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| Tuesday, February 25 Updated: February 27, 9:54 AM ET NFC South: Free agency breakdown Pro Football Weekly |
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PFW breaks down each team's plan of attack in free agency.
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.
Atlanta Falcons
 Analysis: LB Keith Brooking was at the top of the keeper list, and the
Falcons were able to sign him to a seven-year, $41 million deal just days
before free agency began. Avoiding the franchise tag that would've eaten up
virtually all of the team's salary-cap space was a big plus. Now at least
the Falcons will know how much they will have to spend on improving the WR
corps. The Bills' Peerless Price was expected to be a major target until he
was franchised. C Todd McClure is no guarantee to be back. The Falcons
believe OG Roberto Garza can slide over to center, and they would rather
bring in a guard through the free-agent market. Backup QB Doug Johnson, a
restricted free agent, is expected to draw plenty of interest from other
teams, and the Falcons won't give him more than a middle tender. Head coach
Dan Reeves would love to keep Johnson around as a backup to starter Mike
Vick, but Johnson's showing in limited action has opponents intrigued.
Another key decision will involve veteran CB Ray Buchanan. If Buchanan is
moved to free safety next season as has been rumored, look for S Keion
Carpenter to be moving on as his playing time will be decreased. The Falcons
cleared about $9 million in cap space by cutting CB Ashley Ambrose, WR Shawn
Jefferson and DL Shane Dronett.
Carolina Panthers
 Analysis: It isn't often that a punter is the top target of a team that went
7-9 on the season, but that's the case with the Panthers and Todd Sauerbrun.
The Pro Bowl punter and the team are far apart on what kind of signing bonus
Sauerbrun would receive if he signs a new deal, but he was franchised to
give them time to work it out. Outside of Sauerbrun, however, Carolina
doesn't expect to be affected much by the loss of some of their free agents,
and they don't expect to be active on the free-agent market themselves. QB
Rodney Peete likely will re-sign with the team, and the Panthers hope he
will tutor a first- or second-round rookie to be the signal-caller of the
future. Another area that is expected to be addressed in the draft, running
back, also will be a target of free agency. Lamar Smith isn't a lock to be
back, DeShaun Foster's knee is going to be a question until training camp
and the Panthers need to upgrade at the position. WR Isaac Byrd didn't take
advantage of his opportunities to impress the coaching staff, and he likely
will move on. WR Michael Bates is a solid special-teams contributor, and CB
Emmanuel McDaniel had his moments. Both should receive offers, but the
Panthers won't be crushed if they lose them. Carolina isn't impressed with
the free-agent class that is available and has the nucleus of its team
locked up, so don't look for the Panthers to be major players in the
free-agent market.
New Orleans Saints
 Analysis: The Saints' top three free agents - Charlie Clemons, Jerry
Fontenot and Sammy Knight -- all might be moving on, but the team isn't too
worried about being able to recover from the losses. Clemons is expected to
demand too much money to return, while Knight exercised the right to void
the final year of his contract because he felt it was time for a change of
scenery. (At presstime, Clemons and Knight weren't technically free agents,
although they were expected to hit the market.) Fontenot, however, should be
convinced to stick around because he is in the twilight of his career, he
loves the New Orleans area and enjoys playing for the Saints. DE Willie
Whitehead would like to start, but he's not going to get his chance in New
Orleans next season and likely will be moving on. QB Jake Delhomme could
receive offers from teams that would like to install him as a starter, and
the Saints won't try to match in that instance. The team, however, would
like to hold on to Delhomme because he is a great insurance policy for
starter Aaron Brooks. RB Fred McAfee will be re-signed, PK John Carney and P
Toby Gowin likely will be retained, and all three restricted free agents are
expected to receive tenders. Look for the Saints to be active in the
free-agent market looking to upgrade at safety and middle linebacker, and
considering that the team isn't expected to bring back DT Norman Hand,
interior defensive line also will be a need. The Saints should be a solid
$15 million under the cap.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 Analysis: The defending Super Bowl champs are going to do their best to keep
their defense intact, and that means re-signing LB Shelton Quarles and S
Dexter Jackson. Quarles is the team's top priority because of his
leadership, including being the signal-caller on the defense, and his
versatility. He played all three LB positions in one game last season, and
he was one of the unsung heroes last year. Jackson, meanwhile, saw his stock
skyrocket when he won MVP honors in the Super Bowl, but insiders believe his
success is due to him playing in a solid system more than anything else. If
the bidding for Jackson gets too high, the Bucs will turn to John Howell or
Jermaine Phillips at safety, but they would prefer to have Jackson back.
Another priority is OLT Roman Oben, who was somewhat of a surprise last
season but has been a solid addition to the line. Oben isn't expected to
demand a huge contract, but if he does shoot for the moon, the Bucs won't
break the bank to keep him in town. Getting Oben's name on the dotted line,
however, is key to continuity up front next year. QBs Shaun King and Rob
Johnson both will test the market. Johnson likely will leave, but King is a
different story. King will get some offers, but his value won't be high, and
he could end up playing understudy to Brad Johnson for a few more years. The
Bucs will target a speedy, slash guy -- as in WR/RS or RB/RS -- on the
free-agent market, and if dealings with Oben fall apart, look for a new left
tackle to come to Tampa. Depth at the LB position will be key as well.
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Material from Pro Football Weekly.
