Eric Christian Smith/AP
Tyrann Mathieu is one of several defensive stars to hit free agency this year.
- NFL free agency begins March 11.
- The top NFL free agents this year are overwhelmingly defensive players, with only a few big-name offensive players.
- Only six players were given the franchise tag by their teams, meaning several talented players will hit the open market.
NFL free agency is nearly upon us, with teams allowed to talk opposing players beginning on March 11.
The deadline for teams to hit their players with the franchise tags has passed, with only six players receiving the exclusive, one-year deals and several other star players primed to hit the open market.
This year's class of free agents is heavy on defensive difference-makers and light on offensive weapons. In an era of exploding offenses, perhaps teams should spend big on the best defensive talent they can find. This year's free agent class has plenty of it.
Take a look below at the top NFL free agents in 2019:
* Denotes a player signed to the franchise tag