[Editor’s note: We rank the free agents, restricted and unrestricted, based on projected guaranteed money on a long-term deal. More dart board than Ouija, it represents our best estimate of how it all could/should go down. All numbers are in millions.]
Defensive line
1. Julius Peppers, Carolina, $25.0.
2. Richard Seymour, Oakland, $22.0.
3. Vince Wilfork, New England, $20.0.
4. Aubrayo Franklin, San Francisco, $15.0.
5. Tony Brown, Tennessee, $13.0.
6. Kyle Vanden Bosch,Tennessee, $12.0.
7. Ryan Pickett, Green Bay, $10.0.
8. Ray Edwards, Minnesota, $9.0.
9. Jarvis Green, New England, $8.0.
10 Fred Evans, Minnesota, $7.0.
Linebacker
1. Karlos Dansby, Arizona, $20.0.
2. DeMeco Ryans, Houston, $15.0.
3. Elvis Dumervil, Denver, $15.0.
4. Shawne Merriman, San Diego, $12.0.
5. Gary Brackett, Indianapolis, $11.0.
6. Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay, $10.0.
7. Aaron Kampman, Green Bay, $9.0.
8. Derrick Johnson, Kansas City, $8.0.
9. Keith Bulluck, Tennessee, $7.0.
10 Tully Banta-Cain, New England, $6.0.
Cornerbacks
1. Leigh Bodden, New England, $10.0.
2. Dunta Robinson, Houston, $9.0.
3. Nick Harper, Tennessee, $8.0.
4. Matt Ware, Arizona, $7.5.
5. William Gay, Pittsburgh, $6.0.
6. Deshea Townsend, Pittsburgh, $5.5.
7. Jonathan Wade, St.Louis, $5.0.
8. Marlin Jackson, Indianapolis, $4.5.
9. T.J. Rushing, Indianapolis, $4.0.
10. Richard Marshall, Carolina, $3.0.
Safeties
1. Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh, $10.0.
2. Nick Collins, Green Bay, $9.0.
3. O.J. Atogwe, St. Louis, $8.0.
4. Darren Sharper, New Orleans, $8.0.
5. Roman Harper, New Orleans, $7.5
6. Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis, $7.0.
7. C.C. Brown, N.Y. Giants, $6.0.
8. Dawan Landry, Baltimore, $5.0.
9. Sean Jones, Philadelphia, $4.0.
10. Bernard Pollard, Houston, $3.9.