Balzer: Available free agents quickly dwindling

Even as the weekend arrived and the league year entered Friday night, there was no respite from contracts getting accomplished. Just when it felt like there might be a break from the relentless succession of deal-making that began in earnest Tuesday, two top-rated offensive linemen reached agreement on contracts north of $40 million. Arizona added guard/tackle Justin Pugh (Giants; 25th in the top 81) for a reported $45 million over five years, while Tampa Bay paid a reported $42 million over five years with $22 million guaranteed for center Ryan Jensen (Ravens; 44th). In addition, the Rams re-signed center John Sullivan (72nd) for two years and $15 million. Those three capped a day in which eight of the top 81 came off the board, including cornerback Kyle Fuller, Chicago's transition player. The Bears made a quick decision to match a four-year offer sheet executed by the Packers worth $56 million over four years with $18 million guaranteed. Those contract terms raised eyebrows because it was difficult to understand why the Packers even bothered. The transition tender for Fuller was $12.971 million and the average per year on the offer sheet is $14 million, slightly higher than $1 million more. Plus, the structure of the contract, which includes a $1 million base salary plus a $500,000 workout bonus and a potential total of $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses creates a salary-cap figure of $6.5 million in 2018, about half of what Fuller would have counted if he played for the tender. In essence, the Packers merely negotiated Fuller's contract on the Bears' behalf. The others in the top 81, a number that grew from the original 75 when players were released: No. 9 defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, Seattle to Minnesota; No. 18 cornerback Rashaan Melvin, Indianapolis to Oakland; No. 40 defensive end Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta to New England; and No. 50 tight end Ed Dickson, Carolina to Seattle. Not counting five restricted free agents on the list and three unsigned franchise players, only 13 of the 81 are still available. Of the 169 players listed in the position rankings, just 59 are unsigned. In an odd two-day period, two Redskins players that had agreed to terms had their deals voided after failing physicals: wide receiver Ryan Grant and cornerback Bashaud Breeland. Grant, who was set to sign with Baltimore, was reported to have an ankle injury suffered late in the 2017 season while Breeland's agreement with Carolina disappeared because of a foot injury suffered this month while in the Dominican Republic. Breeland told espn.com a cut on his left foot required a skin graft, and there were reports he might not be able to pass a physical for several months. The Ravens wasted no time finding another receiver, quickly signing Michael Crabtree, who was released by the Raiders Thursday. Crabtree signed a three-year contract Friday reportedly worth up to $21 million. Meanwhile, quarterback Sam Bradford's contract with Arizona became official when he passed a physical. Bradford has had knee issues since tearing his ACL twice during his time in St. Louis with the Rams. Last season with the Vikings, there were more games missed with some reports he had a degenerative problem. However, in comments to the team website, Bradford proclaimed himself in a good place. "My knee feels good," he said. "I went through some struggles last year with it, and it was probably one of the most frustrating seasons I've had mentally. The first part of the season, I just couldn't get it to calm down. But with the procedure I had in November, I was able to get myself into a position to suit up for the playoff games, and really since then, it felt good." Friday produced another oddity when three players waived by Cleveland Thursday were claimed: linebacker Jeremy Cash by Arizona, tackle Zach Banner by Carolina and wide receiver Sammie Coates by Houston. In addition to the signing of Clayborn Friday, the Patriots got busy after a quiet two days by signing running back Jeremy Hill (Bengals) and tackle Matt Tobin (Seahawks). The Lions had visits from running backs Frank Gore and LeGarrette Blount before signing Blount Friday night. Here is a look at players that were reported having visits Thursday and Friday that remain unsigned or were signed by a different team: LB Jonathan Casillas (UFA Giants): New England Thursday. DL Tank Carradine (UFA 49ers): Seattle Friday; signed by Raiders. DT Quinton Dial (UFA Packers): Detroit Thursday, Seattle Friday. TE Eric Ebron (cut Lions): Carolina Friday. G/T D.J. Fluker (UFA Giants): Seattle Thursday. LB Jonathan Freeny (UFA Saints): Lions Friday. RB Frank Gore (UFA Colts): Detroit Thursday. QB Chad Henne (UFA Jaguars): Tennessee Friday; signed by Chiefs. K Sebastian Janikowski (UFA Raiders): L.A. Chargers tryout Friday. DL Ricky Jean Francois (UFA Patriots): Detroit Thursday. C Ryan Jensen (UFA Ravens): Indianapolis Friday; signed by Buccaneers. WR Jordan Matthews (UFA Bills): Arizona Friday. DT Clinton McDonald (UFA Buccaneers): Oakland Friday. DE Alex Okafor (UFA Saints): Tampa Bay Thursday; re-signed by Saints. LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (UFA Chiefs): N.Y. Jets Thursday, Chicago Friday. C/G Matt Slauson (UFA Chargers): Detroit Friday. DT Shamar Stephen (UFA Vikings): Detroit Friday. K Caleb Sturgis (UFA Eagles): Seattle Thursday; signed by Chargers. TE Luke Willson (UFA Seahawks): Carolina Thursday, Jacksonville Friday. Players that have lined up reported visits include C Mike Pouncey (cut Dolphins) to L.A. Chargers; WR Markus Wheaton (cut Steelers) to Seattle; DT Tom Johnson (UFA Vikings) to Seattle; DE Benson Mayowa (cut Cowboys) to Indianapolis; RB Mike Davis (not tendered as RFA by Seahawks) to Detroit, a visit that might not happen after the Lions signed Blount. Following is The Sports Xchange's top 81 free agents. Below the elite 81 are our free-agent rankings by position that include numerous players beyond the first 81.

1. QB Drew Brees, New Orleans; re-signed
2. DE DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas (FFA; signed tender)
3. CB Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams; signed by Jets
4. RB Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh (FFA)
5. DE Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit (FFA)
6. T Nate Solder, New England; signed by Giants
7. G Andrew Norwell, Carolina; signed by Jaguars
8. QB Kirk Cousins, Washington; signed by Vikings
9. DT Sheldon Richardson, Seattle; signed by Vikings
10. CB Kyle Fuller, Chicago (TFA); Bears expected to match Packers offer sheet of $56M/4 yrs, $18M guaranteed
11. DT Dontari Poe, Atlanta; signed by Panthers
12. WR Sammy Watkins, L.A. Rams; signed by Chiefs
13. WR Allen Robinson, Jacksonville; signed by Bears
14. DT *Ndamukong Suh, Miami
15. DT *Muhammad Wilkerson, N.Y. Jets; signed by Packers
16. QB Case Keenum, Minnesota; signed by Broncos
17. WR Jarvis Landry, Miami (FFA); re-signed, traded to Browns
18. CB Rashaan Melvin, Indianapolis; signed by Raiders
19. S Lamarcus Joyner, L.A. Rams (FFA)
20. CB Brent Grimes, Tampa Bay; re-signed
21. CB Malcolm Butler, New England; signed by Titans
22. C Weston Richburg, N.Y. Giants; signed by 49ers
23. QB Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota; signed by Jets
24. RB *Doug Martin, Tampa Bay; signed by Raiders
25. T/G Justin Pugh, N.Y. Giants; signed by Cardinals
26. QB AJ McCarron, Cincinnati; signed by Bills
27. RB Carlos Hyde, San Francisco; signed by Browns
28. CB Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia; signed by Saints
29. CB Aaron Colvin, Jacksonville; signed by Texans
30. G Alex Boone, Arizona
31. LB Avery Williamson, Tennessee; signed by Jets
32. LB Nigel Bradham, Philadelphia; re-signed
33. DT Star Lotulelei, Carolina; signed by Bills
34. WR *Jordy Nelson, Green Bay; signed by Raiders
35. WR Terrelle Pryor Sr., Washington
36. TE Jimmy Graham, Seattle; signed by Packers
37. TE Trey Burton, Philadelphia; signed by Bears
38. S Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans
39. G Jack Mewhort, Indianapolis
40. DE Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta; signed by Patriots
41. T Chris Hubbard, Pittsburgh; signed by Browns
42. WR Paul Richardson Jr., Seattle; signed by Redskins
43. CB Bashaud Breeland, Washington
44. C Ryan Jensen, Baltimore; signed by Buccaneers
45. RB Dion Lewis, New England; signed by Titans
46. C/G Zach Fulton, Kansas City; signed by Texans
47. WR *Michael Crabtree, Oakland; signed by Ravens
48. WR Danny Amendola, New England; signed by Dolphins
49. S Tre Boston, L.A. Chargers
50. LB Zach Brown, Washington; re-signed
51. TE Ed Dickson, Carolina; signed by Seahawks
52. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati; re-signed
53. *RB DeMarco Murray, Tennessee
54. WR Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis; signed by Jaguars
55. LB NaVorro Bowman, Oakland
56. G Nick Easton, Minnesota (RFA)
57. WR Marqise Lee, Jacksonville; re-signed
58. *DE Vinny Curry, Philadelphia
59. RB Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland; signed by Jets
60. DE Julius Peppers, Carolina; re-signed
61. CB Prince Amukamara, Chicago; re-signed
62. LB Demario Davis, N.Y. Jets; signed by Saints
63. LB Todd Davis, Denver; re-signed
64. *DT Karl Klug, Tennessee
65. DT Bennie Logan, Kansas City
66. CB E.J. Gaines, Buffalo
67. G Josh Sitton, Chicago; signed by Dolphins
68. WR Tyrell Williams, L.A. Chargers (RFA)
69. TE Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay (RFA); re-signed by Bucs
70. G Josh Kline, Tennessee; re-signed
71. WR Mike Wallace, Baltimore
72. S Morgan Burnett, Green Bay
73. DL David Irving, Dallas (RFA)
74. RB Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota; signed by 49ers
75. C John Sullivan, L.A. Rams;re-signed
76. C *Mike Pouncey, Miami
77. G Quinton Spain, Tennessee (RFA)
78. WR Albert Wilson, Kansas City; signed by Dolphins
79. RB Frank Gore, Indianapolis
80. C Matt Paradis, Denver (RFA)
81. CB *Richard Sherman, Seattle; signed by 49ers

QUARTERBACKS (7) Drew Brees, New Orleans; re-signed Kirk Cousins, Washington; signed by Vikings Case Keenum, Minnesota; signed by Broncos Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota; signed by Jets AJ McCarron, Cincinnati; signed by Bills Josh McCown, N.Y. Jets; re-signed Sam Bradford, Minnesota; signed by Cardinals WIDE RECEIVERS (22) Sammy Watkins, L.A. Rams; signed by Chiefs Allen Robinson, Jacksonville; signed by Bears Jarvis Landry, Miami (FFA); re-signed, traded to Browns *Jordy Nelson, Green Bay; signed by Raiders Terrelle Pryor Sr., Washington Paul Richardson, Seattle; signed by Redskins *Michael Crabtree, Oakland; signed by Ravens Danny Amendola, New England; signed by Dolphins Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis; signed by Jaguars Marqise Lee, Jacksonville; re-signed Tyrell Williams, L.A. Chargers (RFA) Mike Wallace, Baltimore Albert Wilson, Kansas City; signed by Dolphins Brice Butler, Dallas Willie Snead IV, New Orleans (RFA) John Brown, Arizona; signed by Ravens Jaron Brown, Arizona Kendall Wright, Chicago Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta; signed by Bears Jordan Matthews, Buffalo Eric Decker, Tennessee Matthew Slater (ST), New England RUNNING BACKS (16) Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh (FFA) *Doug Martin, Tampa Bay; signed by Raiders Carlos Hyde, San Francisco; signed by Browns Dion Lewis, New England; signed by Titans *DeMarco Murray, Tennessee Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland; signed by Jets Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota; signed by 49ers Frank Gore, Indianapolis *Adrian Peterson, Arizona LeGarrette Blount, Philadelphia; signed by Lions Alfred Morris, Dallas Rex Burkhead, New England; re-signed Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati; signed by Patriots *Jonathan Stewart, Carolina; signed by Giants Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eddie Lacy, Seattle TIGHT ENDS (11) Jimmy Graham, Seattle; signed by Packers Trey Burton, Philadelphia; signed by Bears Ed Dickson, Carolina; signed by Seahawks Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati; re-signed Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay (RFA); re-signed *Julius Thomas, Miami Austin Seferian-Jenkins, N.Y. Jets; signed by Jaguars Luke Willson, Seattle *Eric Ebron, Detroit Benjamin Watson, Baltimore *Martellus Bennett, New England OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (26) Nate Solder (T), New England; signed by Giants Andrew Norwell (G), Carolina; signed by Jaguars Weston Richburg (C), N.Y. Giants; signed by 49ers Justin Pugh (T/G), N.Y. Giants; signed by Cardinals Alex Boone (G), Arizona Jack Mewhort (G), Indianapolis Chris Hubbard (T), Pittsburgh; signed by Browns Ryan Jensen (C), Baltimore; signed by Buccaneers Zach Fulton (C/G), Kansas City; signed by Texans Nick Easton (G), Minnesota (RFA) Josh Sitton (G), Chicago; signed by Dolphins Josh Kline (G), Tennessee; re-signed John Sullivan (C), L.A. Rams; re-signed *Mike Pouncey, Miami Quinton Spain (G), Tennessee (RFA) Matt Paradis (C), Denver (RFA) Brandon Fusco (G), San Francisco; signed by Falcons Russell Bodine (C), Cincinnati Joe Berger (G/C), Minnesota Senio Kelemete (G), New Orleans; signed by Texans Brett Jones (C), N.Y. Giants (RFA) Luke Joeckel (G/T), Seattle Kenny Wiggins (G), L.A. Chargers; signed by Lions Spencer Long (C), Washington; signed by Jets Shawn Lauvao, Washington Jermon Bushrod (G/T), Miami; signed by Saints DEFENSIVE ENDS (11) DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas (FFA; signed tender) Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit (FFA) Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta; signed by Patriots *Vinny Curry, Eagles Julius Peppers, Carolina; re-signed DaQuan Jones, Tennessee; re-signed Dion Jordan, Seattle (RFA) William Hayes, Miami; re-signed Alex Okafor, New Orleans; re-signed *Derrick Shelby, Atlanta *Charles Johnson, Carolina DEFENSIVE TACKLES (14) Sheldon Richardson, Seattle; signed by Vikings Dontari Poe, Atlanta; signed by Panthers *Ndamukong Suh, Miami *Muhammad Wilkerson, N.Y. Jets; signed by Packers Star Lotulelie, Carolina; signed by Bills *DT Karl Klug, Tennessee Bennie Logan, Kansas City David Irving (DE), Dallas (RFA) Beau Allen, Philadelphia; signed by Bucs Kyle Williams, Buffalo; re-signed Frostee Rucker, Arizona Haloti Ngata, Detroit; signed by Eagles Clinton McDonald, Tampa Bay Ahtyba Rubin, Atlanta LINEBACKERS (19) Avery Williamson, Tennessee; signed by Jets Nigel Bradham, Philadelphia; re-signed Zach Brown, Washington; re-signed NaVorro Bowman, Oakland Demario Davis, N.Y. Jets; signed by Saints Todd Davis, Denver; re-signed Preston Brown, Buffalo; signed by Bengals Anthony Hitchens, Dallas; signed by Chiefs Connor Barwin, L.A. Rams Derrick Johnson, Kansas City *Lawrence Timmons, Miami *Brian Cushing, Houston *Pernell McPhee, Chicago Tahir Whitehead, Detroit; signed by Raiders Junior Galette, Washington *Tamba Hali, Kansas City Trent Murphy, Washington; signed by Bills Devon Kennard, N.Y. Giants; signed by Lions Christian Jones, Chicago; signed by Lions CORNERBACKS (22) Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams; sign by Jets Kyle Fuller, Chicago (TFA); Bears expected to match Packers offer sheet of $56M/4 yrs, $18M guaranteed. Rashaan Melvin, Indianapolis; signed by Raiders Brent Grimes, Tampa Bay; re-signed Malcolm Butler, New England; signed by Titans Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia; signed by Saints Aaron Colvin, Jacksonville; signed by Texans Bashaud Breeland, Washington Prince Amukamara, Chicago; re-signed E.J. Gaines, Buffalo *Richard Sherman, Seattle; signed by 49ers *Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, N.Y. Giants Dontae Johnson, San Francisco Nevin Lawson, Detroit; re-signed *Jeremy Lane, Seattle TJ Carrie, Oakland; signed by Browns Morris Claiborne, N.Y. Jets; re-signed *DeShawn Shead, Seattle; signed by Lions Nickell Robey-Coleman, L.A. Rams; re-signed Justin Bethel, Arizona *William Gay, Pittsburgh Johnson Bademosi, New England; signed by Texans SAFETIES (10) Lamarcus Joyner, L.A. Rams (FFA) Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans Tre Boston, L.A. Chargers Morgan Burnett, Green Bay *Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona; signed by Texans *Quintin Demps, Chicago Eric Reid, San Francisco *Mike Mitchell, Pittsburgh Tyvon Branch, Arizona *Kurt Coleman, Carolina; signed by Saints KICKERS/PUNTERS (13) Chris Boswell (K), Pittsburgh (RFA) Dustin Hopkins (K), Washington; re-signed Chandler Catanzaro (K), N.Y. Jets; signed by Bucs Pat O'Donnell (P), Chicago; re-signed Sebastian Janikowski (K), Oakland Kevin Huber (P), Cincinnati; re-signed Dustin Colquitt (P), Kansas City; re-signed Cody Parkey (K), Miami; signed by Bears Cairo Santos (K), Chicago; signed by Jets Caleb Sturgis (K), Philadelphia; signed by Chargers Blair Walsh (K), Seattle Mike Nugent(K), Chicago *Nick Folk (K), Tampa Bay