So long, NFL trade deadline. We're moving on to 2020 NFL free agency. With several starting quarterbacks set to hit the market, next year's free-agency class has a chance to be earth-shattering.
ESPN's Kevin Seifert ranked the 25 best potential free agents in 2020, following the prevailing NFL wisdom that quarterback, pass-rusher and offensive lineman are the three most valuable positions. And while age typically is an important factor in free agency, we made an exception for a class that includes three presumptive Hall of Fame quarterbacks who are still playing at high levels.
We then asked our NFL Nation reporters to make predictions based on Seifert's list, picking whether the team they cover will re-sign, use the franchise tag on or let the player test free agency next March. Here are the results:
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
2019 salary: $21.5 million | Age entering 2020 season: 43
Prediction: The Patriots will re-sign him.
This is uncharted territory as no 42-year-old quarterback has ever started all 16 regular-season games, which probably best explains why the Patriots and Brady are in a year-to-year situation with his contract. Though there is discussion about Brady's plans for after the season, he is still operating at a high level, which shouldn't give the Patriots pause in extending his deal for 2020, and perhaps even beyond that. -- Mike Reiss
2. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
2019 salary: $22.7 million | Age: 41
Prediction: The Saints will re-sign him.
Brees made it clear the last time he was a free agent in 2018 that he won't even consider another team. And he gave the Saints a hometown discount with a two-year, $50 million deal that included only one year guaranteed. Expect more of the same approach from both sides as long as he wants to keep playing and doesn't experience a significant drop-off in ability. The Saints won't shove him out the door in favor of Teddy Bridgewater just yet. -- Mike Triplett
3. Philip Rivers, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
2019 salary: $23 million | Age: 38
Prediction: The Chargers will re-sign him.
Rivers has said he's OK with playing out the final year of his contract and wants to be with the Chargers when they open the new stadium in Inglewood, California, next year. Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has said Rivers isn't going anywhere. With the Chargers struggling and recently firing offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, however, there's a possibility the situation changes down the road. For now, count on him returning. -- Eric D. Williams
4. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
2019 salary: $2.1 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Cowboys will re-sign him.
When the Cowboys were talking to running back Ezekiel Elliott about a new contract, owner Jerry Jones said, "When have I not gotten a deal done?" The same statement applies to Prescott, a 2015 fourth-round pick who will have made just $4,772,943 with the Cowboys over the past four seasons, including performances bonuses. There is a possibility the Cowboys could pursue a franchise tag with Prescott, but they have other free-agent candidates too. -- Todd Archer
5. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
2019 salary: $2.2 million | Age: 25
Prediction: The Jaguars will use the franchise tag to bring him back.
The trade of cornerback Jalen Ramsey means the Jaguars don't have to worry about coming up with big money for both him and Ngakoue, or having to pick one to tag. The team will be able to use the franchise tag on Ngakoue if it is unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension. Given how far apart the sides were before the season began -- Ngakoue's camp wanted more than $20 million per year and the Jaguars were offering less than $20 million -- the plan is to tag Ngakoue, a former third-round pick, in 2020 and try to find a way to work out a long-term deal. -- Michael DiRocco
6. Brandon Scherff, G, Washington Redskins
2019 salary: $12.5 million | Age: 28
Prediction: The Redskins will use the franchise tag to bring him back.
There was internal optimism in January that the Redskins would re-sign Scherff. But many months passed and he reportedly turned down an offer for $13 million per year, which would have put him among the highest-paid players at his position. The unknown in that equation remains the guaranteed portion. It's a little tricky with Scherff, who ended last season on injured reserve but remains a solid player. He's excellent in the locker room and the sort of "culture guy" any team needs. With Trent Williams' future uncertain, Scherff is Washington's best offensive lineman and the team can't afford to let him walk -- and create yet another hole on offense. -- John Keim
7. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, New Orleans Saints
2019 salary: $7.3 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Saints will re-sign him.
This will depend on the free-agent market for Bridgewater. If a good enough team offers him great money to become a starter, he'll probably have to take the money and leave New Orleans. But Bridgewater proved last year -- when he signed a one-year deal to return to the Saints -- that he is willing to be patient and not just jump on any opportunity to start. New Orleans' offense is a great fit for Bridgewater, and the possibility of becoming Drew Brees' long-term successor is worth waiting for. -- Mike Triplett
8. Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans
2019 salary: $20.9 million | Age: 26
Prediction: The Titans will let him walk and enter free agency.
The marriage between Mariota and the Titans has run its course. A change of scenery will be best for both parties after they failed each other in Mariota's five years in Tennessee. The Titans don't have to start over because veteran Ryan Tannehill is capable of at the very least serving as a bridge starter if they decide to draft a young quarterback to develop. Tennessee is projected to have the 15th pick in the 2020 draft. -- Turron Davenport
9. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2019 salary: $20.9 million | Age: 26
Prediction: The Bucs will use the franchise tag to bring him back.
Winston has struggled in Bruce Arians' offense, throwing 14 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions this season, but he also delivered two of his best career performances against the Giants and Rams. Arians has insisted on multiple occasions that some of Winston's interceptions aren't on the former No. 1 overall pick and the offense has to play better around him. Still, the Bucs aren't completely sold on Winston as the future of the franchise. The next nine games will be telling. -- Jenna Laine
10. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Seattle Seahawks
2019 salary: $8.9 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Seahawks will re-sign him.
This is a tough call because the Seahawks agreed to not use the franchise tag on Clowney after the season, meaning they won't have the tag as a last resort, nor will they have the leverage in negotiations that the tag creates. Clowney has been much more productive in 2019 than his two total sacks suggest. He's second in the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate and has been making enough impact plays -- including a pick-six -- to justify a contract in the Frank Clark/DeMarcus Lawrence neighborhood of $21 million per season. The prediction here is that general manager John Schneider, who worked his tail off to trade for Clowney, finds a way to keep him. -- Brady Henderson
11. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
2019 salary: $15.1 million | Age: 32
Prediction: The Bengals will re-sign him.
The lack of urgency from both sides before the trade deadline indicates the Bengals and Green feel good about a long-term partnership. The team believes having Green on the roster outweighs the benefits of a trade that involves draft picks that could help retool its roster. Given the front office's history, don't be shocked if Green receives a lucrative deal despite his injury history. -- Ben Baby
12. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys
2019 salary: $13.9 million | Age: 26
Prediction: The Cowboys will re-sign him.
If there is not an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, the Cowboys can use the franchise and transition tags on Dak Prescott and/or Cooper. They did not give up a 2019 first-rounder to Oakland to have Cooper for just 25 regular-season games. Expect Dallas to get something done that will make Cooper among the NFL's highest-paid receivers. -- Todd Archer
13. Byron Jones, CB, Dallas Cowboys
2019 salary: $6.3 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Cowboys will let him walk and enter free agency.
The Cowboys will try to keep the 2015 first-round pick, but they might not be able to after they spent huge money signing Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarcus Lawrence, La'el Collins and Jaylon Smith to extensions and are trying to work out long-term deals for Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper. Cornerbacks can do well in free agency and Jones could find a suitor that can pay more than Dallas, even if he has said he owes his career to passing game coordinator Kris Richard. The Cowboys' spending spree has to end somewhere. -- Todd Archer
14. Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
2019 salary: $1.9 million | Age: 26
Prediction: The Chiefs will use the franchise tag to bring him back.
The sides weren't close to an agreement during last offseason, when Jones held out before reporting to training camp. But the former second-round pick is too good for the Chiefs to let him walk away without compensation. A trade is a possibility after Jones is tagged. -- Adam Teicher
15. Trae Waynes, CB, Minnesota Vikings
2019 salary: $9.1 million | Age: 28
Prediction: The Vikings will let him walk and enter free agency.
The Vikings have a complicated cap situation in 2020 and a handful of decisions to make with their secondary. Both Waynes and slot corner Mackensie Alexander are set to hit free agency, and the likelihood that Minnesota will be able to keep both is slim. The Vikings have fielded interest about Waynes this year -- during free agency, the draft and before the trade deadline -- and didn't trade him, so it's clear how Mike Zimmer feels about the cornerback's presence in his defense.
Given the way things are trending for Waynes, however, it's possible that he prices himself out of what the Vikings would be able to pay him and makes big dollars on his second contract elsewhere. And that's OK for the long-term health of this defense. The Vikings have a succession plan in place with 2018 first-round pick Mike Hughes and second-year corner Holton Hill and might be able to keep Alexander as the nickel corner. They also could add another cornerback with one of their top picks in the 2020 draft. -- Courtney Cronin
16. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Indianapolis Colts
2019 salary: $11.1 million | Age: 32
Prediction: The Colts will re-sign him.
Castonzo, the second-longest-tenured Colt behind kicker Adam Vinatieri, has started all 123 games he has played during his career. The only concern about the left tackle is that he'll be 32 at the start of next season. What Castonzo has in his favor, though, is he's still a talented player and the Colts have started the same five offensive linemen, who have formed one of the top units in the NFL, since Week 7 of the 2018 season. -- Mike Wells
17. Marcus Peters, CB, Baltimore Ravens
2019 salary: $5.9 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Ravens will re-sign him.
The Ravens, who traded for Peters before the deadline, have been noncommittal about his future, but it's difficult to see them letting him walk if he produces like he did in his one game with the team, when he had a pick-six. He is a playmaker, which is something Baltimore has lacked at cornerback in recent years. There is obviously some risk involved here because of his reputation for being a disruptive player in the locker room. But cornerback would be a priority this offseason if Baltimore parts ways with veterans Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr. The Ravens would have a top-notch cornerback tandem if they pair Peters with Marlon Humphrey long term. Baltimore has a long history of investing at cornerback. -- Jamison Hensley
18. Chris Harris Jr., CB, Denver Broncos
2019 salary: $11.9 million | Age: 31
Prediction: The Broncos will let him walk and enter free agency.
It's clear that coach Vic Fangio likes Harris on his defense, as Harris has consistently matched up with opponents' best receivers. Fangio has gone as far as to say "our good player against their good player" to describe the strategy, which constitutes the highest of praise for all involved. But the Broncos and Harris did the holdout/contract dance before this season, and he did not get a long-term deal. This will be a matter of how the Broncos' checkbook looks at the end of the season, and he could get bigger offers elsewhere. -- Jeff Legwold
19. Hunter Henry, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
2019 salary: $2 million | Age: 25
Prediction: The Chargers will re-sign him.
The heir apparent to Antonio Gates, Henry has shown that he's a complete tight end -- when healthy -- and a foundational player the Chargers want to build around long term. The problem has been that he has had trouble staying on the field, missing 24 games over four NFL seasons. The prediction here is that the team will find a way to bring back the 2016 second-round pick. -- Eric D. Williams
20. Shaquil Barrett, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2019 salary: $4 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Bucs will re-sign him.
With Jason Pierre-Paul off the books next year -- he restructured his contract, making him a free agent -- the Bucs are projected to have the most cap space in the league, according to Roster Management System, with more than $84 million to spend. That will help the team in bringing back Barrett, who has starred in his first season in Tampa with 10 sacks in seven games. The Bucs can't let a 26-year-old pass-rusher entering his prime walk. -- Jenna Laine
21. Leonard Williams, DT, New York Giants
2019 salary: $14.2 million | Age: 26
Prediction: The Giants will re-sign him.
The 2-6 Giants just traded assets to acquire Williams. This essentially gives them a head start and a sneak peek at the former Jets defensive lineman in a new environment and different system. The problem is that Williams is going to be costly -- likely in excess of $10 million per year -- and the Giants have to quickly decide if he's worth it. If he's not or the two sides can't work out a deal, they did negotiate this into the trade compensation with the Jets, and losing Williams would count toward the compensatory picks formula for the following year. But these are just contingencies. The Giants would like to re-sign the 2015 first-round pick. -- Jordan Raanan
22. Jarran Reed, DT, Seattle Seahawks
2019 salary: $1.2 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Seahawks will use the franchise tag to bring him back.
This is a similarly tough call as Clowney but for a different reason: Reed missed the first six games while serving a suspension, meaning he'll likely head toward free agency with numbers that don't come close to last year's 10.5-sack season. That could lead to a disagreement over his value even though the Seahawks love Reed the player and Reed the person. The danger there is that he might balk at the tag the way Frank Clark did last year when he stayed away from the team before his trade to Kansas City. -- Brady Henderson
23. Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
2019 salary: $4.6 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Chargers will let him walk and enter free agency.
Gordon staged an unsuccessful, two-month holdout and turned down a contract extension that would have paid him $10 million annually. Former undrafted free agent Austin Ekeler has shown he can be a productive replacement for Gordon, as has Justin Jackson when he's healthy. Gordon probably will have to look elsewhere for a lucrative contract in 2020. -- Eric D. Williams
24. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, San Francisco 49ers
2019 salary: $6 million | Age: 33
Prediction: The 49ers will let him walk and enter free agency.
Sanders, who was traded from Denver to San Francisco before the deadline, has said that money won't be the primary factor in where he lands in the offseason and that a chance to win more championships will be the top priority. The Niners could offer a chance to win big, but they also have other important pieces they want to sign long term this offseason, such as George Kittle, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward. If Sanders plays well, the Niners could try to bring him back, but that might also drive his price beyond their budget. -- Nick Wagoner
25. Bud Dupree, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
2019 salary: $9.2 million | Age: 27
Prediction: The Steelers will re-sign him.
The Steelers opted to exercise the fifth-year option on the former first-round pick, and paid him the full $9.2 million instead of restructuring his deal. Dupree underperformed in his first four seasons compared to his college numbers, but he's in the middle of his best season yet. With four sacks through seven games, he's outpacing his 2017 six-sack season and has given the team plenty of reasons to believe in him. Dupree is an athletic, complementary player to fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt, but beyond that, the outside linebacker depth is shaky. Retaining Dupree at a reasonable cost gives that position some depth and stability going into the final two years of Watt's contract -- assuming the Steelers pick up his fifth-year option. -- Brooke Pryor