Each team's capsule contains a list of players who are scheduled to become free agents on March 1. 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.

Houston Texans

	Texans' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: None. RFAs: RB-RS Charlie Rogers, OL Ryan Schau, OT Ryan Young. EFAs: TE Johnny Huggins.

Analysis: Despite not having any players last season, the Texans do have four free agents -- whom they acquired in the expansion draft - that need to be re-signed. After that, the Texans aren't expected to be huge players in free agency. Despite having a very favorable salary-cap situation, the Texans do not anticipate going on a huge spending spree. Because members of the front office determined this was not an outstanding free-agent class, the Texans opted to spend more freely on players taken in the expansion draft. GM Charley Casserly has indicated that the Texans will add some quality free agents, but unless there is a change in plans, look for them to add just a handful of unrestricted free agents to the roster this spring. The rest of the roster will be comprised of players picked in the draft and rookie free agents. Also, don't be surprised if the Texans attempt to renegotiate the deals of DT Gary Walker and CB Aaron Glenn, both of whom were added in the expansion draft. Both players have very high cap figures for 2002. It also wouldn't be surprising to see the Texans attempt to lock up Young long-term. A restricted free agent, Young was the second player taken in the expansion draft and is being counted on to start opposite Tony Boselli for a long time to come.

Indianapolis Colts

Colts' 2002 free agents

UFAs: OL Tarik Glenn (franchise), LB Sean Harris, OL Steve McKinney, OL Larry Moore, LB Mike Morton, WR Jerome Pathon, LB Ryan Phillips, QB Mark Rypien, WR Tony Simmons, DE Mark Thomas. RFAs: DE Lional Barnes, DT Chukie Nwokorie, OL Jeff Saturday, DE Brad Scioli, P Hunter Smith, LB Sam Sword, WR Terrence Wilkins. EFAs: CB Clifton Crosby, TE Joe Dean Davenport, RB Jim Finn, OL Ben Gilbert, WR Drew Haddad, OL Tim Ridder, LB Justin Snow, RB Shyrone Stith.

Analysis: The Colts have been in the process of clearing salary-cap space. They released cornerback Jeff Burris, tight end Ken Dilger, safety Chad Cota and defensive tackle Mike Wells, who were supposed to count about $15 million combined vs. the 2002 cap. While the group still will count more than $9 million vs. the cap because of the remaining portions of their prorated signing bonuses, the Colts will wind up clearing nearly $6 million in cap space. There could be further cuts in the near future. Defensive tackle Ellis Johnson is due a $1 million roster bonus in March and is slated to count about $6 million vs. the cap next season. If he doesn't agree to rework his deal, he could be done in Indy. Reports out of Indianapolis also suggest that defensive tackle Christian Peter and offensive lineman Waverly Jackson could become cap casualties. The Colts have been clearing room not because they were ridiculously over the cap like some of their division mates -- think Titans and Jaguars -- but because they believe they need to overhaul a defense that allowed an NFL-high 486 points in '01. The Colts finished the season ranked 29th in yards allowed, 25th in rushing yards allowed and 27th in passing yards allowed. With the No. 2-ranked offense in terms of scoring and yardage, look for the team to keep that unit intact as much as possible. The team franchised Glenn and would like to re-sign McKinney. Moore, however, may not be back because of the presence of some younger linemen. The No. 1 offseason priority, though, is acquiring a true shutdown cornerback, either via the draft or free agency. The Colts also would like to get bigger and bulkier up front on defense, so adding some run stuffers could be in the plans. Adding a pass rusher or two could also be in the works.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars' 2001 free agents

UFAs: WR Sean Dawkins, OL Todd Fordham, PK Mike Hollis, TE Damon Jones, LB Jeff Posey, QB Jonathan Quinn, OL Jeff Smith, OL John Wade. RFAs: CB Jason Craft, RB Stacey Mack, OL-LS Joe Zelenka. EFAs: OL Mark Baniewicz, S Ainsley Battles, DE Derrick Chambers, LB Danny Clark, WR Damon Gibson, LB Donny Green, P Chris Hanson, PK Jaret Holmes, RB Elvis Joseph, OL Aaron Koch, DE Rob Meier, S Erik Olson, TE Ryan Prince, QB Roderick Robinson, WR Micah Ross, WR Emanuel Smith, DE Paul Spicer, LB Edward Thomas, OL Patrick Venzke, RB Patrick Washington, LB Joe Wesley, CB Damen Wheeler, RB Reggie White.

Analysis: The expansion draft proved to be a godsend for the Jaguars and their previously dire salary-cap situation. While the team lost left tackle Tony Boselli and defensive tackles Gary Walker and Seth Payne, the Jaguars gained $16-17 million in cap relief. After the contracts of linebacker Kevin Hardy and DE Renaldo Wynn expire in March, the Jaguars should be about $5 million under the cap. Still, they have fewer than 40 players under contract for next season, and they will need about $4 million to sign all of their draft picks. That means there are more cuts to come. Look for cornerback Aaron Beasley and offensive lineman Zach Wiegert to be released in March, and wide receiver Keenan McCardell and linebacker Hardy Nickerson also could be cut. With just a smidgen of cap space, the Jaguars won't be making any blockbuster deals. Instead, look for the Jaguars to help stock up the roster with bargain-basement additions.

Tennessee Titans
Analysis: At presstime, the Titans were about $16 million over the salary cap. However, the team wasn't sweating it too much. Tennessee intends to release wide receiver Chris Sanders and cornerbacks DeRon Jenkins and Michael Booker, which will free up about $8 million in cap space.

	Titans' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: OL Gennaro DiNapoli, DT Josh Evans, LB Greg Favors, DT Jason Fisk, RB Skip Hicks, OL Kevin Long, S Perry Phenix, CB Daryl Porter, DT Joe Salave'a, CB Dainon Sidney. RFAs: DT John Thornton. EFAs: RB Dan Alexander, WR Chris Coleman, LB Keith Embray, QB Billy Volek.

They will also look to renegotiate the contracts of several players, including linebacker Randall Godfrey, offensive tackle Fred Miller, WR Derrick Mason, quarterback Neil O'Donnell and defensive lineman Henry Ford. If linebacker Eddie Robinson and S Blaine Bishop don't take dramatic pay cuts, they could be jettisoned. Tight end Frank Wycheck can count on getting a contract extension. These moves combined should get the Titans under the salary cap. After getting that taken care of, the Titans aren't expected to have many impact signings. Instead, look for the Titans to target a handful of mid-level free agents - players who may not have achieved their potential in years past but who still have an upside. It worked when they signed Fisk in 1999. At the time, he wasn't anything special, yet he blossomed into a quality player while with Tennessee. The biggest area of need is the secondary. Aside from cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Kevin Dyson, this unit is up in the air, and it likely will be addressed in free agency. Word has it that the Titans have already been in contact with the agent of safety Chad Cota, who was recently cut by the Colts. Other areas that could see reinforcements added are along the offensive and defensive lines.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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