With NFL free agency about to get underway, ESPN stacked up the best available players in this year’s free agent class.

A trio of former Clemson standouts made ESPN’s ranking of the top 100 free agents (subscription required), including Christian Wilkins, who cracked the top five and came in at No. 3 on the list behind only Chris Jones and Kirk Cousins.

The Miami Dolphins are not using the franchise tag on Wilkins, meaning the stalwart defensive lineman will become an unrestricted free agent.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder has amassed 355 tackles (43 for loss) and 20.5 sacks across five seasons with the Dolphins since being drafted by the franchise in the first round (13th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.

“Wilkins has the position versatility to produce in multiple NFL fronts; he can align as a 3-technique, play nose tackle or even slide to the edge,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote. “He’s an explosive mover off the ball with the lateral juice to impact both the run and pass defense. Wilkins recorded 9 sacks, 35 pressures and 63 tackles last season.”

Meanwhile, another former Clemson defensive lineman – DJ Reader – is ranked in the top 25 of ESPN’s top 100 available players entering free agency.

The former Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle checked in at No. 23.

In 14 games with the Bengals during the 2023 season prior to suffering a season-ending injury, Reader recorded 34 tackles (two for loss), a sack, seven quarterback hits, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Since entering the league in 2016 after being drafted in the fifth round (166th overall) that year by the Texans, Reader has racked up 277 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks over his NFL career.

“A season-ending quad injury pushes Reader down in our ranks, but we know the 6-foot-3 335-pounder could boost multiple fronts across the league,” Bowen wrote. “He wins with leverage, power and pad level at the point of attack, and he can get up on the toes of opposing quarterbacks as an interior pass-rusher (15 pressures in 2023).”

Former Clemson offensive lineman John Simpson also made ESPN’s list, appearing at No. 71.

Simpson started all 17 regular season games and each of the two postseason games for the Baltimore Ravens this past season.

Drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, Simpson played for Las Vegas from 2020-22 before signing a one-year deal with Baltimore ahead of the 2023 season.

“At 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, Simpson is a long, powerful blocker who can drive people off the ball,” Bowen wrote. “There are some movement limitations in his game that show up in space, but after three years with the Raiders, Simpson played his best football in Baltimore last season, registering a career-high pass block win rate of 92.5%.”

NFL free agency is right around the corner. On March 11, negotiations can take place, and then contracts can be signed starting on March 13.

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