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Top 2017 NFL free agents still available on defense

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:25 a.m. ET

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Fansided, Dan Salem/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

Time to talk defense. As the season approaches we still have many top level 2017 NFL free agents available. Not all will find teams. Who signs where and will anyone retire?

NFL minicamps have opened. OTAs and training camps begin this month. We are officially out of the offseason and into the preseason. With that, it is time to speculate wildly on everything from depth charts to position battles to standings to signings.

Time to talk defense and our remaining 2017 NFL Free Agents. Some of these players should already be on teams, so they must be asking for too much money! Expect all of them to find a home by early July. The list is short, but contains big names and some true quality. Where will these players land?

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss 2017 NFL Free Agents in today's NFL Sports Debate.

Elvis Dumervil

Dan Salem: Elvis Dumervil has been excellent during his career and excellent as a Baltimore Raven. But he's well past 30 and likely expensive for simply adding depth to your defense. Yet a team like the New York Jets desperately need veteran help in their linebacking core. Dumervil would bring a ton of experience to a young unit like New York's. He could even find a home on a contender like Dallas or Green Bay.

Dwight Freeney

Dan Salem: Dwight Freeney is in a similar position as Dumervil. He's been great over his career as a whole, but is nearing the end. This brings his current level of production into question. A young defense like the Los Angeles Rams could use his veteran experience. I could see a team like the Buffalo Bills scooping him up as well, to excite fans during their rebuilding process.

The Cornerbacks

Todd Salem: Darrelle Revis, Sam Shields, Alterraun Verner, Brandon Flowers, and Leodis McKelvin all used to be somewhere between good and great. It is hard to know if any of them are even good anymore, considering age and injury. The main issue with these guys finding a home is the salary they probably expect versus their expected value to a new team.

The two columns don't add up. Value and asking price are very far apart. There are at least a dozen franchises, though, that could use depth in the secondary, including both New York clubs, San Francisco, and Tennessee. Who will take the plunge first? Will any of these guys just retire? I doubt it. All five guys will play this coming season.

Tramaine Brock

Dan Salem: I've got one more cornerback to consider. Tramaine Brock is only 29 years old, giving him a ton of value to a new team. Yes, he was released by the San Francisco 49ers due to a domestic violence issue, but we know that many teams have overlooked such transgressions in the past. Brock's price tag is likely lower than our aforementioned veterans as well. Considering the needs of multiple teams in the secondary and the help he can provide, someone will give him a chance. The Dallas Cowboys have done it multiple times.

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