Top 10 free agents to watch out for in 2018

It's never too early to start looking to the future.

With the beginning of the 2017 season just weeks away, it's a good time to remind yourself about who might be up for grabs after the year is over.

Since you're already aware franchise-tagged Le'Veon Bell, Kirk Cousins, and Trumaine Johnson will become free agents after the deadline for their long-terms deals passed in July, they aren't included in this list. The Detroit Lions appear extremely confident they will re-sign Matthew Stafford, as do the Houston Texans with DeAndre Hopkins, so they're out of consideration as well.

But from the hundreds of other pending free agents, we found the top 10 to look out for as potential additions to (or subtractions from) your team.

10. Vontaze Burfict

Position: Linebacker | Current team: Cincinnati Bengals

Burfict may be the most hated player in the NFL, but he brings a ton of impact from the linebacker position and will be in demand from any team willing to put up with his shenanigans.

The 26-year-old would be the best linebacker available if the fear of constant penalties and suspensions was gone.

9. Allen Robinson

Position: Receiver | Current team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Robinson's 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown season from 2015 seems like forever ago, and with the Jaguars' shift to a run-focused offense, it's hard to imagine him replicating those numbers in Jacksonville.

He would be much better served in a pass-oriented offense with a quarterback who can keep the ball in bounds.

8. Jarvis Landry

Position: Receiver | Current team: Miami Dolphins

Only Odell Beckham Jr. has caught as many passes in the first three years of his career as Landry, but the Dolphins have shown signs they aren't so keen on keeping the slot specialist around.

Landry is perhaps the best slot receiver in the NFL at age 24 and will be in high demand as a free agent, though the size of his contract may be in doubt as his elite reception numbers do not reflect his yards and touchdowns.

7. Sheldon Richardson

Position: Defensive end | Current team: New York Jets

Richardson needs to calm his feud with Brandon Marshall soon or he'll be known more for his petty temper than his on-field skills among potential suitors.

The former 13th overall pick should be one of the most coveted defenders in the league, but his history of suspensions, fines, and locker-room grudges is starting to overshadow his talent.

6. Sammy Watkins

Position: Receiver | Current team: Los Angeles Rams

The Rams have already proclaimed they want to keep Watkins in L.A. for the long term, though the 24-year-old has yet to step on the field for the team.

Watkins' injury history should make the Rams and any potential suitors concerned about committing to a future with the receiver, but his physical gifts are undeniably attractive.

5. Teddy Bridgewater/Sam Bradford

Position: Quarterback | Current team: Minnesota Vikings

Either Bridgewater or Bradford will become a free agent, if not both. For Bridgewater, his health will decide a lot for Minnesota. Bradford, however, could convince team brass to keep him over their first-round pick with a good 2017 season.

4. Jimmy Graham

Position: Tight end | Current team: Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are in the process of locking up core pieces of their team, but Graham may not be considered part of that group.

Graham's potency has gone down since being traded from the Saints to the Seahawks, but his value could be much better in a high-octane passing attack.

3. Malcolm Butler

Position: Cornerback | Current team: New England Patriots

Butler unsuccessfully tried to escape to the Saints as a restricted free agent last spring, but with the restriction lifted in 2018, there's no keeping him in New England without paying big.

The 27-year-old was understandably discouraged by his team giving big money to Stephon Gilmore instead of him and is reportedly motivated to build on his 2016 Second-Team All-Pro selection for a better contract.

2. Drew Brees

Position: Quarterback | Current team: New Orleans Saints

Of all the players on this list, Brees is the most likely player to stay with his current club, but the possibility of this being his last year in New Orleans is alive.

Brees, 38, has kept the Saints' heads above water the last few seasons, but if the team has another year at 7-9 or worse, New Orleans may decide it's time to rebuild. The All-Pro quarterback still has plenty in the tank and could have success with a Peyton Manning-esque transition to a new team.

1. Jimmy Garoppolo

Position: Quarterback | Current team: New England Patriots

It is very rare that a 25-year-old quarterback with no injury history and nothing but rave reviews from coaches, scouts, and teammates hits the open market, but when you have Tom Brady under center, difficult decisions must be made.

The Patriots will have to pay through the nose to keep Brady and Garoppolo under contract after 2017, which doesn't mean they won't do it. However, quarterback-needy teams will all have Jimmy G at the top of their lists if he makes it to the open market.

Honorable Mentions: Morgan Burnett, Alshon Jeffrey, Nate Solder, Ezekiel Ansah, Dontari Poe, Tyler Eifert, Terrelle Pryor, Carlos Hyde