2014 NFL free agent rankings: Top 15 free agents at each position

With franchise and transition tags handed out and a few names choosing to re-up with their old teams, we take another look at the top free agents at each position.

Free agency is yet to begin, but there has already been considerable movement among the players set to hit the market. A few players cashed in, even before hitting the open market, while six others had their free agency impeded by either the franchise or transition tag. At the same time, a handful of notable players avoided the franchise tag and could soon become hot commodities.

Here's a look at the latest free agency rankings for each position, minus some of the early moves by teams to retain players like Anquan Boldin, etc.

Quarterback

1. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

2. Josh Freeman, Minnesota Vikings

3. Josh McCown, Chicago Bears

4. Matt Cassel, Minnesota Vikings (re-signed with Minnesota)

5. Matt Flynn, Green Bay Packers

6. Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars (re-signed with Jacksonville)

7. Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks

8. Shaun Hill, Detroit Lions

9. Colt McCoy, San Francisco 49ers

10. Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins

11. Kellen Clemens, St. Louis Rams

12. Derek Anderson, Carolina Panthers

13. Brady Quinn, St. Louis Rams

14. David Garrard, New York Jets

15. Charlie Whitehurst, San Diego Chargers

The relatively modest class remains intact with Vick at the top. Teams in the market for a starter won't find many options. Even the options for a solid No. 2 drop off relatively quickly.

Running back

1. Ben Tate, Houston Texans

2. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos

3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders (re-signed with Oakland on a one-year $4 million deal)

5. Rashad Jennings, Oakland Raiders (signed with the Giants)

6. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts

7. LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots

8. James Starks, Green Bay Packers

9. Andre Brown, New York Giants

10. Toby Gerhart, Minnesota Vikings

11. Anthony Dixon, San Francisco 49ers

12. Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts (re-signed with Indianapolis for one year)

13. Jonathan Dwyer, Pittsburgh Steelers

14. La'Rod Stephens-Howling, Pittsburgh Steelers

15. Leon Washington, Tennessee Titans (re-signed with the Titans)

The running back market remains quiet. None of the top free agents got tagged and all appear set to hit the market. There are some intriguing options even beyond the top few names. Brown, Blount and Starks all excelled at times last season.

Wide receiver

1. Eric Decker, Denver Broncos

2. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants

3. Golden Tate, Seattle Seahawks

4. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots

5. James Jones, Green Bay Packers

6. Emmanuel Sanders, Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Sidney Rice, Seattle Seahawks

8. Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans

9. Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs (signed with Tennessee for three years, $12 million)

10. Brandon LaFell, Carolina Panthers

11. Andre Roberts, Arizona Cardinals (signed a four-year $16 million deal with Washington)

12. Jerricho Cotchery, Pittsburgh Steelers

13. Ted Ginn, Carolina Panthers

14. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints

15. Jerome Simpson, Minnesota Vikings

There was a little movement at wide receiver with Jeremy Maclin and Anquan Boldin coming off the board by re-signing. A couple of the top free agents could be in line for one year "prove it" deals, including Rice and Britt. If they can re-gain their previous form, they could be steals of the offseason. If not, worth the cost of taking a flier.

Tight end

1. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans -- Franchise tag

2. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers

3. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans

4. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions

5. Dustin Keller, Miami Dolphins

6. Scott Chandler, Buffalo Bills

7. Garrett Graham, Houston Texans

8. Brandon Myers, New York Giants (signed with Tampa Bay for two years, $4 million)

9. Ed Dickson, Baltimore Ravens

10. John Carlson, Minnesota Vikings (signed by Arizona; two-years, $4.65 million)

11. Anthony McCoy, Seattle Seahawks (re-signed with Seattle)

12. Andrew Quarless, Green Bay Packers

13. Tony Scheffler, Detroit Lions

14. Jeff Cumberland, New York Jets (re-signed by New York)

15. Clay Harbor, Jacksonville Jaguars (re-signed by Jacksonville)

The tight end market took a significant hit with Graham franchised, Dennis Pitta re-signing in Baltimore and Fred Davis getting suspended. There aren't many well-rounded tight ends on the market, but teams looking for either a receiving option or a blocking specialist will have some options.

Offensive line

1. Branden Albert, Kansas City (signed with Miami for five years, $46 million)

2. Jared Veldheer, Oakland Raiders (signed a five-year deal with Arizona)

3. Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns -- Transition tag

4. Eugene Monroe, Baltimore Ravens (re-signed with Baltimore for five-years, $37.5 million)

5. Anthony Collins, Cincinnati Bengals

6. Geoff Schwartz, Kansas City Chiefs (signed with the New York Giants)

7. Rodger Saffold, St. Louis Rams (Inked a five-year deal worth $42.5 million in Oakland)

8. Travelle Wharton, Carolina Panthers

9. Jon Asamoah, Kansas City Chiefs (signed with Atlanta)

10. Michael Oher, Baltimore Ravens

11. Brian De La Puente, New Orleans Saints

12. Evan Dietrich-Smith, Green Bay Packers

13. Chad Rinehart, San Diego Chargers (re-signed with San Diego for two years and $6 million)

14. Breno Giacomini, Seattle Seahawks

15. Shawn Lauvao, Cleveland Browns (signed with Washington for four years, $17 million)

Cleveland used the transition tag on Mack, but that may not stop teams from pursuing him. Albert, Veldheer and Monroe all avoided a tag, meaning three above-average left tackles could hit the market. There is some depth to the free agent class, both inside and at tackle.

Safety

1. Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Bills

2. T.J. Ward, Cleveland Browns (signed with Denver)

3. Donte Whitner, San Francisco (signed a four-year deal with Cleveland worth $28 million)

4. Malcolm Jenkins, New Orleans (signed a three-year, $16.25 million deal with the Eagles)

5. Louis Delmas, Detroit Lions (signed a one-year deal with Miami)

6. Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis Colts (signed with San Francisco for four years)

7. Chris Clemons, Miami Dolphins

8. Mike Mitchell, Carolina Panthers (signed a five-year $25 million deal with Pittsburgh)

9. Major Wright, Chicago Bears

10. Nate Allen, Philadelphia Eagles

11. Steve Brown, New York Giants

12. Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders

13. James Ihedigbo, Baltimore Ravens

14. Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh Steelers

15. Steve Gregory, New England Patriots

The safety market received a boost in recent weeks. Delmas was released and should land a starting job. Neither Byrd nor Ward were tagged, making for a loaded safety crop.

Cornerback

1. Alterraun Verner, Tennessee Titans

2. Aqib Talib, New England Patriots

3. Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts (re-signed with the Colts for four-years, $39 million)

4. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Denver Broncos

5. Sam Shields, Green Bay Packers(re-signed with Green Bay on a four-year deal)

6. Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets

7. Captain Munnerlyn, Carolina Panthers

8. Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears

9. Tarell Brown, San Francisco 49ers

10. Brandon Browner, Seattle Seahawks

11. Walter Thurmond III, Seattle Seahawks

12. Corey Graham, Baltimore Ravens

13. Champ Bailey, Denver Broncos

14. Terrell Thomas, New York Giants

15. Chris Cook, Minnesota Vikings

Verner, Talib and Davis all avoided being tagged. Brent Grimes re-signed with Miami, but the free agent cornerback class remains deep and talented. Browner joined the mix after his indefinite suspension was lifted while Brown, Tillman and Munnerlyn are experienced starters from top defenses.

Linebackers

1. Brian Orakpo, OLB, Washington Redskins -- Franchise tag

2. Karlos Dansby, MLB, Arizona Cardinals (signed with Cleveland for four years, $24 million)

3. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys

4. Brandon Spikes, MLB, New England Patriots

5. Daryl Smith, MLB, Baltimore Ravens

6. Shaun Phillips, OLB, Denver Broncos

7. Jon Beason, MLB, New York Giants

8. Wesley Woodyard, MLB, Denver Broncos

9. D'Qwell Jackson, MLB, Cleveland Browns (Signed with Indianapolis for four years, $22 million)

10. Calvin Pace, OLB, New York Jets

11. Perry Riley, MLB, Washington Redskins (re-signed with Washington for three years, $13 million)

12. Erin Henderson, OLB, Minnesota Vikings

13. Mike Neal, OLB, Green Bay Packers

14. Arthur Moats, MLB, Buffalo Bills

15. O'Brien Schofield, OLB, Seattle Seahawks (signed a two-year deal with the Giants, worth $8 million)

Orakpo received the franchise tag, which all but takes him off the market. Jason Worilds signed his transition tender, officially taking him off the market. The free agent crop of linebackers is heavy on inside 'backers and is overall a veteran group.

Defensive ends

1. Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers (signed his one-year $13.1 million franchise tender)

2. Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks (signed a four-year deal worth $28.5 million with Seattle)

3. Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals (signed a five-year deal worth $43.75 million with Tampa Bay)

4. Lamarr Houston, Oakland Raiders (signed a five-year $35 million deal with the Bears)

5. Arthur Jones, Baltimore Ravens (signed with the Colts for five years, $33 million)

6. Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

7. Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears

8. Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings (re-signed by Minnesota; five years, $42 million)

9. Justin Tuck, New York Giants

10. Tyson Jackson, Kansas City (signed with Atlanta for five years, $25 million)

11. Antonio Smith, Houston Texans

12. Corey Wootton, Chicago Bears

13. Robert Ayers, Denver Broncos

14. Jeremy Mincey, Jacksonville Jaguars

15. Anthony Spencer, Dallas Cowboys

15. Willie Young, Detroit Lions

It came as no surprise to see Hardy tagged, but even without him on the open market, there is still a deep and talented group of free agent defensive ends. The group is versatile with pass-rush specialists, run defenders and overall players among the crop.

Defensive tackle

1. Henry Melton, Chicago Bears

2. Randy Starks, Miami Dolphins

3. Red Bryant, Seattle Seahawks(signed by Jacksonville: four-years, $17 million)

3. Jason Hatcher, Dallas Cowboys

4. Linval Joseph, New York Giants (signed a five-year deal with Minnesota)

5. B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packersb

6. Jonathan Babineaux, Atlanta Falcons (re-signed with Atlanta for three years and $9 million)

7. Kevin Williams, Minnesota Vikings

8. Clinton McDonald, Seattle Seahawks (signed with Tampa Bay for four years, $12 million)

9. Paul Soliai, Miami Dolphins (signed with Atlanta for five years, $33 million)

10. Earl Mitchell, Houston Texans

11. Alex Carrington, Buffalo Bills

12. Vance Walker, Oakland Raiders

13. Ziggy Hood, Pittsburgh Steelers

14. Pat Sims, Oakland Raiders

15. Ryan Pickett, Green Bay Packers

None of the defensive tackles got tagged, leaving a solid group of pending free agents. Melton is coming off a serious knee injury, but still remains the prize of the group. Had he stayed healthy, he may be the No. 1 overall free agent. The free agent crop is geared toward 4-3 defenses.