PFW breaks down each team's plan of attack in free agency.

	Offseason needs: AFC South
	Will the Texans be a factor in 2003? Ryan Early breaks down all the teams in the AFC South and looks at how the Texans can take the next step? Offseason needs: AFC South

Each team's capsule contains a list of players who are scheduled to become free agents on Feb. 28. Unrestricted free agents (UFAs) are players who have accrued four or more NFL seasons and are free to sign with any team unless given a franchise or transition tag. Restricted free agents (RFAs) are players with three accrued seasons. The player's current team has a right of first refusal on offers from other teams. If the team chooses to let a restricted free agent leave by opting not to match an offer, the team will receive draft-choice compensation from the player's new team.

Those who have been designated "franchise" players are required to be paid at least the average of the top five players at their position or a 20-percent raise, whichever is higher. "Transition" players require an offer of the average of the top 10 players at their position or a 20 percent raise, whichever is higher. In both cases, the original team has the right to match, and compensation for signing another team's franchise player is a pair of first-round picks.

Houston Texans

	Texans' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: RB James Allen, QB Tony Banks, S Eric Brown, S Leomont Evans, LB Jay Foreman, OL DeMingo Graham, OL Jimmy Herndon, LB Keith Mitchell, LB Jeff Posey, QB Mike Quinn, OL Ryan Schau, DT Corey Sears, CB Jason Simmons, OL Cameron Spikes, S Kevin Williams, CB Kenny Wright, OL Ryan Young. RFAs: WR Avion Black, WR JaJuan Dawson, CB Pat Dennis, WR Trevor Insley, TE Billy Miller, P Chad Stanley.

Analysis: General manager Charley Casserly said the Texans won't be as active in the free-agent market as they were while building the team in their first season. Casserly will rely on the team's 13 draft choices to fill most positions. The Texans might go after a veteran offensive lineman or running back, but their first priority will be to re-sign their own free agents, with ORT Ryan Young being at the top of the list. There is some speculation that the Cowboys will go after Young because new head coach Bill Parcells drafted him with the Jets in 1999. OLT Tony Boselli recently restructured his $7.55 million cap figure, agreeing to reduce his $4.5 million salary to $655,000 and receiving incentives for playing time. The team saved $3.85 million on the cap with the deal. The team also would like to re-sign OLB Jeff Posey, ILB Jay Foreman and S Eric Brown. OLB Keith Mitchell could be a fallback plan if Posey signs with another team, but because linebackers make the 3-4 defense go, the Texans will have their eyes peeled on the position during the draft. RB James Allen is not expected to be re-signed. WR-RS Jermaine Lewis was released. Backup QB Tony Banks wants to be a starter but kind of liked the role he was in last year as a mentor and could stick around in what is not a bad situation.

Indianapolis Colts

	Colts' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: DT Chukie Nwokorie, LB Mike Peterson, OL Jeff Saturday, DE Brad Scioli, RB Detron Smith, P Hunter Smith, LB Sam Sword, S Eric Vance. RFAs: CB Cliff Crosby, FB Jim Finn, S David Gibson, CB David Macklin, DT Josh Williams.

Analysis: The Colts have freed up $6.3 million in 2003 cap space by restructuring the contracts of DE Chad Bratzke, PK Mike Vanderjagt, CB Walt Harris, TE Marcus Pollard and OT Adam Meadows. Management could sign QB Peyton Manning to a more cap-friendly long-term deal as well. He is currently slated to count $15 million against the cap. If Manning gets a new deal, the Colts should have enough cap room to be fairly aggressive in the free-agent market. Their secondary is the biggest area of concern. Both starting safeties, Cory Bird and Idrees Bashir, missed most of last season with injuries, and CB David Macklin improved but his play still warrants an upgrade there. If the Colts lose C Jeff Saturday in free agency, they likely will move OG Rick DeMulling to center and seek veteran help elsewhere on the offensive line. Head coach Tony Dungy likes to find players who are familiar with his defense. Bucs unrestricted free-agents Shelton Quarles and Dexter Jackson could be attractive options to upgrade the defense at linebacker and safety respectively.

Jacksonville Jaguars

	Jaguars' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: S Donovin Darius (franchised), OL Todd Fordham, QB Kent Graham, WR Pat Johnson, WR Kevin Lockett, RB Stacey Mack, TE Pete Mitchell, LB Wali Rainer, WR Bobby Shaw, DT Larry Smith, OL John Wade, OL Joe Zelenka. RFAs: S Ainsley Battles, CB Robert Bean, LB Bobby Brooks, LB Danny Clark, OL Leander Jordan, OL Aaron Koch, LB T.J. Slaughter, DE Paul Spicer, CB Kiwaukee Thomas.

Analysis: Unlike last year, when salary-cap problems forced them to release 10 starters, the Jaguars are in better shape financially to make some moves in free agency. Their biggest need is defensive end. The defense got absolutely no outside rush after DE Tony Brackens was placed on injured reserve early in the season. He is rehabilitating after knee surgery and could be a cap casualty after June 1, along with TE Kyle Brady. About $33 million, nearly half of the cap, is tied up in four players -- Brackens, Brady, QB Mark Brunell and WR Jimmy Smith -- along with $5 million of dead money. Vice president of player personnel James Harris will be looking to land some playmakers, especially at the WR position, where almost the entire receiving corps other than Smith will be unrestricted free agents. They would like to re-sign ORT Zach Wiegert and will be looking to add veteran OL help if he departs. A fairly large part of that money will have to be spent retaining some of those players. One of the top priorities likely will be to address locking up Fred Taylor, whose contract expires after 2003, to a long-term contract. Releasing Brunell would save $4 million under the cap, but the veteran quarterback already has begun meeting with offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and is expected to remain the starter. The biggest question on defense is whether SS Donovin Darius, who carries the team's franchise tag, will get the long-term contract he is seeking in the range of $3 million to $4 million annually.

Tennessee Titans

	Titans' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: OL Tom Ackerman, LB Frank Chamberlin, S Rich Coady, WR Kevin Dyson, OL Aaron Graham, P Craig Hentrich (transitioned), CB Donald Mitchell, OL Zach Piller, WR Chris Sanders, CB Damon Sidney, DT John Thornton. RFAs: RB Mike Green, TE Erron Kinney, S Aric Morris, S Bobby Myers, LB Peter Sirmon, DE Robaire Smith, QB Billy Volek.

Analysis: The Titans are not big believers in big-ticket free agents, so it's unlikely they will chase the big names. In free agency, general manager Floyd Reese said if he ends up with $6 million to spend, his "first thought wouldn't be to run out and find a $6 million player; we may be better off with six $1 million players." Offensive speed is going to be a key issue, but they'll address it in the draft and with mid-range free agents. In the free-agent realm, they'll continue to try to hold onto their own guys. Zach Piller is priority No. 1. Craig Hentrich is a high priority too and was slapped with the transition tag. The positions most likely to be addressed with veterans are defensive tackle and cornerback. At defensive tackle, they are expected to let unrestricted free agents John Thornton and Henry Ford walk and go with Albert Haynesworth and Robaire Smith as the starters. They'll need to fill in some depth for the rotation if they do that though. At cornerback, they have talked about a new willingness to spend more for a nickel back and less for, say, a middle linebacker, based on how the playing time for the two spots has changed. Randall Godfrey's enormous cap number ($8.08 million) means he won't be back unless he signs a cheaper deal.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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