Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about Free Agency. The beginning of the Free Agent Signing Period starts at midnight on February 29th. These rankings were comprised regardless of free agent status (i.e. Restricted or Unrestricted) but the status is indicated as “RFA” for “Restricted Free Agent” and “UFA” for “Unrestricted Free Agent” to the right of the player name. The definitions of each are as follows:

UFA: A Player who has at least four years experience at the expiration of a contract can sign with any team with no compensation to his former club.

RFA: Restricted free agents have three years of experience at the end of their contracts and must be tendered an offer sheet before April 15. The player's current club has seven days to match the offer, or the player's rights revert to the team that tendered the sheet. Teams are awarded compensatory draft picks based on the quantity and quality of restricted free agents it loses to other squads in the previous year's free-agent period.

Top Five Free Agent Safeties

1. Ken Hamlin- UFA- Ken Hamlin signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys last off-season in hopes of cashing in and looks to have done so. In 2007, Hamlin was named to his first Pro Bowl, had a career-high five interceptions and posted 102 tackles. By playing safety opposite Roy Williams, Hamlin proved he can be a solid cover safety which was the knock on him during the previous four seasons.
 
2. Sammy Knight- UFA- He led the team with 93 tackles and finished second with four interceptions. A notorious ball hawking safety, during his 11 year NFL career Knight has accounted for an average of five turnovers per season. Though he is 32 years old, Knight is great in run support and better than he is given credit for in coverage. Jacksonville needs to re-sign him, but other teams may be willing to out bid them for his services.

3. Madieu Williams- UFA- Williams played in only 13 games because of a quad injury but had 74 tackles, two INT’s, two sacks while forcing and recovering  one fumble a piece.  Williams was a four-year starter in Cinci whose versatility as cover guy prices him higher on the free-agent market than some other available players. If  the Bengals past history with safeties is any indication ((Sam Shade, Darryl Williams, Cory Hall, Kevin Kaesviharn) Williams will probably sign elsewhere.

4. Gibril Wilson- UFA- Primarily known as a run stuffer Wilson’s main issue thus far in his career has been the inability to stay healthy. When healthy, Wilson has responded averaging 102 tackles per year over the last three seasons. During that time, Wilson also had eight interceptions, three sacks and three fumble recoveries. Wilson has a simialr style to Ken Hamlin and Sammy Knight, and is thought of as almost an additional linebacker at the safety spot.

5. Eugene Wilson- UFA- Wilson has started 49 of 51 games over his first four NFL seasons, recording 220 tackles (163 solo), nine interceptions for 69 yards, 25 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. In the 2004 Super Bowl season, Wilson led the Pats with four INT’s and three fumble recoveries while starting games at both corner and safety. Wilson was also a major contributor for the Pats 2005 World Champion team. For some reason in 2007, Wilson lost his starting job to James Sanders but did return an INT for a TD in week 15. Adds poise, experience and veteran leadership to whoever signs him.

Best of the rest:
6. Pierson Prioleau- UFA
7. Yeremiah Bell- UFA
8. Reynaldo Hill- RFA
9. Gerome Sapp- UFA
10. Mike Doss- UFA