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Free Agency Preview: DBs

1. Asante Samuel, Patriots - Only 24, Samuel is coming off a monster ten-pick season. He also broke up 24 passes (insane). If he's not franchised, old coordinator Eric Mangini's Jets will be the favorites to get him. Samuel could also fit in Arizona.

2. Nate Clements, Bills - Buffalo has a verbal agreement to not tag him. The 'Skins want Clements but they're over the cap and he'll demand Champ Bailey money to sign.

3. Nick Harper, Colts - Career Colt is turning 33. The most likely scenario is he stays in Indy, but Harper may interest Minnesota with former position coach Leslie Frazier running the defense.

4. Roderick Hood, Eagles - Very inconsistent last season and temporarily passed by Will James, but has upside at 25 and needs a scenery change. The Cowboys, Redskins, and Giants have reported interest. He'll get a multi-year deal.

5. Travis Fisher, Rams - Plenty of starting experience. He's flashed playmaking ability but is wildly inconsistent and coming off a broken arm. Fisher would be a decent add for Detroit or Buffalo, where he knows several old Rams coaches.

6. Phillip Buchanon, Bucs - Value mostly on returns, although he did have a few starts in '06. He'll never fulfill expectations but can back up and play specials.

7. Kiwaukee Thomas, Bills - The nickel in a strong secondary but may be a product of Perry Fewell's system. He's almost 30 and shouldn't be expecting starter's money, but apparently is.

8. Will James, Eagles - Made a decent comeback from back troubles, then got hurt again. Eagles will probably re-sign him to replace Hood.

9. DeJuan Groce, Saints - The dime in a shaky '06 defensive backfield, but has starting experience and is only 27.

10. Hank Poteat, Jets - Well-traveled former third-rounder started last year but Jets will upgrade. He'll battle for a roster spot in someone's training camp.

11. Tory James, Bengals - Big but old. Highly unlikely to be starting like he did all last season, won't return to Cincy, and could be done.

12. Lewis Sanders, Texans - Really struggled when forced to start in 2006. Slow of foot but can match up against bigger receivers. Gary Kubiak likes him.

13. Lenny Walls, Chiefs - Always intriguing due to size (nearly 6-5)
14. David Macklin, Cardinals - Won't be back.
15. Rashad Bauman, Bengals - Tiny special teamer.
16. Jamar Fletcher, Lions - Former first-round bust.
17. Kenny Wright, Redskins - Arguably league's worst corner.

Restricted Free Agent Cornerbacks

1. Jason David, Colts - Small but solid starter will get high tender. Vikings could make a run but David won't get away.

2. Benny Sapp, Chiefs - Underrated third corner will never be a starter but Herm Edwards likes him enough that he'll stay.

3. Randall Gay, Patriots - Spent nearly all of '06 on I.R. with bum ankle. Expected to get a mid-round tender, might replace Samuel.

4. Keith Smith, Lions - Dime unlikely to return.
5. Blue Adams, Bucs - Can play safety.
6. Ahmad Carroll, Jaguars - Batman will get one-year deal.

Unrestricted Free Agent Safeties

1. Ken Hamlin, Seahawks - Coming off solid, if unspectacular season after fracturing his skull in 2005. Not particularly adept in coverage but 26 and can lay big hits. Tampa may have interest but Seattle will make every effort to keep him.

2. Deon Grant, Jaguars - Hasn't been very productive since his Panther days and Gerald Sensabaugh is ready for an increased role. The transition tag is possible, but not probable. Grant could be overpaid by a desperate team.

3. Kevin Kaesviharn, Bengals - Will be 31 by Week 1 but a viable stopgap for clubs looking to win now. He picked off six passes in '06, and has quality experience. Dallas, the Giants, and Chicago (pending Mike Brown's rehab) make sense.

4. Mike Doss, Colts - Another candidate to follow Frazier to Minnesota if Dwight Smith is released. Otherwise Doss, coming off ACL surgery, will be hard pressed for better than a one-year deal with a small or no signing bonus.

5. Michael Lewis, Eagles - Lost his job to Sean Considine and won't return. His confidence in coverage is probably shot right now but has talent. Only 26, Lewis might need to sign as a third safety and hope for injury to prove himself worthy of a bigger role and/or contract in 2008.

6. Terrence Holt, Lions - Claim to fame is being Torry's brother. He's physical but Daniel Bullocks is the future. Still should get a backup job at least.

7. Quintin Mikell, Eagles - Specials standout can make big plays on defense. It won't be surprising if he's starting somewhere in 2007, but he'll have to compete.

8. Derrick Gibson, Raiders ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã¢Â€Âœ Injury prone former first-round pick is only 27. Could be brought in to push a rookie somewhere.

9. Todd Johnson, Bears - Hitter will find work. Chicago is in a tough spot at free safety so they'll look to re-sign Johnson. It might be a good situation, as he could battle Chris Harris if Brown's foot is still hurting.

10. Colin Branch, Panthers Has struggled with injuries. The Panthers could be ready to move on.

11. Chad Williams, 49ers - Probably stays with Mike Nolan.
12. Travares Tillman, Dolphins - Aging ex-starter.
13. Tank Williams, Vikings - Coming off fractured knee cap.
14. Jon McGraw, Lions - '02 second-rounder never panned out.
15. Brian Russell, Browns - CLE wants him back but won't start.
16. Vernon Fox, Redskins - 'Skins like him, little value elsewhere.
17. Shaun Williams, Panthers - 30 and ineffective.

Restricted Free Agent Safeties

1. Gibril Wilson, Giants - Has struggled with foot injuries but the best player in New York's secondary. He'll be tendered high.

2. Jordan Babineaux, Seahawks - Intriguing youngster also plays corner. If the 'Hawks re-sign Hamlin, they may be hard pressed to match an offer sheet for Babineaux. He's a player teams have in mind.

3. Glenn Earl, Texans - Needs to compete to keep starting in '07.
4. Yeremiah Bell, Dolphins - Started for Nick Saban.
5. Mike Adams, 49ers - Versatile but won't be tendered.

Cap Casualty Candidates

CB Fred Smoot, Vikings - Definitely gone. It's difficult to say where Smoot might land, as he won't settle for a nickel role. He didn't work out in a Tampa 2.

CB/S Shawn Springs - Some like him at safety. When healthy, Springs still covers but he'll have to restructure to stay in D.C. If he won't, Hood makes sense in Washington and Springs could replace Hamlin in Seattle.

CB David Barrett, Jets - Makes way too much to be used as little as he's being used. Barrett played hurt last year, his last in New York. A number of teams will be interested if he passes a physical.

S Rodney Harrison, Patriots - He's 34, can't stay on the field, and costs $2.7 million, but the Pats value his leadership enough that he has a good shot to return. Few others would pay Harrison that much.

S Ryan Clark, Steelers - Might stick only because Anthony Smith isn't a Cover-2 type.

CB Deltha O'Neal, Bengals - Unless he gets arrested again, O'Neal will probably stay another year. Cincy is already losing Tory James.

CB Gary Baxter, Browns - Coming off two torn patellar tendons. Good guy, but will be gone. Highly unlikely to play at all in 2007.

S Will Demps, Giants - Knee problems and ineffective. NY may have to overhaul its secondary again.

CB Sam Madison, Giants - Has become just a guy. Madison only makes $1.2 million, however, so he's worth hanging on to.

S Donovin Darius, Jaguars - Turning 31 and increasingly injury prone. There's a slight chance the Jags will consider cutting Darius, due $3.5 million, if they re-sign Grant and feel Sensabaugh can take over, but the leadership is tough to part with.

S Adam Archuleta, Redskins - Gone. Double Arch needs to land in a scheme where he can stay in the box.

S Terrence Kiel, Chargers - Weak ball skills and sells "purple drank." Bhawoh Jue is expected to take over.

CB Fernando Bryant, Lions - Probably will split nickel duties with Stanley Wilson if he stays. More likely to be released.

S Dwight Smith, Vikings - Has off-field troubles. If Doss is brought in, he and Blue could compete and let Darren Sharper move back to his natural free safety. That'd make Smith expendable.

CB Brian Kelly, Bucs - Apparently wants out, but Tampa needs him.

CB Jerametrius Butler - The new staff didn't like him and he sat all last year. Butler's due $2 million in 2007, so he's a goner. He'll get a look as a sub-package corner because he's 28 and picked off nine passes from 2003-2004.

CB Fred Thomas, Saints - Thomas is as burnable as he is cuttable. The Saints' top offseason priority should be their secondary.

S Mike Minter, Panthers - Probably has one more year. Shaun Williams was the problem last year, not Minter.

CB Jason Webster, Falcons - He's done in ATL because Jimmy Williams is ready to start. Webster is slow and small, not a good combo.

CB Terry Cousin - Aging, injury-plagued nickel could probably be replaced by Dee Webb-Scott Starks combination.

CB Juran Bolden - No idea why they like this guy, but they do. Bolden should have to take a pay cut to stay.

CB Dre' Bly, Lions - Should be back.
S Troy Vincent, Redskins - 50-50 to stay. Nice guy.
S Tebucky Jones, Patriots - Spent 2006 on I.R. At 32, could be done.
CB Samari Rolle, Ravens - More likely to be challenged to start.
CB Ken Lucas, Panthers - Should be back.

Looking for DBs

These teams need it most.

1. Texans - They signed every street free agent linebacker they could last offseason, ended up with the same guys they had in the first place, and still couldn't stop the runÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¦or cover. Now Houston is strapped for cap space so draft picks and unknowns are likely. Please, no more Dexter McCleons.

2. Saints - Fred Thomas was a serious liability against speed receivers late in the season, but for some reason they loved putting him on them. Unless he's willing to take a pay cut and a bench spot, Thomas is gone. Roman Harper is returning from a torn ACL and there's little depth. New Orleans needs young bodies.

3. Browns - Injuries to Daylon McCutcheon, Gary Baxter, DeMario Minter, and Leigh Bodden caught up to Cleveland's secondary late in '06. Daven Holly is a dime back, nickel at best. They do have money and are set at safety.

4. Lions - Like most positions, Detroit needs to make major personnel decisions. It appears Dre' Bly will stay. Fernando Bryant is less likely to stick and unlikely to start if he does. The Lions need a young, legit starter.

5. Bengals - Tory James and Rashad Bauman are gone. In James' case, it's probably addition by subtraction. Deltha O'Neal will be a nickel back at best. Johnathan Joseph and the safeties are fine, but they may need to replace Kaesviharn. Cincy likes playmakers and could add a hitter.

6. Redskins - With Archuleta and Wright gone, Springs possibly gone, and Carlos Rogers coming off a sophomore slump, the 'Skins are needy. I can't see them shedding enough salary for Clements. They only have one first-day pick (No. 6 overall) and won't take a DB. This secondary could be bad no matter what in 2007.

7. Giants - You can't win in the playoffs with R.W. McQuarters starting at LCB. Obviously, Corey Webster needs to step up and stay healthy. Madison could be gone, but the guess is he stays. Demps needs to go. Frank Walker is toast. This should be fixed on the draft's first day, but quintessentially not in Round One (you go LB).

8. 49ers - It's crazy how much better an investment Walt Harris was than Shawntae Spencer in 2006. Spencer clearly isn't the No. 1 corner his contract says he is. They need a nickel (Sammy Davis is trash) and competition for FS Keith Lewis. It'll probably be 2006 sixth-rounder Marcus Hudson.

9. Bills - Nate Clements won't be back, and it looks like Kiwaukee Thomas thinks he'll be starting elsewhere. Ashton Youboty could play more, but Buffalo needs a starting-caliber corner. They're fine at both safeties with Ko Simpson, Donte Whitner, and Matt Bowen for depth.

10. Cardinals - Eric Green should be ready to start, but needs competition. Not David Macklin, who's gone. More is needed from Antrel Rolle. Free safety is a major need, like last year.

11. Panthers - Shaun Williams is out. Colin Branch, Mike Minter, and Ken Lucas could also be gone. But, as much as they need cap space, it's hard to give up on Lucas. He just turned 28 and is relatively cheap until '08. Christian Morton, Dion Byrum, and Garnell Wilds can battle for depth. A hitting SS is needed.

12. Bucs - The Bucs are at a crossroads. Juran Bolden is bad. Brian Kelly wants out. Alan Zemaitis was inactive all last year. As an organization, Tampa has to decide whether to try to win with youth or Shelton Quarles and Bolden. Knowing Jon Gruden, he'll stubbornly do the latter.

13. Falcons - Hope Jimmy Williams captures his potential and draft a free safety (LSU's LaRon Landry, Michael Griffin of Texas, or Reggie Nelson at No. 10).

14. Chiefs - Start Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard at safety.

15. Vikings - Talent is there. Nick Harper isn't a bad idea.

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