Each team's capsule contains a list of players who are scheduled to become free agents on March 2. 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 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.

Denver Broncos

	Broncos' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: CB Terrell Buckley, LB Keith Burns, TE Byron Chamberlain, QB Gus Frerotte, FB Howard Griffith, C K.C. Jones, DT Mike Lodish, LB John Mobley, OG Dan Neil, OG Mark Schlereth. RFAs: QB Brian Griese, OT Matt Lepsis, OL Trey Teague. EFAs: RB KaRon Coleman, WR Chris Doering, PK Steve Lindsey, WR Billy Miller, CB Jason Suttle.

Analysis: The Broncos desperately need to upgrade their defense, but expect them to focus on re-signing some of their own key free agents before they begin perusing the open market. High on that list will be Griese, Lepsis and Mobley. The Broncos are high on young LB Ian Gold but probably aren't ready to part ways with Mobley regardless. Schlereth is expected to retire, Chamberlain likely won't be retained and Griffith remains a question mark. Denver will wait to see what the market holds for Frerotte before attempting to bring him back. The Broncos also will be looking to address their CB situation. If they feel comfortable with Jimmy Spencer and Deltha O'Neal at the corners, Terrell Buckley could be on the way out along with Dale Carter, who was suspended for the 2000 season. Denver also could look to add a veteran presence to the secondary via free agency.

Kansas City Chiefs

	Chiefs' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: TE Troy Drayton, TE Jason Dunn, C Tim Grunhard, WR Kevin Lockett, DE Ty Parten, OG Will Shields, OG Dave Szott. RFAs: DT Derrick Ransom, CB Eric Warfield. EFAs: OL Brad Kubik, LB Mike Maslowski.

Analysis: Team president Carl Peterson has said the Chiefs do not have the money to be real active in free agency this offseason, but that doesn't mean they don't have issues to settle. The first thing Kansas City must do is restructure Grbac to a long-term deal and avoid the $10 million roster bonus he's due to receive March 2. The second thing the Chiefs must do is solidify their running back situation either through the draft or free agency. If they decide not to put their stock in Tony Richardson, the Chiefs could either draft a running back or look to sign a proven back who won't break the bank. The third priority is to decide on Shields, who is still playing at a high level. They definitely would like to re-sign him to a new contract that would be beneficial to the team's troubling cap situation, but he figures to be in high demand on the market. Grunhard and Szott are both expected to retire, but there is a chance Grunhard could be swayed by Dick Vermeil and his new staff.

Oakland Raiders

	Raiders' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: FB Zack Crockett, TE Rickey Dudley, WR David Dunn, WR Yatil Green, WR James Jett, RB Terry Kirby, WR Terry Mickens, SS Marquez Pope, WR Andre Rison, LB William Thomas, DE Regan Upshaw. RFAs: OL Toby Myles. EFAs: LB Bobby Brooks, QB Scott Dreisbach, DE Josh Taves.

Analysis: The Raiders' playoff loss to the Ravens showed there was a need for downfield speed in Oakland. Rison will be re-signed, but Jett may not. Jett is a burner, but head coach Jon Gruden is less of a Jett supporter than owner Al Davis is. Plus, his re-signing would make for three receivers in their mid-30s on the roster while youngster Joey Porter needs more time on the field and Dunn figures to be kept for special-teams purposes. If Crockett is re-signed, it will likely be for less money because running back Tyrone Wheatley proved he could handle short-yardage responsibilities last season. Dudley probably won't be back unless he fails to get a substantial offer in the open market, and Pope could be a casualty based on his inconsistent performance in 2000. The Raiders could use a play-making wide receiver, possibly a tight end and additions at linebacker and safety in an effort to get younger defensively.

San Diego Chargers

Chargers' 2001 free agents

UFAs: RB Kenny Bynum, PK John Carney, OT Ben Coleman, DE Albert Fontenot, QB Jim Harbaugh, LB Eric Hill, FS Greg Jackson, DE Darren Mickell, OG Raleigh Roundtree, LB Steve Tovar, CB Scott Turner. RFAs: CB Tim Denton, OG DeMingo Graham, C Kendyl Jacox, WR Reggie Jones, DT Mike Mohring, QB Moses Moreno, CB Reggie Rusk. EFAs: CB Fakhir Brown, CB Tony Darden, TE Reggie Davis, S Armon Hatcher, DE Mike Pringley, LB John Reeves, LB Orlando Ruff, DT Antoine Simpson.

Analysis: The Chargers have as much work to do in the free-agent season as anyone. San Diego will bring in at least two veteran quarterbacks to compete with Moses Moreno and Michael Vick (if he's drafted), as Harbaugh and Ryan Leaf don't figure to be in Chargers uniforms come summer. Sources say the team could seek running back and CB help through the draft and zero in on quarterback, middle linebacker and pass-rushing help in free agency. Ruff was adequate in the middle in 2000, but the Chargers need an upgrade. With DE Raylee Johnson expected to return at 100 percent after missing all of last season, Fontenot could be expendable in favor of Mickell, but the Chargers still will be looking for more depth there. The team would like to keep Carney and Coleman around and possibly move Coleman to guard next season. Roundtree, Bynum, Hill and Jackson may not have shown enough to keep their jobs.

Seattle Seahawks

	Seahawks' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: FS Jay Bellamy, WR Fabien Bownes, WR Sean Dawkins, SS Kerry Joseph, OG Pete Kendall, QB Jon Kitna, LB George Koonce, LB James Logan, DT Riddick Parker. RFAs: TE Itula Mili, LB DeShone Myles, OG Chad Overhauser. EFAs: TE Rufus French, SS Maurice Kelly, DE Rahmaan Streater.

Analysis: Simply put, the Seahawks need to be aggressive in free agency this offseason. Previously in the Mike Holmgren era, they believed they could build the team up primarily through the draft. In previous years, the Seahawks have lost valuable free agents and got little in return, so now is the time to make a splash. Seattle could look to improve its stock at quarterback, middle linebacker, wide receiver and safety by way of free agency, while perhaps the most glaring need, defensive tackle, should be a first-round priority in the draft. The Seahawks wouldn't mind keeping players such as Parker or Bellamy, but they aren't necessarily willing to go out of their way financially to do so. Koonce probably won't be back, but Myles, the man he replaced, could be if he's fully recovered from major knee surgery. Kitna never really had the support of Holmgren, so it's very doubtful he'll be in Seattle next season. Kendall, a solid producer on what has become a quality line, will certainly check his market value, but the Seahawks would like to keep him.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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