Trent Williams

Teams can negotiate with free agents from Monday, and franchises will be able to announce signings from Wednesday when the new league year begins.

The drop in salary cap, which is set at $182.5million, means many teams will have limited financial means with which to pursue their potential targets.

Yet there is a select group of players that will be able to command top dollar regardless of the economic challenges the coronavirus has presented.

Here we look at some of the players in that category by ranking the top 10 players set to hit the open market.

1. Shaquil Barrett - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the Buccaneers franchising wide receiver Chris Godwin, Barrett is set to hit the open market and will earn a long overdue payday. Pivotal to Tampa's success in Super Bowl LV, only T.J. Watt (29.5) has more sacks over the last two seasons than Barrett's 27.5.

2. Trent Williams - San Francisco 49ers

It is extremely rare for left tackles of Williams' calibre to hit free agency. Williams would not be doing so had the Niners agreed not to franchise tag him. There have been positive noises about him re-signing with San Francisco, but Williams will likely command over $20million a year. He has not allowed more than 3.5 sacks since the 2014 season when he gave up six.

3. Kenny Golladay - Detroit Lions

Golladay was not franchised by the Lions following an injury-hit 2020, but that should not cloud what he did in his first three years in the league. One of the league's top big-play threats, Golladay's 33 receptions of 25 yards or more ranked fifth in the NFL between 2017 and 2019.

4. Aaron Jones - Green Bay Packers

That the Packers elected not to pay Jones $8million for one season on the franchise tag is not reflective of the running back's tremendous skill set. He has 43 touchdowns from scrimmage since entering the league in 2017, the eighth-most in the NFL in that time.

5. Carl Lawson - Cincinnati Bengals

One of the most underrated pass rushers on the market, the sack numbers have not quite been there for Lawson. He had only 5.5 last season but was tied-ninth in the NFL in hurries and knockdowns with 65.5. Lawson should flourish playing on a superior defense to that of Cincinnati.

6. Joe Thuney - New England Patriots

Franchised last year, Thuney could become the league's highest-paid guard and deservedly so. The picture of reliability, he has allowed just 1.5 sacks over the past three seasons in New England, playing in every regular season game.

7. Bud Dupree - Pittsburgh Steelers

Dupree has 19.5 sacks in the last two seasons, but his free agency value will be hurt by the torn ACL that brought his 2020 to a premature end. He has shown a nose for the football during his surge in production, Dupree's six forced fumbles from 2019-20 the fourth-highest total in that span.

8. Corey Linsley - Green Bay Packers

Linsley's pending free agency may have influenced the Packers' decision not to franchise Jones. They will surely make effort to bring the center back, Linsley having allowed one sack this season. For the second time in three seasons, he did not commit a single holding penalty and played a pivotal role in a rushing attack that finished eighth in yards per game.

9. Trey Hendrickson - New Orleans Saints

Hendrickson enjoyed a breakout year for a Saints team mired in salary cap hell. He won't be back in New Orleans, but should have no shortage of suitors at the age of 26 after finishing tied-second in the NFL with 13.5 sacks. 

10. Curtis Samuel - Carolina Panthers

Samuel perfectly fits an era where there is an increasing emphasis on wide receivers who can operate out of the backfield. He was second in rushing yards among wideouts with 200 and finished the year 11th in scrimmage yards per touch (8.9).

Left tackle Williams did the damage when he was blocking Broncos defensive end Bradley Chubb during the third quarter and Denver defensive lineman D.J. Jones fell across his right leg.

On the same play, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo stepped out of the end zone for an ultimately costly safety.

Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed after the game nine-time Pro Bowler Williams, who was replaced by Jaylon Moore, was likely to have sustained a high right ankle sprain.

Right tackle McGlinchey said: "[Trent is] as important to our football team as anybody is. Colton [McKivitz] stepped up, and he's had an unbelievable last year and some change, and he's ready for that.

"Jaylon Moore is capable of playing in that role. We have guys to fill the spot, which is a good thing; but obviously, it's impossible to replace a Trent Williams, and that hurts our football team, for sure."

Garoppolo said: "It's tough. Trent's a warrior. Hopefully, he bounces back fast, but it's always tough when you lose a guy like that, especially the leadership that he brings to this team.

"The poise and everything that he brings, it will be tough to replace that. But we've got to."

Shanahan felt the 49ers could have no complaints after a loss at Empower Field at Mile High that left them at 1-2 early in the season.

"We had our opportunities, but we definitely didn't do enough offensively in the second half," he said.

"I thought we made way too many mistakes. We had our opportunities in the first half, where I thought we should have been a lot more than we were.

"We missed those. Came back in the second half and I thought the defense kept it going, offense had a chance early and started out with a fumbled snap, then we never got it going after that."

It is the first time a selection has been made exclusively by players, with the most recognised All-Pro team being the one generated by votes from NFL writers and broadcasters, organised by the Associated Press.

NFLPA president J.C. Tretter issued a statement on Tuesday outlining why he felt it was important for players to have their say.

"For the first time ever, NFL players are honouring the best in the game by naming our Players' All-Pro team," he said. "Every active NFL player had the opportunity to cast their vote to decide who is really the best at each position.

"We compete against each other all season long, watching hours and hours of film week after week after week, and yet we have never had an opportunity to truly use our expertise to select the best of us.

"We think it is important that players take the time to define ourselves, because so far, we have allowed everyone else to either pick or dilute our voices."

The team was unveiled on Wednesday, with selections including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Mahomes, Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, and his team-mate Davante Adams and Minnesota Vikings' star Jefferson as wide receivers.

The Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers were the best represented teams, with four players each.

2022 Players' All-Pro Team – Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Running back: Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders), Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco 49ers), Wide receivers: Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders), Tight end: Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs), Left tackle: Trent Williams (San Francisco 49ers), Left guard: Joel Bitonio (Cleveland Browns), Center: Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles), Right guard: Zack Martin (Dallas Cowboys), Right tackle: Lane Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles), Edge rushers: Nick Bosa (San Francisco 49ers), Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns), Interior defensive linemen: Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs), Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams), Nose tackle: Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants), Off-ball linebackers: Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers), Roquan Smith (Baltimore Ravens), Cornerbacks: Pat Surtain II (Denver Broncos), Darius Slay (Philadelphia Eagles), Free safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh Steelers), Strong safety: Derwin James Jr (Los Angeles Chargers), Kick returner: Cordarrelle Patterson (Atlanta Falcons), Punt returner: KaVontae Turpin (Dallas Cowboys), Core teamers: Jeremy Reaves (Washington Commanders), Justin Hardee (New York Jets), Kicker: Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks), Punter: Tommy Townsend (Kansas City Chiefs), Long snapper: Morgan Cox (Tennessee Titans).

Left tackle Williams was traded to the Niners from the Washington Redskins on Saturday.

The arrival of Williams, who is in the last year of his contract, came on the same day in which Joe Staley announced his retirement after 13 seasons with San Francisco.

Williams did not feature in the NFL last year due to a dispute with the Redskins, who received a fifth-round pick in this season's draft and a third-round pick in 2021.

The Niners, beaten by the Kansas Chiefs in the Super Bowl in February, are excited to have landed Williams but are in no hurry to tie the 31-year-old down to a long-term contract.

Lynch said: "I think the plan was to land him right now and then let the rest kind of work itself out.

"I think it's always an advantage when you get someone in the building, on your roster. Now you've got a chance.

"We'll get a really good look at him. We'll see where the rest of our team is at, but right now we are just ecstatic that we were able to pull it off at a really opportune time.

"You're losing a great player like Joe at a very critical position, to be able to have everything line up that he was available right then and for us to be able to land him, I think very fortuitous for us, and we're very excited about that."

The 49ers executed three trades on Saturday, highlighted by the acquisition of disgruntled left tackle and seven-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams from the Washington Redskins, giving up a fifth-round pick this season and a third-round selection in 2021.

Williams will take the place of Joe Staley, who announced his retirement after a 13-year career in San Francisco that included six Pro Bowls.  

The 49ers also traded running back Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins for a fifth-round pick and sent wide receiver Marquise Goodwin to the Philadelphia Eagles while swapping picks in the sixth round.   

The Eagles entered the draft on a mission to improve a receiving corps that was historically impotent last season. In addition to trading for Goodwin, Philadelphia spent first-, fifth- and sixth-round picks on wide receivers, including Boise State's John Hightower and Southern Mississippi's Quez Watkins on Saturday.   

Quarterback selections played a prominent role again as the Indianapolis Colts used their fourth-round pick – 122nd overall – on Washington quarterback Jacob Eason.

The 6-foot-6 signal-caller began his career at Georgia but transferred to his home state of Washington and may be Indianapolis' quarterback of the future.   

The player who replaced Eason at Georgia, Jake Fromm, had to wait until the 22nd pick of the fifth round to hear his name called by the Buffalo Bills.    

The New York Jets selected a quarterback in the fourth round, grabbing Florida International's James Morgan, and Oregon State's Jake Luton, another 6-foot-6 quarterback, fell to the sixth round and the Jacksonville Jaguars.  

Four more quarterbacks were taken in the seventh round, but one team that did not select a QB all weekend was the New England Patriots.   

Despite the departure of Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason, the Patriots passed on adding a rookie at the position, leaving journeyman Brian Hoyer and second-year Auburn product Jarrett Stidham as the only quarterbacks on the New England roster.   

The Patriots, however, did draft a replacement for a franchise legend in the fifth round by selecting Marshall kicker Justin Rohrwasser, who will take the place of franchise scoring leader Stephen Gostkowski.   

The Carolina Panthers and new head coach Matt Rhule used all seven of their picks on defensive players, tying the 1985 Cleveland Browns for most picks on one side of the ball. The Browns used all seven picks on offense.  

National champion LSU had the most players selected with 14, tied with Ohio State in 2004 for the most by any single school in a seven-round draft. 

Star left tackle Williams did not make an appearance in 2019 due to a dispute with the Redskins, who received a fifth-round pick in this season's draft and a third-round pick in 2021 from the Niners.

Beaten in the Super Bowl in February, San Francisco were in need of defensive reinforcements and reportedly saw off competition from the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns to secure Williams' services.

The Vikings, according to reports, had been in line to commit to a similar deal as the Niners, but 31-year-old Williams – a seven-time Pro Bowler – preferred a move to San Francisco.

Williams leaves the Redskins after nine years with the team, having made 119 starts.

On Saturday, he posted on his Instagram account: "Can someone make me a San Fran edit."

San Francisco later confirmed the deal was complete, pending Williams passing physical tests.

Washington selected tackle Saahdiq Charles from LCU as Williams' replacement, with the 108th pick overall.

In a move confirmed by his agent to NFL Network, Williams has become the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league's history.

The contract includes $55m in fully guaranteed money and a $30m signing bonus, tying the 32-year-old to the Niners through the 2026 season.

Williams produced a fantastic season after joining San Francisco in 2020, 10 years with Washington having ended with a public fallout in 2019.

He was a first-team All-Pro selection and was named to his eighth Pro Bowl, justifying the Niners' decision to trade third and fifth-round draft picks for him.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears reportedly pursued Williams heavily once free agency opened.

But the tackle was always keen to stay with the Niners and they have found a way to keep him, albeit breaking the bank to do so.

The 49ers are also poised to confirm the signing of center Alex Mack, who was most recently with the Atlanta Falcons, in another move on the offensive line.

Williams was traded to the 49ers from the Washington Redskins last week and will be a key veteran presence on a team that was beaten by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV in February.

In moving to the Bay Area, he has become team-mates with cornerback Sherman, who Williams punched in the face after the Redskins' playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks in January 2013.

Any fears that bad blood could still exist between the pair appeared to be assuaged when the two made light of their spat on Twitter, and Williams has revealed the matter was quickly put to bed at the time.

"Well, a lot of people don't know this, but me and Sherm, we talked that night after that incident, and we kind of buried the hatchet then," Williams explained on a conference call.

"So we've, since then, built a good relationship over the past seven years.

"You know he's one of the guys I talk to a lot in the offseason, seen him a few times, so we've been good friends for a minute.

"I'm kind of happy to be on a team with him."

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was on Washington's coaching staff when Williams was drafted by the Redskins in 2010.

Williams, who did not play for Washington last season due to a dispute, explained San Francisco was his ideal landing spot, and reiterated he had not refused to be traded to the Minnesota Vikings, as one report claimed.

"This was a preferred destination of mine just because of the familiarity I have with Kyle and the offense," he added.

"Obviously, it being an ascending team, I feel like I'll fit right in.

"The Vikings, long term, and what I looked at long term, it didn't synch up.

"They just really dropped out. It wasn't me refusing to go."

Gordon atoned for two fumbles with a one-yard touchdown run with 4:10 remaining, capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive for the Broncos' only TD of the game.

Denver QB Russell Wilson completed 20 of 33 attempts for 184 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, with a dart to Kendall Hilton in the game-winning drive. The Broncos went three-and-out nine times, yet still won to improve to 2-1.

Kareem Jackson recovered Jeff Wilson Jr's fumble with 1:05 to secure the victory as 49ers stand-in QB Jimmy Garoppolo tried to drive his side within field-goal range.

Garoppolo, making his first start of the season with Trey Lance out with a season-ending ankle injury, had one touchdown pass on 18-for-29 passing for 211 yards, with one interception. He also gave away a self-inflicted safety in the third quarter, helping the Broncos cut the deficit to 7-5.

The 49ers, who lost left tackle Trent Williams to an ankle injury, had gone ahead in the first quarter when Garoppolo found Brandon Aiyuk with a three-yard strike.

Robbie Gould's fourth-quarter field goal padded the 49ers lead out to 10-5, but Wilson was clutch late, leading to Gordon's TD.