Quarterbacks

I rated the 2014 NFL free agent quarterbacks on six qualities that I feel are the most important:

• Height/weight, Age, 40 time, Career TD:INT ratio, Career completion percentage

1. Matt Flynn, 6-2/230 lbs, 28 years old, 4.79 40, 17 TD: 10 INT, 61.9%
2. Matt Cassel, 6-4/228 lbs, 31 years old, 4.9 40, 93 TD: 66 INT, 59%
3. Shaun Hill, 6-3/220 lbs, 34 years old, 4.7 40, 41 TD: 23 INT, 62%
4. Josh Freeman, 6-6/240 lbs, 26 years old, 4.9 40, 80 TD: 67 INT, 57.6%
5. Dan Orlovsky, 6-5/230 lbs, 30 years old, 4.88 40, 14 TD: 12INT, 58.5%

Running Backs

I rated the running backs and fullbacks on the following criteria:

• height/weight, age, 40 time, yards per rushing attempt, average catches per season, average fumbles lost per season, kick returner/punt returner

1. Ben Tate, 5-11/217, 25 years old, 4.4 Tate is my #1 rated free agent running back.

   3 40, 4.7 yrds/att., 20 catches

2. Darren McFadden, 6-1/218, 26 years old, 4.33 40, 4.2 yrds/att., 29 catches
3. Toby Gerhart, 6-0/231, 26 years old, 4.53 40, 4.53 yrds/att., 19 catches, kick returner
4. Rashad Jennings, 6-1/231, 28 years old, 4.59 40, 4.3 yrds/att., 24 catches
5. Felix Jones, 5-10/215, 26 years old, 4.47 40, 4.7 yrds/att., 22 catches, kick returner

Fullbacks

1.  Jed Collins, 6-1/255, 28 years old, 4.88 40, 14 catches
2. Michael Robinson, 6-1/240, 31 years old, 4.57 40, 9 catches
3. Lex Hilliard, 5-11/235, 29 years old, 4.68 40, 7 catches
4. John Kuhn, 6-0/250, 31 years old, 9 catches
5. Greg Jones, 6-1/251, 32 years old, 4.58 40, 8 catches

Wide Receivers

I divided the wide receiver section into two groups:  #1 or #2 receiver and slot receivers.  I rated all the receivers based on their:

• height/weight, age, 40 time, # of receptions, yards per reception, catch % (number of catches divided by number of targets), kick returner/punt returner

#1 or #2 receivers

Eric Decker is my #1 free agent receiver

1. Eric Decker, 6-3/214, 26 years old, 4.54 40, 87 catches, 13.8 yrds/rec., 61% catch
2. Jacoby Jones, 6-2/215, 29 years old, 4.5 40, 37 catches, 12.3 yrds/rec., 56% catch, KR/PR
3. James Jones, 6-1/208, 29 years old, 4.59 40, 59 catches, 13.8 yrds/rec., 63% catch
4. Hakeem Nicks, 6-1/208, 26 years old, 4.63 40, 56 catches, 16.0 yards/rec., 55% catch
5. Jerricho Cotchery, 6-1/200, 31 years old, 4.54 40, 46 catches, 13.1 yards/rec., 61% catch, KR/PR

Slot Receivers

1. Julian Edelman, 5-10/198, 27 years old, 4.52 40, 105 catches, 10.2 yrds/rec., 67% catch, PR
2. Emmanuel Sanders, 5-11/180, 26 years old, 4.41 40, 67 catches, 11.0 yrds/rec., 60% catch, KR
3. Golden Tate, 5-10/202, 25 years old, 4.42 40, 64 catches, 13.3 yrds/rec., 63% catch, PR
4. Ted Ginn Jr., 5-11/185, 28 years old, 4.28 40, 36 catches, 15.4 yrds/rec., 53% catch, KR/PR
5. Dexter McCluster, 5-8/170, 25 years old, 4.58 40, 53 catches, 9.6 yrds/rec., 65% catch, PR

Tight Ends

I rated the tight ends the same way I did with the receivers, except for none of the tight ends return kicks or punts.

1. Scott Chandler, 6-7/260, 28 years old, 4.78 40, 53 catches, 12.4 yrds/rec., 67% catch

   Chandler is my #1 rated free agent tight end.

2. Brandon Myers, 6-3/256, 28 years old, 4.78 40, 47 catches, 11.1 yrds/rec., 70% catch
3. Garrett Graham, 6-3/243, 27 years old, 4.71 40, 49 catches, 11.1 yrds/rec., 61% catch
4. Brandon Pettigrew, 6-5/265, 28 years old, 4.83 40, 41 catches, 10.1 yrds/rec., 62% catch
5.  Jermichael Finley, 6-5/247, 26 years old, 4.67 40, 25 catches, 12.0 yrds/rec., 69% catch

Offensive Tackles

To rate the offensive tackles and all of the offensive linemen I looked at their:

• height/weight, age, 40 time, playing/starting experience

1. Eugene Monroe, LT, 6-5/306, 26 years old, 5.23 40, started 15 games last season
2. Branden Albert, LT, 6-5/316, 29 years old, 5.17 40, started 12 games last season
3. Jared Veldheer, LT, 6-5/306, 26 years old, 5.09 40, started 5 games last season
4. Rodger Saffold, LT, 6-5/332, 25 years old, 5.21 40, started 9 games last season
5. Eric Winston, LT/RT, 6-7/302, 30 years old, 4.94 40, started 16 games last season

Offensive Guards

1. Zane Beadles, 6-4/305, 27 years old, 5.28 40, started 16 games last season
2. Jon Asamoah, 6-4/305, 25 years old, 5.07 40, started 9 games last season
3. John Jerry, 6-5/335, 27 years old, 5.15 40, started all 16 games last season
4. Shelley Smith, 6-4/312, 26 years old, 5.11 40, started 2 games last season
5. Shawn Lauvao, 6-3/315, 26 years old, 5.22 40, started 11 games last season

Centers

1. Evan Dietrich Smith, 6-2/308, 27 years old, 5.04 40, started 16 games last season
2. Ryan Wendell, 6-2/300, 27 years old, 5.28 40, started 16 games last season
3. Fernando Velasco, 6-4/312, 29 years old, 5.16 40, started 11 games last season
4. Brian De La Puente, 6-3/306, 28 years old, 5.0 40, started 16 games last season
5. Ted Larsen, 6-2/305, 26 years old, 5.19 40, started 4 games last season

Related article:

• Top 5 2014 NFL Free Agents By Position:  Defense