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An early look at the upcoming free agent class

With the regular season winding down, pro personnel departments are getting final looks at players who will become unrestricted free agents, paying special attention to offensive linemen. The arrival of the expansion Houston Texans compounds the competition, since they will be anxious to find people to protect whoever they find to play quarterback.

Tarik Glenn of the Colts looks like the best candidate from a group of left tackles. With the Colts not going to the playoffs, Glenn's performance in this game will be under a microscope.

Jason Fabini of the Jets isn't the athlete Glenn is, and he's two years older at 27, but he is productive and is a competitor. Fabini probably won't command the salary Glenn will, which makes him even more attractive.

The third big blocker in this mix is Flozell Adams from the Cowboys. The biggest of the three at 6-foot-7, 335 pounds, Adams hasn't always played as well as the other two. But teams know the Cowboys will spend their money elsewhere and Adams could be the best available by the time free agency starts.

There were several scouts at the Giants-Seahawks game to watch Seattle's right tackle, Todd Weiner, go up against Michael Strahan. As one scout told me, "Seattle has a lot of money tied up in left tackle Walter Jones and may not be able to afford Todd, so I'm here to take a long look."

After Strahan had five tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the Giants' win, I asked that scout how Weiner graded out. "Not bad," he said. "He could play for us, if the price is right."

That will be the name of the game for everybody in the coming months. Whether teams are preparing for the playoffs or about to fire their head coach, they're already assessing talent to be ready for the puzzle free agency will present.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustratred.

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