Best free agent players still available with compensatory deadline set to pass on Tuesday

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With the second wave of free agency set to start on May 7, we take a look at some of the more talented names on the open market.

With the passing of the compensatory draft pick deadline for 2019 set for May 7, the NFL is likely to see a second wave of free agency begin on Tuesday. And if the Pittsburgh Steelers have any plans to sign some of the names still available, there is a good chance they will need to move quickly this week or risk seeing the player sign elsewhere this year.

For teams like the Steelers who expect to receive additional draft picks in 2020 to make up for the free agents they lost this offseason, the opportunity to sign players without them counting against the formula that determines compensatory draft selections can be an important date on the calendar. Seemingly in line for a third-round selection next year to compensate for the loss of Le’Veon Bell to the New York Jets, based on current projections from OverTheCap.com, Pittsburgh is one of nine teams expected to receive one of the highest compensatory draft picks available in 2020.

A lack of salary cap space would seem to suggest that the Steelers will not be significant players during this second round of free agency, but there are still plenty of players looking for new homes who could be in high demand elsewhere.

Quarterback

Sam Bradford, Matt Cassel, Josh Johnson, Colin Kaepernick, Josh McCown, Brock Osweiler, Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith.

Running Back

Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount, Jeremy Hill, Chris Ivory, Marshawn Lynch, Alfred Morris, Bilal Powell, Stevan Ridley, Darren Sproles, Charcandrick West.

Wide Receiver

Dez Bryant, Michael Crabtree, Pierre Garcon, Dontrelle Inman, Jermaine Kearse, Brandon LaFell, Rishard Matthews, De’Anthony Thomas, Mike Wallace, Terrance Williams.

Tight End

Antonio Gates, MarQueis Gray, Jermaine Gresham, Michael Hoomanawanui, Lance Kendricks, Lee Smith, Dion Sims, Maxx Williams.

Offensive Line

Jeff Allen, Joe Barksdale, T.J. Clemmings, Chris Clark, Cameron Fleming, Jonathan Cooper, Garry Gilliam, Ryan Groy, Ulrick John, Andy Levitre, Jordan Mills, Marshall Newhouse, Jermey Parnell, Donald Penn, Mike Remmers, Tyler Shatley, Josh Sitton, Quinton Spain, John Sullivan, Travis Swanson, Jared Veldheer, Josh Wells, Chance Warmack, Stefen Wisniewski.

Edge Rusher

Sam Acho, Connor Barwin, Kony Ealy, William Hayes, Michael Johnson, Dion Jordan, Matt Longacre, Josh Martin, Pernell McPhee, Derrick Morgan, Nick Perry, Shane Ray, Frostee Rucker, Derrick Shelby, Frank Zombo.

Defensive Line

Ezekiel Ansah, Allen Bailey, Andre Branch, Tyeler Davison, Dominique Easley, Rodney Gunter, Ziggy Hood, Ricky Jean-Francois, Michael Johnson, Zach Kerr, Corey Liuget, Earl Mitchell, Malik McDowell, Stacy McGee, Domata Peko, Ahtyba Rubin, Danny Shelton, Ndamukong Suh, Muhammad Wilkerson, Al Woods.

Linebacker

Jon Bostic, Josh Bynes, Jeremy Cash, Jamie Collins, Brock Coyle, Will Compton, Nate Palmer, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Kelvin Sheppard, Manti Te’o.

Cornerback

Morris Claiborne, Brent Grimes, Vontae Davis, Davon House, Captain Munnerlyn, Coty Sensabaugh, Orlando Scandrick, Sam Shields, Kayvon Webster, Shareece Wright.

Safety

Mike Adams, Eric Berry, Tre Boston, Nat Berhe, Johnathan Cyprien, Kurt Coleman, Chris Conte, Marcus Gilchrist, Kendrick Lewis, Mike Mitchell, Reggie Nelson, Ron Parker, Glover Quin, Darian Stewart.

Currently listed with $4,816,131 in available salary cap space, as per the NFLPA public salary cap report on Monday, the Steelers should be able to afford most of the names still on the open market, barring one or two exceptions. But with a nine-man draft class still to sign that is projected to cost around $3million this year, any significant signings would require the team to create some additional cap space to cover their draft selections.