In my first article,  Top 5 2014 NFL Free Agents by Position: Defense, I ranked my top five unrestricted free agents at each defensive position based on their

• size and speed ratio
• age
• 40 time
• production mostly from the 2013 season

In this article I am analyzing the top five highest paid unrestricted free agents at each position at this point in free agency.  To rank the players as highest paid I tried to figure out how much they are going to make a year.  I will also analyze if the team paid too much or got a good deal for each player.

Defensive Ends

Name, height/weight, age, 40 time, 2013 production, contract amount, team

1. Michael Johnson, 6-7/270, 27, 4.75, 56 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 years 43.75 million, Tampa Bay

Michael Johnson is the highest paid unrestricted free agent DE so far.

• I had him rated #3 mostly because of production.  I really like his size, speed and age.
• Contract one year too long, he will be 32 in 5 years, his production will decline.

2.  Everson Griffen, 6-3/273, 26, 4.66, 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 5 years 42.5 million, Minnesota.

• Great size, speed, and age.
• My #5 rated DE because of more production by other free agents.
• Contract is good, covers his peak years.
• In my opinion they paid him too much, but he is their player and they are re-signing him.

3.  Jared Allen, 6.6/270, 31, 4.72, 52 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 4 years 32 million, Chicago

• Not Top 5 in my opinion because of his age
• Great size and speed
• Should have one more good year
• Contract is way too long

4.  Michael Bennett, 6-4/274, 28, 5.0, 31 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 4 years 28.5 million, Seattle

• Not top five in my opinion.  Too slow.  Lack of production.
• Seattle kept their player, I can't blame them too much for that.
• Contract one year too long.  He will be 32 in 4 years, his production will decline.

5.  Lamarr Houston, 6-3/300, 26, 4.84, 69 tackles, 6 sacks, 5 years 35 million, Chicago

• #1 in my opinion.  Great size, speed, age.
• Very good production
• Contract is good.

6.  Arthur Jones, 6-3/315, 27, 5.06, 53 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 years 30 million, Indianapolis

• Not top five DE in my opinion.  Too slow for DE.
• Better suited at DT.
• Contract one year too long.

7.  Justin Tuck, 6-5/266, 30, 4.61, 63 tackles, 11 sacks, 2 years 11 million, Oakland

• #2 in my opinion.  Great size and speed ratio.
• Great production
• Contract is perfect.  He should have two good years left.

Defensive Tackles

Name, height/weight, age, 40 time, 2013 production, contract amount, team

1.  Jason Hatcher, 6-6/299, 31, 4.86, 41 tackles, 11 sacks, 4 years 27 million, Washington

• Not top 5 in my opinion.  Many younger players that had better production
• Great size and speed ratio
• Contract is way too long and too much money.  He might have one more good year

2.  Paul Soliai, 6-4/340, 30, 5.02, 34 tackles, 1 sack, 5 years 33 million, Atlanta

• Not top 5 in my opinion.  Many younger players that had better production.
• Good size and speed ratio
• Contract is wayyyy tooo long and wayyy tooo much money.  A real head scratcher here.

3.  Linval Joseph, 6-4/323, 25, 5.04, 59 tackles, 3 sacks, 5  years 31.5 million, Minnesota

• #2 in my opinion.
• Great size, speed, and age.
• Contract is very good.  He will still be peaking at the end of this contract.

4.  Randy Starks, 6-3/305, 30, 5.03, 49 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 year 10 million, Miami

• Barely missed my Top 5
• Good size and speed ratio.  Getting old
• There are DTs with better production and younger.
• Contract is good in length, he should have two good years left.

5.  Earl Mitchell, 6-3/300, 26, 4.75, 48 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 yeras 16 million, Miami

• #6 in my opinion.
• Good size, speed, and age
• Contract is very good, he will still be peaking at the end of this contract.

6.  B. J. Raji, 6-2/337, 27, 5.23, 17 tackles, 1 year 4 million, Green Bay

• Wow, this is a real head scratcher.
• He is too slow and virtually no production with only 17 tackles in 16 games
• Many other DTs that would give lots more production

Notes:  My #1 rated DT Henry Melton signed with Dallas for 1 year at 3.5 million.  Corey Peters, my #3 rated DT re-signed with Atlanta for 1 year at 1.6 million.  Pat Sims, my #4 rated DT signed with Oakland at 1 year for 1.75 million.  My #5 rated DT Alex Carrington signed with Buffalo for 4 years at 2.8 million.

Outside Linebackers

• Name, height/weight, age, 40 time, 2013 production, contract amount, team

1.  Mike Neal, 6-3/285, 26, 4.87, 47 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 years 8 million, Green Bay

• Barely missed my top 5, probably should have made it.
• Green Bay is re-signing him
• He is too slow for my liking.
• Good contract.  It will end when he is 31, right at the end of his peak.

2.  O'Brien Schofield, 6-3/242, 26, 4.63, 8 tackles 1 sack, 2 years 8 million, New York Giants

• Did not make my Top 5
• Reports now are the deal is on hold because of questions about his knee
• Great size, speed, and age ratio.
• Not enough production
• Good contract.  They are not locked up with him for too long if he doesn't pan out

3.  Keith Rivers, 6-2/235, 27, 4.54, 45 tackles, 1 sack, 2 year 5 million, Buffalo

• #5 in my opinion
• Great size, speed and age ratio.
• Other linebackers available that had better production
• Good contract.  He will be 29 when it ends, in his peak.

3.  Calvin Pace, 6-4/265, 33, 4.79, 53 tackles, 10 sacks, 2 years 5 million, New York Jets

• Not Top 5 in my opinion because of his age.
• Good size and speed ratio.
• Rushes the passer well.

5.  Dekoda Watson, 6-2/240, 25, 4.56, 42 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 3 years 6.25 million, Jacksonville

• My #4 rated OLB.  Great size, speed, and age.
• Should have 6 or 7 good seasons left
• Contract is great!

6.  Bryan Braman, 6-5/241, 26, 4.74, 8 tackles 0 sacks, 2 year 3.15 million, Philadelphia

• Not top 5 in my opinion
• Injury issues
• Good size, speed, and age ratio.
• Good contract.  He is just entering his peak years
• Better linebackers available.

7.  Spencer Paysinger, 6-2/236, 25, 4.73, 74 tackles, 1 sack, 1 year 1.43 million, New York Giants

• My #3 rated OLB.  Great size, speed, and age.
• Should have 6 or 7 good seasons left.
• Contract should be for longer.

8.  James Anderson, 6-2/235, 30, 4.58, 102 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 year 1.25 million, Chicago

• My #2 rated OLB.  Great size, speed, and pretty good age.
• Should have two good seasons left.
• Contract is very good, but should have made it for 2 years.

Notes:  My #1 rated OLB Erin Henderson still has not been signed, but I don't expect him to right now because of the trouble he is in.

Inside Linebackers

Name, height/weight, age, 40 time, 2013 production, contract amount, team

1.  Jon Beason, 6-0/235, 29, 4.72, 104 tackles, 1 INT, 3 years 19 million, New York Giants

Jon Beason will try to improve a struggling Giant linebacking corps.

• My #3 rated ILB.  Good size, speed, and age ratio.
• He should have 3 good years left.
• Good production last year
• Contract is good.

2.  D'Qwell Jackson, 6-0/240, 30, 4.71, 104 tackles, 1 INT, 4 years 22 million, Indianapolis

• My #1 rated ILB.  Very good production.
• Good size and speed ratio.  He is 30 years old though.
• Contract two years too long.  Contract ends when he is 34, too old.

3.  Daryl Smith, 6-2/248, 31, 4.67, 123 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 INT, 4 years 16.1 million, Baltimore

• Not in my Top 5 because of his age.
• He had great production last year, but he will start to decline now.
• He has good size and speed.
• Contract is way too long.

4.  Wesley Woodyard, 6-0/233, 27, 4.51, 84 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 4 years 16 million, Tennessee

• Did not make my Top 5.
• A little undersized, but great speed
• Good production
• Contract is good, covers his peak period

5.  Brandon Spikes, 6-2/255, 26, 5.o, 86 tackles, 1 INT, 1 year 3.25 million, Buffalo

• Did not make my Top 5
• Good size, but not good speed
• Decent production, better ILBs available
• Contract is good, he is entering his peak years

6.  Perry Riley, 6-0/238, 25, 4.69, 115 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 3 years 4 million, Washington

• My #2 ILB.  He has good size, speed, and age ratio.
• Good production.
• He is just coming into his peak years
• Contract is a good one

Notes:  My #5 rated ILB Arthur Moats has yet to be signed.  Vincent Rey, a restricted free agent with the Bengals re-signed with them for 2 years 4.2 million and he is my #4 rated ILB.

Cornerbacks

There was a tie for highest paid cornerback this year as Sam Shields and Vontae Davis will both receive around 9.75 million per year as best I could tell.

Name, height/weight, age, 40 time, 2013 production, contract amount, team

1.  Sam Shields, 5-11/184, 26, 4.26, 61 tackles, 4 INT, 16 passes defensed (PD), 4 years 39 million, Green Bay

• My #2 rated CB.  Great size, speed, age ratio.
• He is just entering his peak years
• Great contract

1.  Vontae Davis, 5-11/204, 25, 4.49, 46 tackles, 1 INT, 12 passes defensed (PDs), 4 years 39 million, Indianapolis

• Did not make my Top 7 because of low INTs and PDs
• My question is did the great defense in Frisco him help out?  He won't have that with the Colts
• Great size, speed, and age ratio
• He is just entering into his peak years
• Contract is good

3.  Aqib Talib, 6-1/205, 28, 4.44, 41 tackles, 4 INT, 14 passes defensed, 6 years 57 million, Denver

• My #4 CB.  Great size, speed, and age ratio.
• Good production
• Contract is 2 years too long.  It ends when he will be 34, too old and past his peak.

4.  Brent Grimes, 5-10/190, 30, 4.55, 60 tackles, 4 INT, 17 PD, 4 years 32 million, Minnesota

Brent Grimes celebrating an interception.

• My # 5 CB.  Good size and speed ratio.
• Good production, should have 2 good years left
• Contract is too long.  It is 2 years too long

5.  Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, 6-2/193, 27, 4.33, 31 tackles, 3 INT, 14 PD, 5 year 35 million, Arizona

• My #6 rated CB
• Should have 5 good years left
• Contract is great.

6.  Alterraun Verner, 5-10/187, 25, 4.52, 57 tackles, 5 INT, 22 PD, 4 years 26.5 million, Tampa Bay

• My # 1 rated CB.  Great size, speed, and age ratio.
• Great production and has not hit his peak years yet.
• Great contract, should have made it two more years though

7.  Corey Graham, 6-0/196, 28, 4.42, 74 tackles, 4 INT, 12 PD, 4  years 20 million, Buffalo

• My # 6 rated CB.  Great size, speed, and age ratio.
• Great production.
• Great contract.  He should have 4 really good years left

Free Safeties

Name, height/weight, age, 40 time, 2013 production, contract amount, team

1.  Jairus Byrd, 5-10/203, 27, 4.68, 48 tackles, 4 INT, 6 PD, 6 years 56 million, New Orleans

• My #5 rated FS.  He is too slow and on the short side.
• Only played 11 games in 2013.
• Good production
• Contract is for too long.  1 year too long

2.  Malcolm Jenkins, 6-0/204, 26, 4.54, 68 tackles 2 INT, 6 PD, 3 years 16.25 million, Philadelphia

Jenkins will look to improve the Eagle defense.

• My #3 rated FS.  Great size, speed, and age ratio.
• Good production and he is just entering his peak seasons.
• Contract is good, but could be longer

3.  Michael Mitchell, 6-0/210, 26, 4.45, 66 tackles, 4 INT, 8 PD, 5 years 25 million, Pittsburgh

• My #1 rated FS.  Great size, speed, and age ratio.
• Good production
• Contract is good, but could be longer

4.  Louis Delmas, 5-11/202, 26, 4.5, 64 tackles,  INT, 8 PD, 1 year 3.5 million, Miami

• My # 2 rated FS.  Great size, speed, and age ratio.
• Production was good
• Contract should be longer, because he is just now entering his peak seasons

5.  Ryan Mundy, 6-1/209, 29, 4.55, 77 tackles 1 INT, 2 years 3 million, Chicago

• Not in my Top 5.  Good size, speed, and age ratio
• Good production
• Contract is good.

Notes:  The Chicago Bears signed my # 4 rated CB M. D. Jennings, a restricted free agent to a 1 year contract worth 745,000.

Strong Safeties

Name, height/weight, age, 40 time, 2013 production, contract amount, team

1.  Donte Whitner, 5-10/208, 28, 4.4, 73 tackles, 2 INT, 12 PD, 4 years 28 million, Cleveland

Whitner hopes to bring his winning ways to Cleveland

• Barely missed my Top 5
• Good size, speed, and age ratio
• Good production
• Contract is right on

2.  Antoine Bethea, 5-11/206, 29, 4.39, 11o tackles, 3 INT, 6 PD, 4 years 24 million, San Francisco

• My #3 rated SS.  Good size, speed, and age ratio.
• Very good production
• Contract is good, but signed him to extra year.

3.  T. J. Ward, 5-10/200, 27, 112 tackles, 2 INT, 5 PD, 4  years 23 million, Denver

• My #2 rated SS.  Great size, speed, and age ratio.
• Production was really good
• Contract is good, but they should have tried to get 5 years

4.  Bernard Pollard, 6-1/225, 29, 4.62, 99 tackles, 3 INT, 10 PD, 2 years 6.3 million, Tennessee

• My # 5 rated SS.
• Not real good speed.
• Good production
• Contract is good, just right.

5.  Chris Clemons, 6-1/214, 28, 4.33, 93 tackles, 1 INT, 8 PD, 1 year for 2.75 million, Miami

• My #4 SS.  Good size, speed, and age ratio.
• Very good production
• Miami re-signed him, but they should have made it longer

Notes:  My #1 rated SS is Major Wright and he has not been signed yet.

Related Article:

• Top 5 2014 NFL Free Agents by Position: Defense