2011 Free Agents
 

Obviously this is way up in the air due to the CBA situation, but being an optimist (and bored), I'm assuming everything gets worked out. Never hurts to take a peek and see what could be out there. Found this listing of a Top 30 at:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...eeagents111810

It has it broken down into 6, 5, and 4 yr players.

Of note in relation to our beleaguered Texan needs:
6 Yr
5. DL Richard Seymour(notes) – Somebody is going to pay handsomely for the 31-year-old Seymour, who is having a terrific season. He’s really good, but has a tendency to play on cruise control.
6. CB Ike Taylor(notes) – When cornerbacks hit the market, they get paid. That’s just the way it is. Taylor, 30, isn’t great (11 picks in eight seasons), but he’s a good one and he can run.
9. CB Champ Bailey(notes) – Again, cornerbacks get paid and there is little question that Champ Bailey is better than Taylor. However, Bailey is two years older and has had a run of nagging injuries.

5 Yr
1. CB Johnathan Joseph(notes) – Don’t expect a down year by the Bengals defense to impact Joseph’s value. The franchise tag beckons for a guy who can both cover and lay the wood.
2. NT Haloti Ngata(notes) – Pure beast. He’s one of those rare players you look at and say, “How in the world do I attack that?” He also picked a good year to have nearly as many sacks (five in nine games) as he had in his first four years (6.5).

4 Yr
3. CB Eric Wright(notes) – Like Ike Taylor, Wright is a good corner at a time when even the very good become the very rich (See: Robinson, Dunta). Wright has better ball-hawking skills than Taylor, so that will put him at a higher premium.
9. S Eric Weddle(notes) – Some people prefer Dashon Goldson(notes), but Weddle has been more consistent. Probably will never be a star, but he’s the glue of a defense.
10. S Dashon Goldson – Has flashed ball-hawking skills and is considered very bright.

If I were the Texans brass, I would go after Nata with both barrels. He would improve our passrush 100% to say nothing of his run support. That is, if there is going to be a 2011 season, much less free agency. March 11, 2011 will tell the tale. If the CBA is not negotiated, it will be a dreary year with no pro football.

Nice list, but many of those guys will be franchised if there is such a beast again.

these are DT/NT types that might be more in line to what kind of guys are allowed to be available :
Gabe Watson, ARI
Alan Branch, ARI
John McCargo, BUF
Nick Hayden, CAR
Tank Tyler, CAR
Robaire Smith, CLE
Ronald Fields, DEN
Eric Foster, IND
Atiyyah Ellison, JAC
Ron Edwards, KC
Paul Soliai, MIA
Fred Evans, MIN
Barry Cofield, NYG
Jay Alford, NYG
Chris Hoke, PIT
Travis Johnson, SD
Ray McDonald, SF
Clifton Ryan, STL

Here are some LBs some are 3-4 guys and some are 4-3 guys:
Lamarr Woodley, PIT – Woodley has developed into the league’s best left outside linebacker, forming a terrifying tandem in Pittsburgh. The two have accounted for 50 combined sacks over the last 2 years. With that in mind, Pittsburgh won’t let Woodley get away.

David Harris, NYJ – Though Harris is one of the league’s best, young linebackers, the Jets may just not have the money to pay him. They’re looking at extensions to Revis, Mangold, and Ferguson in the next 2 years, in addition to a pair of free agent receivers and nearly acquired Antonio Cromartie. They’ll most likely make Harris one of their top priorities after the big 3, but Harris may be able to get more money elsewhere if he isn’t tagged. We’ll see what he decides.

David Hawthorne, SEA – At 25, Hawthorne is another one of the league’s emerging linebackers. He’s relatively unknown, but was outstanding in Lofa Tatupu’s absence a year ago. Racking up 117 tackles, 4 sacks, 8 stuffs, and 3 interceptions, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team make a big play at Hawthorne and the throw the bank and pry him from Seattle via restricted free agency.

Manny Lawson, SF – Word from the Lawson camp indicates that the former 1st round pick is looking for a contract similar to the one Calvin Pace received a few years back (6 years, $42 million). With only 12 sacks in his 4 year career (6.5 last year), he’ll receive a rude awakening if he doesn’t come to his senses soon. Unless he takes a huge stride forward, he’ll find little luck in free agency.

Other Notable Free Agents: Stephen Nicholas, ATL
Mike Peterson, ATL
Antwan Barnes, BAL
Tavares Gooden, BAL
Keith Ellison, BUF
Thomas Davis, CAR
Nick Roach, CHI
Pisa Tinoisamoa, CHI
Rashad Jeanty, CIN
Dhani Jones, CIN
Chris Gocong, CLE
D'Qwell Jackson, CLE
Desmond Bishop, GB
Zach Diles, HOU
Clint Session, IND
Justin Durant, JAC
Mike Vrabel, KC
Derrick Johnson, KC
Tim Dobbins, MIA
Ben Leber, MIN
Erin Henderson, MIN
Gary Guyton, NE
Scott Shanle, NO
Clint Ingram, NO
Thomas Howard, OAK
Ricky Brown, OAK
Ernie Sims, PHI
Akeem Jordan, PHI
Stewart Bradley, PHI
Omar Gaither, PHI
Stephen Cooper, SD
Kevin Burnett, SD
Brandon Siler, SD
Takeo Spikes, SF
David Vobora, STL
Angelo Crowell, TB
Quincy Black, TB
Barrett Ruud, TB
David Thornton, TEN
Stephen Tulloch, TEN
Rocky McIntosh, WAS

Now the article part was written before this season started, so some of the names maybe off.

I'd trade Mario for Haloti Ngata in a heartbeat.
Ngata is a tremendous talent who would be even more valuable in our 4-3 than in the Ravens 3-4.