide to impending free agency as there is for now, and, on the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver will be particularly intriguing.

A year ago the Buccaneers ended up with one of the best signings of the offseason, landing stud Vincent Jackson from the Chargers. This year, teams will be clamoring for the likes of Mike Wallace, Greg Jennings, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker and Danny Amendola, to name a few. At this point it would be surprising if any of these guys got franchised (Bowe and Welker already were a year ago), though it would be anything but surprising if guys like Amendola and Welker were retained by their current clubs.

With the Chiefs making a coaching and GM change, the possibility of the team retaining Bowe certainly increases. He may be more amenable to sticking around with Andy Reid now running the show (and calling plays on offense). Jennings looks like his price will exceed what the receiver-heavy Packers would likely pay. And according to sources, the Steelers do not plan to franchise Wallace, just coming off his rookie deal, and do not anticipate meeting his demands in the $10 million-$11 million yearly range, though they do expect other clubs to value him there.

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Of the quarterbacks, many teams view Brian Hoyer as an intriguing prospect -- he finished the year with the Cardinals -- but the real meat at this position has yet to hit the market. The Eagles will make a call on releasing Michael Vick shortly after the Super Bowl; it's expected they won't bring him back at a $16.5 million tag. But until he is cut, he won't show up on a free-agent list. Similarly, the Cardinals (Kevin Kolb) and 49ers (Alex Smith) have to decide whether or not to pick up roster bonuses on their quarterbacks within days of the opening of the league year (Smith is certainly going to depart), and the Chiefs (Matt Cassel) and Raiders (Carson Palmer) could part with those quarterbacks as well, should they not be able to agree to lowered contracts.

And, obviously, there is no chance whatsoever Joe Flacco hits the market -- he will be franchised as the Ravens attempt to get him signed to a long-term deal.

Two elite left tackles stand out from the list of offensive linemen -- Ryan Clady (Broncos) and Branden Albert (Chiefs) -- but execs I talk to can't imagine their teams don't at least franchise them. The most interesting decision will be in Miami, where they might need to decide between franchising enigmatic left tackle Jake Long or emerging corner Sean Smith.

Teams don't want to spend much for running backs these days, and Rashard Mendenhall's lost season could lead to him re-signing with the Steelers on a discount. Reggie Bush's ability to make explosive plays and contribute on special teams will lead to a nice market forming for him, I'm sure, and it's highly unlikely he stays with Miami, sources said. Some of the best options at this position come with restricted free agents like Chris Ivory and LeGarrette Blount, but as we know they rarely change teams.

Future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez highlights the list of tight ends, but as we all know he will either stay with the Falcons or, most likely, retire. The Jets don't believe they will have the budget to keep Dustin Keller at this point, according to sources, and Fred Davis, franchised by the Redskins in 2012 but missed virtually the entire season, will have difficulty getting value considering his off-field issues and the fact he is coming off a season-ending injury. Jared Cook (Titans) is still just 25 and appears to have no future in Tennessee, though I would expect his former coach Jeff Fisher, now in St. Louis, could target him as a new weapon for young quarterback Sam Bradford.

Quarterback

1. Joe Flacco: No way he gets out of Baltimore.

2. Michael Vick: Hasn't been cut yet, but once he is, Arizona, Cleveland and others could explore.

3. Alex Smith: Also hasn't been cut yet, but could make sense in KC, Jacksonville and several other spots.

4. Brian Hoyer: Plenty of teams see him a strong No. 2 who could thrive as a spot starter.

5. Kevin Kolb: Arizona was piling up wins before he got hurt; might not hit the market.

Wide receiver

1. Greg Jennings: The injuries are something of a concern, but he has been a game-changer.

2. Dwayne Bowe: Good size and strong production despite not having good QB play. Miami makes sense.

3. Mike Wallace: Did not produce under pressure in 2012, but still so fast and so young -- he will get paid

4. Wes Welker: Have a hard time seeing him leave New England.

5. Danny Amendola: Rams badly want to keep him, as he's Sam Bradford's favorite target.

Running back/fullback

1. Rashard Mendenhall: Injuries robbed him of much of 2012, but still the most productive of this bunch.

2. Reggie Bush: Could see him signing a short-term deal with a contender. His versatility will serve him well on open market.

3. Cedric Benson: Age and injury catching up to him, but had some nice moments for the Packers. Likely another one-year deal ahead for him.

4. Danny Woodhead: Much like Wes Welker, anyone see this multifaceted weapon actually leaving Bill Belichick?

5. Jerome Felton: Fullback was a key cog in Adrian Peterson's near-record season, and guys like Vonta Leach have gotten solid money in free agency recently.

Tight end

1. Tony Gonzalez: The best to ever play the position, and still at a top level, but retirement seems to beckon.

2. Jared Cook: Wasn't always a fit in Titans offense, but young and talented and will have suitors.

3. Martellus Bennett: Had flashes of greatness with the Giants -- though still inconsistent -- and they are short on TEs.

4. Fred Davis: Incredibly talented, but troubled. Staying with the Skins and RG3 on a short-term deal might make most sense.

5. Dustin Keller: Very limited in his blocking skills, scouts say, but can catch the football.

Offensive line

1. Ryan Clady: One of the best left tackles in the game, but no way he won't be franchised to protect Peyton Manning's blindside.

2. Branden Albert: Andy Reid went through enough OL shuffling in Philly; can't imagine he lets Albert out of KC now.

3. Jake Long: Production has waned past two years and injuries have become a real issue -- but would Dolphins really let this former No. 1 overall pick walk in his mid-20s?

4. Jermon Bushrod: Key cog for the Saints, but their cap crunch could lead to big money for him on the open market.

5. Max Starks: Steelers line gets maligned at times, but at age 30 expect Starks to get action on the open market.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

QUARTERBACKS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Daniel, Chase	NO	6-0	225	25
Edwards, Trent	PHI	6-4	230	28
Flacco, Joe	BLT	6-6	238	27
Beck, John	HST	6-2	215	31
Gradkowski, Bruce	CIN	6-1	220	29
Moore, Matt	MIA	6-3	202	28
Quinn, Brady	KC	6-3	235	27
Stanton, Drew	IND	6-3	230	28
Thigpen, Tyler	BUF	6-1	216	28
Jackson, Tarvaris	BUF	6-2	225	29
Leinart, Matt	OAK	6-5	232	29
Anderson, Derek	CAR	6-6	235	29
Campbell, Jason	CHI	6-5	230	30
McCown, Luke	ATL	6-4	217	31
Schaub, Matt	HST	6-5	240	31
Garrard, David	MIA	6-1	236	34
Grossman, Rex	WAS	6-1	225	32
Leftwich, Byron	PIT	6-5	250	32
Carr, David	NYG	6-3	212	33
Batch, Charlie	PIT	6-2	216	37
RUNNING BACKS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Booker, Lorenzo	CHI	5-10	191	28
Goodson, Mike	OAK	6-0	212	25
Greene, Shonn	NYJ	5-11	226	27
Jennings, Rashad	JAX	6-1	228	27
Lumpkin, Kregg	SEA	5-11	228	28
Parmele, Jalen	JAX	5-11	222	26
Ringer, Javon	TEN	5-9	207	25
Scott, Bernard	CIN	5-10	198	28
Stephens-Howling, LaRod	ARZ	5-7	185	25
Choice, Tashard	BUF	5-10	212	27
Forsett, Justin	HST	5-8	198	26
Hillis, Peyton	KC	6-1	240	26
Jones, Felix	DAL	5-10	219	25
Mendenhall, Rashard	PIT	5-10	225	25
Smith, Kevin	DET	6-1	217	25
Woodhead, Danny	NE	5-8	195	27
Jackson, Brandon	CLV	5-10	216	26
Leonard, Brian	CIN	6-1	225	28
Bush, Reggie	MIA	6-0	203	27
Benson, Cedric	GB	5-11	227	29
Brown, Ronnie	SD	6-0	230	30
Jacobs, Brandon	SF	6-4	264	30
Moore, Mewelde	IND	5-11	209	30
FULLBACKS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Casey, James	HST	6-3	240	27
Johnson, Quinn	TEN	6-1	263	25
Phillips, John	DAL	6-5	262	25
Felton, Jerome	MIN	6-0	242	26
Schmitt, Owen	OAK	6-2	245	27
Battle, Jackie	SD	6-2	238	28
Hall, Korey	NO	6-0	236	29
Polite, Lousaka	ATL	6-0	245	30
McIntyre, Corey	BUF	6-0	247	33
Jones, Greg	JAX	6-1	254	31
TIGHT ENDS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Beckum, Travis	NYG	6-3	234	25
Cook, Jared	TEN	6-5	248	25
Johnson, David	PIT	6-2	260	25
Miller, Zach	JAX	6-4	245	27
Morrah, Cameron	SEA	6-3	251	25
Myers, Brandon	OAK	6-4	250	27
O'Connell, Jake	KC	6-3	250	26
Barnidge, Gary	CAR	6-5	247	26
Bennett, Martellus	NYG	6-6	275	25
Davis, Fred	WAS	6-4	258	26
Keller, Dustin	NYJ	6-2	250	27
Moore, Evan	SEA	6-6	247	27
Humphrey, Tory	OAK	6-2	255	29
Rosario, Dante	SD	6-4	250	27
Fasano, Anthony	MIA	6-4	255	28
Pope, Leonard	PIT	6-8	264	28
Walker, Delanie	SF	6-0	242	28
Bajema, Billy	BLT	6-4	259	29
Smith, Alex	CLV	6-4	258	30
Hartsock, Ben	CAR	6-4	270	32
Watson, Benjamin	CLV	6-3	255	31
Clark, Dallas	TB	6-3	252	33
Heller, Will	DET	6-6	270	31
Lee, Donald	CIN	6-4	248	32
Shiancoe, Visanthe	NE	6-4	240	32
Graham, Daniel	NO	6-3	257	33
Heap, Todd	ARZ	6-5	252	32
Gonzalez, Tony	ATL	6-5	243	36
WIDE RECEIVERS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Amendola, Danny	SL	5-11	186	26
Barden, Ramses	NYG	6-6	227	26
Collie, Austin	IND	6-0	200	26
Edelman, Julian	NE	5-10	198	26
Gibson, Brandon	SL	6-0	210	25
Hartline, Brian	MIA	6-2	186	25
Knox, Johnny	CHI	6-0	185	25
Logan, Stefan	DET	5-6	180	31
Massaquoi, Mohamed	CLV	6-2	207	25
Murphy, Louis	CAR	6-2	200	25
Ogletree, Kevin	DAL	6-1	187	25
Reynaud, Darius	TEN	5-9	206	25
Robiskie, Brian	JAX	6-3	209	24
Stroughter, Sammie	TB	5-10	189	26
Tate, Brandon	CIN	6-1	195	24
Turner, Patrick	NYJ	6-5	220	25
Wallace, Mike	PIT	6-0	199	26
Willis, Matt	DEN	6-0	190	28
Aromashodu, Devin	MIN	6-2	201	28
Avery, Donnie	IND	5-11	183	28
Schilens, Chaz	NYJ	6-4	225	26
Spurlock, Micheal	SD	5-11	200	29
Bowe, Dwayne	KC	6-2	221	27
Ginn, Ted	SF	5-11	180	27
Hixon, Domenik	NYG	6-2	197	27
Naanee, Legedu	MIA	6-2	220	28
Smith, Steve	SL	5-11	195	27
Floyd, Malcom	SD	6-5	225	30
Jennings, Greg	GB	5-11	198	28
Roby, Courtney	NO	6-0	189	29
Cribbs, Joshua	CLV	6-1	215	29
Edwards, Braylon	NYJ	6-3	214	29
Henderson, Devery	NO	5-11	200	30
Welker, Wes	NE	5-9	185	31
Osgood, Kassim	DET	6-5	220	32
Driver, Donald	GB	6-0	194	37
Moss, Randy	SF	6-4	210	35
Stokley, Brandon	DEN	6-0	192	36
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Beatty, Will	NYG	6-6	319	27
Britton, Eben	JAX	6-6	310	24
Hilliard, Corey	DET	6-6	300	27
Loadholt, Phil	MIN	6-8	343	26
Schwartz, Geoff	MIN	6-6	331	26
Vollmer, Sebastian	NE	6-8	315	28
Albert, Branden	KC	6-5	316	27
Baker, Sam	ATL	6-5	307	27
Cherilus, Gosder	DET	6-7	325	28
Clady, Ryan	DEN	6-6	315	25
Dunlap, King	PHI	6-9	330	26
Garner, Nate	MIA	6-7	325	27
Harris, Ryan	HST	6-5	300	27
Polumbus, Tyler	WAS	6-8	300	27
Richardson, Barry	SL	6-6	319	26
Roland, Dennis	CIN	6-9	322	29
Batiste, D'Anthony	ARZ	6-4	314	30
Bushrod, Jermon	NO	6-5	315	28
Butler, Rashad	HST	6-4	308	29
Justice, Winston	IND	6-6	320	27
McQuistan, Pat	ARZ	6-6	319	29
Svitek, Will	ATL	6-6	309	30
Trueblood, Jeremy	TB	6-8	320	29
Barnes, Khalif	OAK	6-5	325	30
Omiyale, Frank	SEA	6-4	315	29
Black, Jordan	WAS	6-5	305	32
Locklear, Sean	NYG	6-4	310	31
Starks, Max	PIT	6-8	345	30
Bridges, Jeremy	ARZ	6-5	318	32
McKinnie, Bryant	BLT	6-8	343	32
GUARDS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Beekman, Josh	JAX	6-2	310	29
Caldwell, Antoine	HST	6-3	305	26
Foster, Ramon	PIT	6-6	325	26
Green, Tyronne	SD	6-2	316	26
Legursky, Doug	PIT	6-1	315	26
Levitre, Andy	BUF	6-2	303	26
Lichtensteiger, Kory	WAS	6-2	292	27
Louis, Lance	CHI	6-3	320	27
Ohrnberger, Rich	ARZ	6-2	300	26
Reynolds, Garrett	ATL	6-7	317	25
Rinehart, Chad	BUF	6-5	323	27
Slauson, Matt	NYJ	6-5	315	26
Urbik, Kraig	BUF	6-5	329	26
Vasquez, Louis	SD	6-5	335	25
Pollak, Mike	CAR	6-3	301	27
Rachal, Chilo	CHI	6-5	323	26
Thomas, Donald	NE	6-4	310	26
Williams, Chris	CHI	6-6	320	27
Harris, Leroy	TEN	6-3	303	28
Boothe, Kevin	NYG	6-5	320	29
Gandy, Dylan	DET	6-3	295	30
Hadnot, Rex	SD	6-2	310	30
Lilja, Ryan	KC	6-2	290	30
Dockery, Derrick	DAL	6-6	325	31
Moore, Brandon	NYJ	6-3	305	32
Hicks, Artis	MIA	6-4	318	33
Davis, Leonard	SF	6-6	355	33
Carlisle, Cooper	OAK	6-5	295	35
CENTERS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Richard, Jamey	NE	6-5	295	27
Turner, Robert	SL	6-4	308	28
Berger, Joe	MIN	6-5	311	30
Spencer, Chris	CHI	6-3	309	30
Faine, Jeff	CIN	6-3	291	31
Meester, Brad	JAX	6-3	302	35
McClure, Todd	ATL	6-1	296	35

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

RUNNING BACKS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Ball, Lance	DEN	5-9	215	27
Blount, LeGarrette	TB	6-0	247	25
Brinkley, Curtis	SD	5-9	208	26
Brown, Andre	NYG	6-0	227	25
Dwyer, Jonathan	PIT	5-11	229	23
Ivory, Chris	NO	6-0	222	24
Ogbonnaya, Chris	CLV	6-0	225	26
Peerman, Cedric	CIN	5-9	211	25
Redman, Isaac	PIT	6-0	230	27
Smith, Antone	ATL	5-9	190	26
Williams, Eddie	CLV	6-1	242	25
Williams, Keiland	DET	5-11	223	26
TIGHT ENDS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Crabtree, Tom	GB	6-4	245	26
Cumberland, Jeff	NYJ	6-4	260	25
Dickson, Ed	BLT	6-4	250	25
Mastrud, Jeron	MIA	6-6	253	24
Palmer, Michael	ATL	6-5	260	24
Pascoe, Bear	NYG	6-5	283	26
Paulsen, Logan	WAS	6-5	268	25
Pitta, Dennis	BLT	6-4	245	27
Potter, Zach	JAX	6-7	280	26
Rucker, Martin	KC	6-5	248	27
WIDE RECEIVERS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Armstrong, Anthony	MIA	5-11	185	29
Arrington, Adrian	NO	6-3	192	26
Banks, Brandon	WAS	5-7	155	24
Cruz, Victor	NYG	6-2	204	25
Jones, Donald	BUF	6-0	209	24
Moore, Marlon	MIA	6-0	190	25
Nelson, David	BUF	6-5	215	25
Reed, David	BLT	6-0	190	25
Sanders, Emmanuel	PIT	5-11	180	25
Williams, Stephen	ARZ	6-5	208	26
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Clark, Chris	DEN	6-5	305	26
Fox, Jason	DET	6-7	303	24
Gardner, Andrew	HST	6-6	305	26
Harewood, Ramon	BLT	6-6	340	25
Howard, Austin	NYJ	6-7	333	25
Linkenbach, Jeff	IND	6-6	311	25
Wang, Ed	OAK	6-5	312	25
CENTERS
Player	Team	Height	Weight	Age
Costa, Phil	DAL	6-3	311	25