This upcoming free-agent period is likely to be uncapped unless owners and players can strike a deal on a new labor agreement before March 5. An uncapped year will free teams to work without a salary cap, which could potentially allow certain teams to load up on stars.
The Patriots' class is certainly full of stars, headed by tackle Vince Wilfork, who is expected to be designated with the franchise tag — a transaction that will certainly cause Wilfork displeasure.
Additional top names include cornerback Leigh Bodden, who wants to return to town — but without a hometown discount. Bodden had a resurgent season for the Patriots after seeing his stock drop while with the Lions.
Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain and longtime Patriot jack-of-all-trades Kevin Faulk also are set to be unrestricted free agents, although both are expected to return.
Derrick Burgess, who came over from the Oakland Raiders prior to the beginning of the season, joins defensive end Jarvis Green, guard Steve Neal, punter Chris Hanson and tight end Benjamin Watson as potential free agents. While all four could certainly return, the expectation is that none of them will.
Inside linebacker Junior Seau also is bound for free agency, but has made it clear he is retiring after spending parts of the last four seasons with the Patriots.
Notable players on the way to being unrestricted free agents include inside linebacker Karlos Dansby of the Cardinals, safety Darren Sharper of the Saints, linebacker Gary Brackett of the Colts, wide receiver Terrell Owens of the Bills, defensive end Richard Seymour (who was traded from the Patriots to Oakland in a shocking maneuver just as training camp started last season) and defensive end Julius Peppers of the Panthers. Peppers has been linked to the Patriots extensively. (Jeff Howe ran down potential free-agent targets for the Patriots, with Peppers on the list.)
What follows is the complete list of 235 veterans who could become unrestricted free agents. They all have at least six NFL seasons and contracts due to expire.
| Seasons | Club | Player | Pos | Starts | Current Agent* |
| 10 | ARZ | Becht, Anthony | TE | 10 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 9 | ARZ | Beisel, Monty | ILB | 0 | Price, Charles A. |
| 12 | ARZ | Berry, Bert | OLB | 5 | Flanagan, Anthony Emerson |
| 7 | ARZ | Bridges, Jeremy | G | 4 | Cook, James A. |
| 10 | ARZ | Brown, Ralph | CB | 1 | Capra, Patrick |
| 6 | ARZ | Dansby, Karlos | ILB | 16 | France, Todd E. |
| 9 | ARZ | Gandy, Mike | T | 12 | Dogra, R.K. Ben |
| 10 | ARZ | Kreider, Dan | FB | 3 | Bauer, Frank |
| 7 | ARZ | Morey, Sean | WR | 0 | Clohisy, Michael B. |
| 11 | ARZ | Okeafor, Chike | OLB | 13 | Simms, Andrew E. |
| 10 | ARZ | Rackers, Neil | K | 0 | Roche, Robert S. |
| 13 | ARZ | Robinson, Bryan | NT | 15 | Bartelstein, Mark |
| 6 | ARZ | St. Pierre, Brian | QB | 0 | Smith, Rick E. |
| 6 | ARZ | Ware, Matt | SS | 1 | Unknown |
| 11 | ATL | Booker, Marty | WR | 1 | Brothers, Raymond |
| 7 | ATL | Gilbert, Tony | MLB | 0 | France, Todd E. |
| 6 | ATL | Haynes, Verron | RB | 2 | Bolar, Robert Terry |
| 7 | ATL | Redman, Chris | QB | 2 | Branion, Joby |
| 11 | ATL | Schneck, Mike | LS | 0 | Sheehy, Paul R. |
| 10 | ATL | Stecker, Aaron | RB | 0 | Slavin, Ronald Benson |
| 8 | ATL | Williams, Brian | CB | 5 | Feagan, Jordan |
| 10 | ATL | Zelenka, Joe | LS | 0 | Sharbaugh, Vern G. |
| 8 | BLT | Bannan, Justin | DT | 2 | Mills, Thomas H. |
| 6 | BLT | Edwards, Dwan | DE | 9 | Bauer, Frank |
| 7 | BLT | Ivy, Corey | CB | 0 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 13 | BLT | Mason, Derrick | WR | 16 | Smith, Lamont |
| 7 | BLT | Smith, L.J. | TE | 0 | Mackler, Brian |
| 7 | BLT | Tyree, David | WR | 0 | Clouser, Mark |
| 7 | BLT | Walker, Frank | CB | 1 | Murtha, Frank J. |
| 7 | BLT | Washington, Kelley | WR | 2 | Speck, Chad |
| 8 | BUF | Denney, Ryan | DE | 0 | Lock, Ethan |
| 11 | BUF | Draft, Chris | OLB | 3 | Strickland, Vernon M. |
| 7 | BUF | Johnson, Todd | SS | 0 | Schaffer, Peter J. |
| 8 | BUF | McKinney, Seth | C | 1 | Cindrich, Ralph E. |
| 14 | BUF | Owens, Terrell | WR | 16 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 8 | BUF | Reed, Josh | WR | 4 | Dogra, R.K. Ben |
| 7 | BUF | Scott, Bryan | SS | 9 | Johnson, Edward G. |
| 8 | BUF | Simmons, Kendall | G | 3 | Metz, Eric |
| 6 | BUF | Stamer, Josh | OLB | 0 | Lattinville, Robert H. |
| 7 | CAR | Brayton, Tyler | DE | 15 | Mills, Thomas H. |
| 9 | CAR | Feeley, A.J. | QB | 0 | Dunn, David L. |
| 8 | CAR | McCown, Josh | QB | 0 | McCartney, Michael S. |
| 14 | CAR | Muhammad, Muhsin | WR | 13 | Segal, Joel G. |
| 8 | CAR | Peppers, Julius | DE | 14 | Carey, Carl Edward |
| 14 | CAR | Thomas, Hollis | DT | 13 | Bauer, Michael R. |
| 9 | CAR | Vincent, Keydrick | G | 16 | Branion, Joby |
| 8 | CAR | Wesley, Dante | CB | 0 | Hicks, Russel V. |
| 6 | CHI | McClover, Darrell | OLB | 0 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 9 | CHI | Ogunleye, Adewale | DE | 14 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 8 | CHI | Peterson, Adrian | RB | 0 | Kremer, Kendall |
| 7 | CHI | Tinoisamoa, Pisa | OLB | 2 | Sullivan, Michael F. |
| 9 | CIN | Graham, Shayne | K | 0 | Dunn, David L. |
| 7 | CIN | Johnson, Jeremi | FB | 8 | Schaffer, Peter J. |
| 6 | CIN | Johnson, Larry | RB | 7 | Schaffer, Peter J. |
| 6 | CIN | Johnson, Tank | DT | 13 | Unknown |
| 11 | CIN | Kelly, Reggie | TE | 0 | Sexton, James E. |
| 10 | CIN | Williams, Bobbie | G | 16 | Agnone, Anthony J. |
| 8 | CIN | Williams, Roy | SS | 4 | Woy, Jordan |
| 7 | CLV | Furrey, Mike | WR | 4 | Unknown |
| 6 | CLV | Gaines, Michael | TE | 7 | Agnone, Anthony J. |
| 6 | CLV | Hadnot, Rex | G | 6 | Rickert, John W. |
| 8 | CLV | Poteat, Hank | CB | 2 | Levy, Brian M. |
| 13 | CLV | Tucker, Ryan | G | 0 | Coletta, Joseph M. |
| 6 | CLV | Yates, Billy | G | 0 | Bass, George A. |
| 7 | DAL | Holland, Montrae | G | 0 | Feinsod, Jonathan |
| 13 | DEN | Berger, Mitch | P | 0 | Dunn, David L. |
| 7 | DEN | Fox, Vernon | SS | 0 | Self |
| 8 | DEN | Gorin, Brandon | T | 1 | Linta, Joseph Michael |
| 8 | DEN | Greisen, Nick | OLB | 0 | Leshnock, Brad |
| 9 | DEN | Hamilton, Ben | G | 8 | Schaffer, Peter J. |
| 9 | DEN | Hochstein, Russ | G | 10 | Linta, Joseph Michael |
| 12 | DEN | Holliday, Vonnie | DE | 3 | Fabrikant, Cary Mark |
| 15 | DEN | Law, Ty | CB | 2 | Poston, Kevin D. |
| 7 | DEN | Lloyd, Brandon | WR | 1 | Humenik, Mark |
| 7 | DET | Ciurciu, Vinny | OLB | 0 | Schaffer, Peter J. |
| 6 | DET | Cook, Damion | G | 0 | Unknown |
| 11 | DET | Culpepper, Daunte | QB | 5 | Self |
| 7 | DET | Fitzsimmons, Casey | TE | 1 | Hoven, J. Daniel |
| 8 | DET | Foote, Larry | MLB | 14 | Levy, Brian M. |
| 7 | DET | Heller, Will | TE | 9 | Williams, Philip C. |
| 9 | DET | Henry, Anthony | CB | 6 | Colton, Jerrold D. |
| 9 | DET | James, William | CB | 14 | Slavin, Ronald Benson |
| 11 | DET | Jansen, Jon | T | 2 | Smith, Rick E. |
| 8 | DET | Manuel, Marquand | SS | 6 | Slavin, Ronald Benson |
| 7 | DET | Ramsey, Patrick | QB | 0 | Sexton, James E. |
| 10 | GB | Clifton, Chad | T | 12 | Sexton, James E. |
| 12 | GB | Green, Ahman | RB | 0 | Branion, Joby |
| 8 | GB | Kampman, Aaron | OLB | 9 | Hurst, Jonathan R |
| 9 | GB | Pickett, Ryan | NT | 9 | McGuire, Kennard |
| 10 | GB | Tauscher, Mark | T | 8 | Cornrich, Neil |
| 7 | HOU | Brown, Chris | RB | 4 | Morgan, Ryan W. |
| 8 | HOU | Campbell, Khary | OLB | 0 | Flanagan, Joseph M. |
| 10 | HOU | Ferguson, Nick | SS | 1 | Reale, John P. |
| 7 | HOU | Grossman, Rex | QB | 0 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 7 | HOU | Pittman, Bryan | LS | 0 | Gold, Kevin |
| 8 | HOU | Pitts, Chester | G | 2 | Kessler, Andrew |
| 10 | HOU | Reyes, Tutan | G | 0 | Kremer, Kendall |
| 6 | HOU | Robinson, Dunta | CB | 16 | Chayut, Jason T. |
| 8 | HOU | Russell, Brian | FS | 1 | Frankel, Mitchell |
| 12 | HOU | Salaam, Ephraim | T | 0 | Branion, Joby |
| 7 | HOU | Thompson, Chaun | OLB | 0 | Mackler, Brian |
| 15 | HOU | Turk, Matt | P | 0 | Canter, David E. |
| 7 | HOU | Walter, Kevin | WR | 14 | Dunn, David L. |
| 16 | HOU | Zgonina, Jeff | NT | 2 | Self |
| 7 | IND | Brackett, Gary | MLB | 14 | Mackler, Brian |
| 20 | IND | Stover, Matt | K | 0 | Steiner, Jim |
| 9 | JAX | Forney, Kynan | G | 0 | Kiernan, Sean E. |
| 9 | JAX | Hayward, Reggie | DE | 1 | Smith, Fletcher N. |
| 6 | JAX | Wilford, Ernest | WR | 7 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 10 | KC | Brown, Mike | SS | 16 | Lock, Ethan |
| 9 | KC | Chambers, Chris | WR | 14 | Dogra, R.K. Ben |
| 6 | KC | Copper, Terrance | WR | 2 | Del Duca, Ronald M. |
| 6 | KC | Ryan, Sean | TE | 8 | Feinsod, Jonathan |
| 7 | KC | Smith, Wade | C | 9 | Parker, Brian D. |
| 13 | KC | Vrabel, Mike | OLB | 14 | Cornrich, Neil |
| 7 | KC | Wade, Bobby | WR | 6 | Stanley, W. Jerome |
| 13 | MIA | Ferguson, Jason | NT | 9 | Sexton, James E. |
| 6 | MIA | Jones, Nathan | CB | 5 | Scott, Everette L. |
| 10 | MIA | Pennington, Chad | QB | 3 | Condon, Thomas J. |
| 13 | MIA | Taylor, Jason | OLB | 15 | Wichard, Gary |
| 8 | MIN | Hicks, Artis | T | 3 | Rickert, John W. |
| 6 | MIN | Kennedy, Jimmy | NT | 1 | Condon, Thomas J. |
| 7 | MIN | Lewis, Greg | WR | 1 | Sarnoff, Kenneth R. |
| 6 | MIN | Sapp, Benny | CB | 7 | Shavers, Alonzo L. |
| 8 | MIN | Taylor, Chester | RB | 0 | Sarnoff, Kenneth R. |
| 7 | NE | Banta-Cain, Tully | OLB | 10 | Unknown |
| 7 | NE | Bodden, Leigh | CB | 14 | Unknown |
| 9 | NE | Burgess, Derrick | OLB | 6 | Sexton, James E. |
| 11 | NE | Faulk, Kevin | RB | 7 | Brothers, Raymond |
| 8 | NE | Green, Jarvis | DE | 12 | Elias, Albert G. |
| 9 | NE | Hanson, Chris | P | 0 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 8 | NE | Neal, Steve | G | 12 | Hurst, Jonathan R |
| 19 | NE | Seau, Junior | ILB | 0 | Demoff, Marvin |
| 6 | NE | Watson, Benjamin | TE | 7 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 6 | NE | Wilfork, Vince | NT | 13 | McGuire, Kennard |
| 17 | NO | Brunell, Mark | QB | 1 | Tollner, Bruce A. |
| 11 | NO | Campbell, Dan | TE | 0 | Roth, Leonard S. |
| 10 | NO | Clancy, Kendrick | NT | 0 | Del Duca, Ronald M. |
| 8 | NO | Dinkins, Darnell | TE | 3 | Benedict, Andrew Read |
| 8 | NO | Fujita, Scott | OLB | 10 | Yee, Donald H. |
| 15 | NO | Kyle, Jason | LS | 0 | Bauer, Frank |
| 6 | NO | Leckey, Nick | C | 0 | Harris, Ken |
| 10 | NO | Miller, Billy | TE | 0 | Poston, Kevin D. |
| 11 | NO | Prioleau, Pierson | SS | 1 | Mackler, Brian |
| 13 | NO | Sharper, Darren | FS | 14 | Segal, Joel G. |
| 9 | NO | Spicer, Paul | DE | 0 | Self |
| 8 | NYG | Carr, David | QB | 0 | Sullivan, Michael F. |
| 10 | NYG | Clark, Danny | OLB | 12 | Branion, Joby |
| 22 | NYG | Feagles, Jeff | P | 0 | Self |
| 10 | NYG | Robbins, Fred | DT | 12 | Mackler, Brian |
| 9 | NYJ | Dearth, James | LS | 0 | Mackler, Brian |
| 9 | NYJ | Douglas, Marques | DT | 12 | Feinsod, Jonathan |
| 9 | NYJ | Feely, Jay | K | 0 | Schwartzman, Glenn A. |
| 6 | NYJ | Fowler, Ryan | ILB | 0 | Herman, Alan |
| 6 | NYJ | Hartsock, Ben | TE | 7 | McCartney, Michael S. |
| 14 | NYJ | Izzo, Larry | ILB | 0 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 15 | NYJ | Richardson, Tony | FB | 10 | Dye, Patrick F. |
| 10 | OAK | Green, Cornell | T | 12 | Williams, Philip C. |
| 7 | OAK | Joseph, William | NT | 0 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 9 | OAK | Seymour, Richard | DE | 16 | Parker, Eugene E. |
| 12 | OAK | Wade, John | C | 0 | Cook, James A. |
| 8 | OAK | Walker, Langston | T | 2 | Dubin, Stephen L. |
| 7 | OAK | Williams, Sam | OLB | 2 | Hoffman, Michael R. |
| 6 | PHI | Babin, Jason | DE | 0 | Rosa, Richard M. |
| 6 | PHI | Jones, Sean | SS | 9 | Mackler, Brian |
| 11 | PHI | Trotter, Jeremiah | MLB | 7 | Woy, Jordan |
| 7 | PHI | White, Tracy | OLB | 0 | Fisher, Jay M. |
| 12 | PIT | Batch, Charlie | QB | 0 | Kremer, Kendall |
| 8 | PIT | Boiman, Rocky | OLB | 0 | Herman, Alan |
| 10 | PIT | Carter, Tyrone | SS | 12 | Bechta, Jack D. |
| 8 | PIT | Clark, Ryan | FS | 15 | Turner, Joel E. |
| 7 | PIT | Eason, Nick | DE | 5 | Wyatt, David S. |
| 14 | PIT | Galloway, Joey | WR | 2 | Trell, Shawn A. |
| 9 | PIT | Hampton, Casey | NT | 16 | Overstreet, Brian E. |
| 13 | PIT | Kirschke, Travis | DE | 7 | Bauer, Frank |
| 6 | PIT | Parker, Willie | RB | 3 | Hendrickson, Douglas J. |
| 8 | PIT | Reed, Jeff | K | 0 | Henderson, Donal A. |
| 12 | PIT | Townsend, Deshea | CB | 2 | Schaffer, Peter J. |
| 9 | SD | Boone, Alfonso | DE | 4 | Domann, Craig E. |
| 9 | SD | Manumaleuna, Brandon | FB | 4 | Sheehy, Paul R. |
| 9 | SD | Norman, Dennis | C | 0 | Blank, Bradley K. |
| 7 | SD | Osgood, Kassim | WR | 1 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 14 | SD | Runyan, Jon | T | 0 | Dogra, R.K. Ben |
| 7 | SD | Scott, Ian | DT | 7 | Metz, Eric |
| 6 | SD | Wilson, Kris | TE | 0 | Smith, Lamont |
| 7 | SEA | Burleson, Nate | WR | 12 | Sarnoff, Kenneth R. |
| 7 | SEA | Griffith, Justin | FB | 11 | McCartney, Michael S. |
| 10 | SEA | Houser, Kevin | LS | 0 | Sharbaugh, Vern G. |
| 7 | SEA | Lewis, D.D. | OLB | 0 | Uberstine, Gary A. |
| 9 | SEA | Lucas, Ken | CB | 6 | Cook, James A. |
| 13 | SEA | Mare, Olindo | K | 0 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 10 | SEA | McIntosh, Damion | T | 2 | Tessler, Brett J. |
| 14 | SEA | Milloy, Lawyer | FS | 1 | France, Todd E. |
| 7 | SEA | Redding, Cory | DE | 3 | McGuire, Kennard |
| 14 | SEA | Robinson, Jeff | LS | 0 | Bauer, Frank |
| 7 | SF | Battle, Arnaz | WR | 0 | Leshnock, Brad |
| 11 | SF | Bly, Dre’ | CB | 6 | McGuire, Kennard |
| 7 | SF | Franklin, Aubrayo | NT | 16 | France, Todd E. |
| 14 | SF | Harris, Walt | CB | 0 | Capra, Patrick |
| 7 | SF | Pashos, Tony | T | 1 | Smith, Rick E. |
| 10 | SF | Roman, Mark | FS | 1 | Elias, Albert G. |
| 11 | SF | Sims, Barry | T | 7 | Vierra, Kenneth F. |
| 10 | SF | Ulbrich, Jeff | ILB | 0 | Flanagan, Joseph M. |
| 7 | SF | Wilhelm, Matt | ILB | 1 | Feldman, Steven C. |
| 7 | STL | Boller, Kyle | QB | 4 | Dunn, David L. |
| 10 | STL | Hall, James | DE | 14 | Condon, Thomas J. |
| 7 | STL | Hart, Clinton | SS | 3 | Self |
| 8 | STL | Lenon, Paris | MLB | 10 | Persch, Jonathan M. |
| 12 | STL | Little, Leonard | DE | 13 | Speck, Chad |
| 8 | STL | Massey, Chris | LS | 0 | DiPiero, Joseph Timothy |
| 8 | STL | McMichael, Randy | TE | 16 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 6 | TB | Allen, Will | FS | 2 | Baratz, Blake Aaron |
| 7 | TB | Bryant, Antonio | WR | 11 | Smith, Lamont |
| 7 | TB | Crowell, Angelo | OLB | 0 | France, Todd E. |
| 8 | TB | Phillips, Jermaine | FS | 2 | Dye, Patrick F. |
| 7 | TB | Wilkerson, Jimmy | DE | 15 | Lewis, Harold C. |
| 7 | TEN | Amato, Ken | LS | 0 | Huebner, Robert E. |
| 10 | TEN | Bulluck, Keith | OLB | 14 | Wichard, Gary |
| 9 | TEN | Crumpler, Alge | TE | 14 | Williams, James D. |
| 9 | TEN | Harper, Nicholas | CB | 11 | Greengross, Ian |
| 16 | TEN | Hentrich, Craig | P | 0 | Demoff, Marvin |
| 7 | TEN | Hood, Roderick | CB | 4 | Segal, Joel G. |
| 9 | TEN | Kaesviharn, Kevin | FS | 0 | Tollner, Bruce A. |
| 11 | TEN | Kearse, Jevon | DE | 4 | Rosenhaus, Drew |
| 16 | TEN | Mawae, Kevin | C | 16 | Bartelstein, Mark |
| 7 | TEN | Nickey, Donnie | SS | 1 | Chilcoat, Jeffrey R. |
| 9 | TEN | Vanden Bosch, Kyle | DE | 16 | Agnone, Anthony J. |
| 15 | WAS | Albright, Ethan | LS | 0 | Conaty, Billy |
| 14 | WAS | Daniels, Phillip | DE | 15 | Unknown |
| 8 | WAS | Jones, Levi | T | 8 | Zuckerman, Kenneth I. |
| 9 | WAS | Rabach, Casey | C | 16 | Agnone, Anthony J. |
| 11 | WAS | Smith, Hunter | P | 0 | Mills, Thomas H. |
| 6 | WAS | Williams, Mike | T | 8 | Branion, Joby |
| 13 | WAS | Wynn, Renaldo | DE | 0 | Schaffer, Peter J. |
| 10 | WAS | Yoder, Todd | TE | 1 | Irwin, Tim E. |
*subject to change
