This is the 10th in a series of position-by-position analyses looking at the best NFL unrestricted free agents set to become available on Tuesday:
There is a lot of talent here, so why did only one cornerback, the Falcons' Brent Grimes, get the franchise tag? For starters, doing so came with a pricey number (a salary at $10.4 million for 2012). Second, unlike other teams, Atlanta didn't have higher priority on whom to use the designation.
Kansas City (Dwayne Bowe), San Francisco (Dashon Goldson) and Tennessee (Michael Griffin) all chose to protect stars at other position, which has helped put three very good corners at the top of a deep market.
The top options
1. Brandon Carr, Chiefs. The other Brandon in Kansas City, Flowers, is a talented player, but Carr has emerged into the better one. He slowly has developed into a sound cover man and posted a career-high four interception. His age (25) and size (6-0, 207) are very attractive. There are many teams in need of a No. 1 shutdown type, and the Chiefs, who added former Raider Stanford Routt as insurance, will get competition from DB-needy teams such as Dallas and Minnesota.
2. Carlos Rogers, 49ers. Rogers said when he was a free agent last year, that he was a much better player than former Redskins teammate DeAngelo Hall. He went out and proved it, starring as a clutch, Pro Bowl playmaker (six interceptions) after signing a one-year deal with San Francisco. Because of Rogers' age (30), it may be tough to get the long-term deal he wants, so expect him to return at around $4 million for 2012.
3. Cortland Finnegan, Titans. Finnegan is known for being one of the league's feistiest, most physical corners. There are no receivers that intimidate him?ask Andre Johnson?and a lot of secondaries would love to add that attitude. The Cowboys and Vikings figure to court him, too, and are likely to get big competition from the Buccaneers. He also could very well reunite with Jeff Fisher in St. Louis.
4. Richard Marshall, Cardinals. Arizona really needed a veteran corner to deliver while rookie Patrick Peterson gained experience, and Marshall emerged as a terrific option for defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Horton even dubbed Marshall the team's defensive MVP for his all-around play in coverage and as a tackler. He'll get a raise and be re-signed.
5. Tracy Porter, Saints. Porter's big career highlight is his interception return for a touchdown against Peyton Manning that helped New Orleans put away Super Bowl XLIV. He's still only 25, and when healthy has a great nose for the ball. The concern is durability. The latest reports have the Raiders interested in him possibly replacing Routt.
6. Terrell Thomas, Giants. New York was able to win the Super Bowl with a shaky secondary, something the team can correct with a healthy Thomas. It was a big preseason blow in August when Thomas tore the ACL in his right knee. The team is likely to re-sign him and hope he can start come training camp.
7. William Gay, Steelers. Gay once was the best nickel back in the league, then he transitioned well into the starting lineup to replace Bryant McFadden, who has since been released. Now there are reports Gay will be used at yet another position, safety, in Pittsburgh. He's a valuable versatile player, and at just 27, they won't let him get away.
8. Tim Jennings, Bears. Jennings had several lapses that cost Chicago a year ago, but for the most part, he was solid (77 tackles, 10 passes defended, two interceptions) working out of the Bears? zone scheme. That's the system where he exclusively fits, so look for him to return with a slightly richer deal.
9. Corey Graham, Bears. Graham first earned his keep as a special teams tackling ace and was hoping to play more on defense in 2011. He didn't start, but he still managed a career-high three interceptions. The Bears might not see him as the best fit in their cover-2, and that may make him leave after re-signing with them for one year after 2010.
10. Ronde Barber, Buccaneers. There are three options for Barber. The first two are retirement before he turns 37 in April and returning to the Bucs to help them out of a tough jam at the position. The third is possibly following former Tampa coach Raheem Morris to Washington. The Virginia native may like to get closer to home to end his career.
Rest of the best
11. Jason Allen, Texans
12. Aaron Ross, Giants
13. Jarrett Bush, Packers
14. Dimitri Patterson, Browns
15. Alan Ball, Cowboys
16. Adam Jones, Bengals
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