Each team's capsule contains a list of players who are scheduled to become free agents on March 1. 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 to not match an offer, the team will receive draft-choice compensation from the player's new team. Exclusive-rights free agents (EFAs) are players who have fewer than three accrued seasons. They do not have the right to change teams if they are offered a contract from their current club.

Buffalo Bills

	Bills' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: CB Lance Brown, C Bill Conaty, LB Sam Cowart, DT Shawn Price, C Morris Unutoa. RFAs: RB Shawn Bryson, S Keion Carpenter, LB Jay Foreman, TE Sheldon Jackson, LB Keith Newman, S Pierson Prioleau, CB Chris Watson. EFAs: QB Travis Brown, OT Jon Carman, C-OG Craig Heimburger, LB Fred Jones, LB Kenyatta Wright.

Analysis: Cowart is the Bills' top priority in free agency. The Bills decided not to place the franchise tag on Cowart, even though that would force him into a one-year deal, something the Bills would prefer. Likely, the tag was held back to prevent a higher salary-cap hit, which the Bills cannot afford at this point. Cowart tore an Achilles tendon in the first game of 2001 and missed the rest of the year. Cowart believes he deserves a top-of-the-line salary, but the Bills are concerned that Cowart won't come back as strong after such an injury. Simultaneously, the Bills must solve the Rob Johnson question. While Johnson isn't a free agent, the Bills must restructure his contract (in effect, re-sign him), which calls for an $11.2 million salary-cap hit in 2002. Johnson's proneness to injury hasn't helped him in negotiations, and similar to the Cowart situation, the Bills would like shorter terms with Johnson until he proves he can stay healthy. Johnson reportedly doesn't want such a short deal, and if the two sides can't come to an agreement, Johnson could be released. Beyond those two problems, the Bills shouldn't have much competition for most of their remaining free agents. Bills observers believe the remaining unrestricted free agents shouldn't receive too much attention on the market, and the Bills certainly would like to have Conaty and Price back for their leadership qualities.

Miami Dolphins

	Dolphins' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: DE Lorenzo Bromell, CB Terry Cousin, OT Spencer Folau, S Scott McGarrahan, DE Kenny Mixon, WR Jeff Ogden, RB Lamar Smith, OT Harry Swayne, P Matt Turk, S Brian Walker. RFAs: TE Jed Weaver. EFAs: CB Trent Gamble, DE Adewale Ogunleye.

Analysis: The Dolphins will look to get under the salary cap (they're about $14 million over), keep the defense strong and upgrade at running back and along the offensive line. With its cap situation, Miami could be hard-pressed to get all three missions accomplished. The Dolphins already released four players to lower their cap figure, and more cuts are likely on the way. Veterans with high cap numbers, such as defensive tackle Tim Bowens, running back J.J. Johnson and safety Brock Marion, could face unemployment if they refuse to restructure their contracts. Once the Dolphins free up space, they'll likely choose between defensive ends Bromell and Mixon and between safeties Marion and Walker. They'd like to re-sign Turk, who had a very good 2001 season, but if Turk's price is too high, the Dolphins can't bend. Smith doesn't seem to be a priority, as his numbers dropped off last season. The Dolphins likely will go in another direction with the running game. If they re-sign Ogden, it would be more for his kick-return abilities than his receiving abilities; the Dolphins are loaded at wideout. The team sees Cousin as expendable because it believes top 2001 draft pick Jamar Fletcher is ready to step in as the third corner.

New England Patriots

	Patriots' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: CB Terrell Buckley, LB Bryan Cox, CB Ray Hill, DT Brandon Mitchell, DT Riddick Parker, LB Roman Phifer, TE Rod Rutledge, RB Antowain Smith, PK Adam Vinatieri (franchise), OT Grant Williams. RFAs: C Grey Ruegamer. EFAs: LB Kole Ayi, LB Matt Chatham, WR Fred Coleman, WR Curtis Jackson, LS Lonie Paxton, TE Jermaine Wiggins, WR Walter Williams.

Analysis: The kings of free agency must decide how long several of the free agents they signed in 2001 will last. Last year, players such as Bryan Cox, Roman Phifer, Terrell Buckley and Antowain Smith were given one-year deals. Now the Patriots must figure out if they still have value or if there's better value elsewhere. Priority had been given to signing Adam Vinatieri to a long-term deal, but now that he's been franchised, the Patriots can focus elsewhere and come back to him later. Next on the list are Smith and Phifer, each of whom were integral parts of the Patriots' run to the Super Bowl. Both players had career years, but there's some doubt whether they can reproduce last season's production. Mitchell is also on the priority list. Mitchell doesn't get a lot of mention, but he knows the system, plays well in it and gives the team some experience next to Richard Seymour. The Patriots can free up some cap space by cutting or restructuring the contracts of defensive end Willie McGinest, linebacker Ted Johnson and wide receiver Charles Johnson. McGinest wants to restructure his deal, but Ted Johnson wants to see what his role in the crowded linebacking corps will be first. UFAs Williams, Parker and Hill aren't high priorities, and Rutledge and Wiggins probably will be considered somewhat expendable because the Patriots are expected to upgrade the position in the draft. If the Patriots re-sign Phifer, Cox also could become expendable.

New York Jets

	Jets' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: LB James Farrior, OG Kerry Jenkins, DE Rick Lyle, DT Steve Martin, DE Eric Ogbogu. RFAs: OG David Loverne, WR Craig Yeast. EFAs: TE James Dearth, DB Nick Ferguson, DT Giradie Mercer, LB Kelvin Moses, S Tony Scott, TE Daniel Wilcox.

Analysis: By re-signing offensive tackle Jason Fabini just before the deadline to franchise or transition players, the Jets scored a major win. Fabini could have been the free-agent thorn in their side, and if they would have lost him, they'd have lost both starting offensive tackles from last season (Ryan Young was taken in the expansion draft). In losing high-priced cornerbacks Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman to the Texans via the expansion draft, the Jets got a huge salary-cap break. Another break is on the way, as quarterback Vinny Testaverde's cap hit drops from $9 million to $500,000 on March 1. Now that the Jets have money to work with, they will focus on Farrior and Jenkins. Jenkins was another starter on last season's stellar line, and Farrior had a breakout year in the Jets' new 4-3 defensive scheme. The Jets' remaining UFAs contributed last season but aren't high priorities. Ogbogu was stuck behind John Abraham and Shaun Ellis on the depth chart, and the middle of the Jets' defense didn't do very well against the run last season, so the Jets are looking for an upgrade there. The Jets would like to restructure the contracts of cornerback Ray Mickens ($2 million roster bonus due March 1) and safeties Damien Robinson ($2.64 million due March 1) and Victor Green.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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