NFC game plans for free agency

Chris Canty is as good as gone in Dallas and will make a nice free-agency prize for a team in need of an impact defensive end. Greg Nelson/SI

The 2009 NFL season officially begins Friday at 12:01 a.m. when free agency opens. What follows is a rundown of the game plans for every NFC team heading into free agency and the draft. For the AFC teams, click here.

NFC East

DALLAS: Those Ray Lewis-to-Dallas rumors haven't completely died off, even though Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said over the weekend he'd be surprised if the team made a headline signing in free agency. The Cowboys top priority is working out a long-term extension with All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who's entering the final season of his contract and just led the league in sacks with 20.

Another key piece in the Cowboys' 3-4 defense, end Chris Canty, is almost assured of leaving, given he's in position to command about $8 million per year and Dallas has made no real attempt to retain him. His suitors are expected to include Washington, Miami, Denver, San Francisco, Tennessee and Seattle.

The Cowboys have roughly $12 million in salary cap room, and that number will grow if they release veteran backup quarterback Brad Johnson and safety Roy Williams, both distinct possibilities. Veteran quarterbacks who might be on Dallas' radar screen include Chris Simms, J.P. Losman and Kyle Boller.

NEW YORK: The defending division champs cleared their biggest free-agent hurdle on Wednesday when they re-signed franchised running back Brandon Jacobs to a four-year contract worth up to $25 million. But they've still got a 1,000-yard rusher in the market in Derrick Ward, who's seeking starter's money and the chance to be someone's No. 1 back.

New York's next biggest priority is securing a lead receiver capable of drawing the double team should Plaxico Burress not be available in 2009 due to his legal troubles. With veteran Amani Toomer also being allowed to test the market, the Giants might be looking for a pair of starting receivers. Safety is the other key position for New York, because James Butler is unrestricted and could draw interest.

The Giants haven't made much of a free-agent splash the last couple of years, but if they're active this year, the likely targets will be receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and/or Nate Washington. Keep in mind, young No. 2 receivers are not in short supply in New York, with Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Domenik Hixon on the roster.

PHILADELPHIA: The Eagles have the needs and the financial wherewithal (at least $30 million of cap room) to be major players in free agency, but that doesn't necessarily assure them of going that route. They could use a running back to lighten the load of Brian Westbrook, and Giants veteran Derrick Ward is an intriguing option who would pay the added benefit of weakening a division rival. They could use a receiver (when have they not been able to say that?), and there sits T.J. Houshmandzadeh for the taking. They could use some youth on the offensive line, and Baltimore center/guard Jason Brown might afford them the ability to shift things around up front.

But the Eagles tend to be cautious in free agency, even though last year they spent big in signing cornerback Asante Samuel to a market-setting deal. They'll make some moves, but probably not any real splashes. The Eagles want to keep left offensive tackle Tra Thomas, and will probably get something done soon with him. Right tackle Jon Runyan could be back as well, although his situation won't be known until his recovery from right knee surgery progresses further.

Safety Brian Dawkins is the most tenured Eagle, and while he's unrestricted for the time being, most observers believe he'll stay in green for the remainder of his career. That's not the case for tight end L.J. Smith, and possibly running back Correll Buckhalter, both of whom are being allowed to freely test the market.

WASHINGTON: You knew the Redskins couldn't go quiet during free agency for two years in a row. It's just not in their DNA. Washington has big plans this season, and has been furiously working in recent weeks to create some cap room to execute them. Whether or not the Redskins have created enough to land the biggest prize of all -- Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth -- remains to be seen.

Haynesworth's contract will dwarf all others this year, and figures to include more than $30 million guaranteed with an average salary of something in the range of $15 million per year. If Washington can't swing that, look for the Redskins to quickly pursue their backup plan on the defensive line: Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty, who attended Virginia and will probably cost the Redskins about half of Haynesworth's price tag.

The Redskins also have prioritized the re-signing of cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who came to them in midseason and played well after his release in Oakland. He's expected to seek in the range of $15 million guaranteed from Washington, and it's hard to fathom how the Redskins could secure both him and Haynesworth and still have any money left over to address an offensive line that's desperate for help at tackle. Veteran cornerback Shawn Springs could be released if Hall is re-signed.

NFC North

CHICAGO: Stop us if you've heard this one before, but the Bears, like the rest of the NFC North, aren't going to be big players in free agency. As much as Chicago might need a receiver who can generate a little instant offense, the Bears aren't expected to be in the chase for T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Washington or any other big-name pass-catcher who might be available via trade (Anquan Boldin). Chicago's experience with free-agent receivers has been dismal (see Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd last year) and the Bears aren't eager to repeat it.

Chicago's priority at the moment is re-signing offensive tackle John St. Clair, who is expected to take over the role vacated by the retiring John Tait, a development the Bears really didn't see coming. The Bears also have depth needs at safety and cornerback, but don't look for them to spend much of their estimated $30 million of cap room (is every team in the league $30 million under the cap?) on adding name players to those positions.

Lastly, the quarterback slot is always topical in Chicago. But with Kyle Orton the unquestioned starter, Rex Grossman on his way out of town, and Brett Basanez and Caleb Hanie set to compete for the No. 2 job, it doesn't sound as if the Bears will be in pursuit of a Byron Leftwich, Chris Simms, Jeff Garcia or J.P. Losman any time soon.

DETROIT: My hunch is that despite new head coach Jim Schwartz's obvious ties with Albert Haynesworth, dating to their years together in Tennessee, the Lions simply won't be a major player in the quest for the market's top free agent. Detroit has too many needs to invest so heavily in one player, and the Lions have talked in recent days of targeting the mid-level free agent crop in an effort to quickly plug as many holes as possible. That probably means you can cross the Lions off the list of teams interested in talking about a Matt Cassel trade with New England as well. Detroit looks to be going for the bang-for-the-buck approach in free agency, rather than the big-name splash.

With Rudi Johnson being allowed to leave, the Lions could use another option in the backfield behind Kevin Smith. The market includes veteran running back options like Warrick Dunn, Fred Taylor, Deuce McAllister, J.J. Arrington and Correll Buckhalter. Of that group, the latter two would be preferable, given that they're still relatively young and used to playing supporting roles.

On defense, there are needs everywhere, so look for Schwartz and his staff to raid their former teams of solid mid-level players. Jacksonville linebacker Mike Peterson could be a target (new Lions personnel executive James Harris had him with the Jaguars) and Titans secondary members such as cornerbacks Chris Carr and Eric King, and safety Vince Fuller are all on the market.

GREEN BAY: Packers general manager Ted Thompson and free agency perennially go together like oil and water, and this year figures to be no great exception. In switching from a 4-3 to new coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 defensive scheme, the Packers could be on the lookout for more options at outside linebacker. But despite Green Bay having about $30 million of salary cap room to work with, the market is rather thin there unless the Packers work their way into the sweepstakes for either Baltimore's Bart Scott (not likely) or Dallas' Chris Canty (who would have to make the move from 3-4 end to linebacker).

The second tier of free-agent outside linebackers consists of Cleveland's Andra Davis, Jacksonville's Mike Peterson, and San Francisco's Ronald Fields, and wouldn't provide much in the way of headline acquisitions.

Green Bay is expected to spend most of its energy on locking up its own players who are eligible for free agency after 2009. That group includes receiver Greg Jennings, safety Nick Collins, defensive end-turned-linebacker Aaron Kampman, defensive linemen Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly and offensive linemen Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz. Of Green Bay's three significant unrestricted free agents, the Packers would like to re-sign right offensive tackle Mark Tauscher and reserve defensive tackle Colin Cole.

MINNESOTA: Because they've finally returned to the ranks of playoff teams in the NFC, the Vikings can be more judicious in their approach to free agency this year. There won't be any splurge like last year's $60 million of guaranteed deals to Jared Allen, Bernard Berrian and Madieu Williams. With an estimated $32 million of cap room to work with, Minnesota can still spend on roster improvements, but the needs aren't as glaring.

Getting a veteran backup quarterback to compete with Tarvaris Jackson has all been accomplished with the trade for Houston's Sage Rosenfels, a deal that will go down as soon as free agency opens. That leaves center, offensive right tackle, defensive line and maybe cornerback as positions the Vikings still need to bolster. At center, Minnesota still might re-sign Matt Birk, thereby signaling that it doesn't expect to be a major player for Baltimore's Jason Brown.

The pickings at right tackle are slim, but Vikings coach Brad Childress knows Tra Thomas from his years in Philly, and Jacksonville's Khalif Barnes and Green Bay's Mark Tauscher are two more veteran options. Minnesota will let safety Darren Sharper and linebacker Heath Farwell walk away without a fight, but it's expected that veteran tight end Jimmy Kleinsasser will elicit an offer from the Vikings.