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Top Free Agents: Poe, Short lead class of available D-linemen

Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With free agents able to officially sign at 4 p.m. ET on March 9, theScore takes a look at the top available players at each position.

Top free agents by position

Defensive Linemen

Kawann Short

Age: 28 Height: 6'3" Weight: 315 lbs.

2016 stats: 55 total tackles, 6 sacks, 1 FF

Much of the Panthers' defensive line is slated to hit free agency, but the team's top priority is to re-up with Short. He led the team with 11 sacks in its Cinderella 2015 season and followed that up by adding six to his ledger in 2016. After being burned in negotiations with Josh Norman, the Panthers know they need to keep some of their in-house talent.

Potential landing spots: Panthers, 49ers, Colts, Redskins

Dontari Poe

Age: 26 Height: 6'3" Weight: 346 lbs.

2016 stats: 27 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF

Poe is about to become a very rich man. The best nose tackle on the market, the athletic 350-pounder enters free agency at the ripe age of 26. The Chiefs have stated they want to keep the big man in the fold and may have to resort to using their franchise tag to do so.

Potential landing spots: Chiefs, Cowboys, Ravens

Brandon Williams

Age: 27 Height: 6'1" Weight: 340 lbs.

2016 stats: 51 total tackles, 1 sack

Williams is officially off his rookie deal and is set to cash in. The nose tackle lacks name recognition, but that didn't impede Damon Harrison from cashing in for five years and $46 million last offseason. The Ravens don't have the most money to spend so it's likely Williams' days in Baltimore are over.

Potential landing spots: 49ers, Browns, Colts, Bengals, Bills, Bears

Johnathan Hankins

Age: 24 Height: 6'2" Weight: 24 lbs.

2016 stats: 43 total tackles, 3 sacks, 1 FF

The Giants already have the sixth-most amount of cap dollars tied into their defensive line, so it'd be unrealistic to expect them to re-up with Hankins after getting four years of him at a discount. At 24 years old, however, Hankins could prove to be the most desirable defensive tackle available due to his potential.

Potential landing spots: Patriots, Cardinals, Bears, Redskins, 49ers

Domata Peko

Age: 32 Height: 6'3" Weight: 325 lbs.

2016 stats: 37 total tackles, 0 sacks

The veteran interior defensive lineman is on the downside of his career. He has yet to miss a game since 2009, but he also was held without a sack in 2016. Peko can still plug a hole for a needy playoff team, however.

Potential landing spots: Packers, 49ers, Patriots, Browns

Calais Campbell

Age: 30 Height: 6'8" Weight: 300 lbs.

2016 stats: 53 total tackles, 8 sacks, 2 FFs

Set to enter his 10th NFL season, Campbell remains at the top of his game. He was named a Second Team All Pro at his interior position after racking up eight quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles despite a lost year for the Cardinals. Campbell has spent his entire career in Arizona and should draw plenty of attention on the open market, but will he leave the desert with the Cardinals readying to make another run at the Super Bowl?

Potential landing spots: Cardinals, Falcons, Cowboys, Giants, Patriots

Bennie Logan

Age: 27 Height: 6'2" Weight: 315 lbs.

2016 stats: 24 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 FFs

The Eagles own a lot of pressing needs and have just finished making Fletcher Cox among the highest-paid players in the NFL. Logan will likely make his money elsewhere. Luckily for him, there will be plenty of suitors for his services.

Potential landing spots: Redskins, Steelers, Broncos, Browns, Bears

Other notable free-agent DLs

  • Chris Baker
  • Nick Fairley
  • Mario Williams
  • Tyson Alualu
  • Frostee Rucker
  • Terrell McClain
  • John Jenkins
  • William Gholston

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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