8. LB London Fletcher (Original Ranking: 41)

Best Available NFL Players

At some point, age is going to catch up with Fletcher. So far, that hasn't happened. It might not happen when he's 37, either. Fletcher was one of the league's better middle linebackers last season, both against the run and pass. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Left on the Mark... By Jordan Raanan
Xfinity Sports

The initial rush at the NFL's veteran meat market is over. Only the bargains remain.

Bargain shopping, however, can often prove worthwhile. Andre Carter (again available this late in the game) was a late signing last summer by the Patriots. He made the Pro Bowl and led New England with 10 sacks.

Right now, the next Andre Carter is still on the market. And he could remain unsigned until training camp.

As we sit here in late March/early April, 11 of my Top 50 free agents remain unemployed. Most are available at a discounted price tag. Many of them are linebackers and running backs. All are starting-caliber players looking for jobs. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

Jordan Raanan has covered the NFL since 2005. Follow him on Twitter at @JordanRaanan or email him at jraanan@hotmail.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
1. LB David Hawt... Hawthorne's a solid inside linebacker coming off a strong 2011 season where he had 115 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3 interceptions. Only 26, he's led the Seahawks in tackles each of the past three seasons and is entering the prime of his career. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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2. RB Ryan Grant... The veteran running back is coming off a down year where he split time with James Starks. But now almost two years removed from a broken leg and with relatively low mileage on his odometer, he can be a solid option for a team that decides to split its carries. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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3. OT Demetrius ... Six solid games as a starter at left tackle at the end of 2011 will be enough for some team to make him their blindside protector. It's not like there is much else out there at that position in free agency. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

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4. LB Leroy Hill... The Seahawks' strongside linebacker would likely be higher on the list if not for his off-the-field troubles. Three arrests in three years will do that. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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5. LB E.J. Hende... The older of the Henderson brothers is getting towards the tail end of a nice career. He'll be 32 years old when the season begins and his ability to defend the pass has slowly deteriorated. Still, E.J. can be a force against the run. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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6. LB Gary Brack... Brackett should have a few good years left as one of the better coverage linebackers in the middle, even if he's coming off an injury and will be 32 when the season begins. Fortunately, it was his shoulder and not his legs that limited him to one game last season. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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7. NT Aubrayo Fr... Franklin didn't fit as a defensive tackle in New Orleans. Given the right system and role, he can be a run-stuffing force in the middle for a 3-4 team. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

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8. LB London Fle... At some point, age is going to catch up with Fletcher. So far, that hasn't happened. It might not happen when he's 37, either. Fletcher was one of the league's better middle linebackers last season, both against the run and pass. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
9. OG Jake Scott... Scott is one of the most reliable players in the league, having started 120 straight games. Plenty of teams could still use a top pass-blocking guard who doesn't miss games. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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10. DE Andre Car... Carter was 46th on my list of top free agents last year. One year older (33) and a leg injury later, he was in the same exact spot after thriving in 2011 as the Patriots' top pass rusher. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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11. TE Dallas Cl... Injuries and dropped passes have plagued Clark the past few years. But in a weak tight end class, he's worth taking a flier as a pass-catching option for this season. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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12. QB Vince You... His stock plummeted. He's coming off a down year. Still, he's a two-time Pro Bowler with a 31-19 career record as a starter who happens to be in his prime. Surely somebody in a quarterback-starved league can find a use for him. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
13. WR Plaxico B... The troubled wideout is still a threat in the red zone. Burress scored eight touchdowns last year in his first season out of prison. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)