The NFL free agent market is full of legitimate starters, crafty veterans, exciting young blood, hungry role players, and lost players looking for a chance to be “found” by a team. Most of them are simply looking for a team that can utilize their talents and help them win championships. From the team standpoint, they’re looking for the one player that can boost them into championship contention. Either way, this year’s free agent class is chock full of talent, and the race for the top players is going to be exciting. Here are the top five free agents in 2014:

    Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles was not technically a free agent, but the Saints were looking to get rid of his contract this year. He was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fifth round draft pick on Thursday. Sproles will be missed in New Orleans, but he’ll be utilized much more in Chip Kelly’s spread offense in Philadelphia with his ability to not only run the ball, but also catch it with the same efficiency. Sproles had 53 carries for 520 yards and 71 receptions for 604 yards. The Eagles, while they won their division, need a shot in the arm if they want to be a contender this year, and Sproles could be just the medicine they need to cure their disease of playoff failure.

Eric Decker

    Eric Decker signed with the New York Jets on Wednesday for five years and $36.25 million. Decker is a great addition for the Jets, and he will definitely bolster their pass offense, which was ranked a pitiful 31 out of 32 last season. He had 87 catches for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns in the past season, which is 44 more catches, 765 more yards, and seven more touchdowns than the the Jets’ team leaders in those categories. In addition, he’ll add much-needed playoff experience to the bottom-feeding Jets, who have missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.

Aqib Talib

Aqib Talib was picked up by the Denver Broncos on Wednesday for a price tag of $57 million over six years. This deal perplexed many analysts because the Broncos could have simply extended Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s contract for less money than they spent on Talib, especially considering that Rodgers-Cromartie is younger and had a better season last year. All things considered, it is reasonable that the Broncos would sign Talib over Rodgers-Cromartie because they lost a veteran leader in Champ Bailey, and they needed to replace him. Talib has also spent time with the enemy New England Patriots, giving the Broncos a strategic advantage when approaching the great Bill Belichick-run Patriots.

Michael Vick

    Coming off a season riddled with injury in which he lost the starting job, Michael Vick heads into free agency in the hope of re-becoming a starter in the NFL. Vick played just seven games with a total of five touchdowns and three interceptions. He didn’t have a terrible beginning, but the thought was already in the heads of the fans that the team was ready for a change. His injury only made the decision easier. The Eagles were taken over by Nick Foles and they didn’t look back. After starting 3-4 under Vick, Foles led them to a 7-2 record and the division championship. While he had a subpar season last year, he still is the best quarterback on the free agent market. Vick will most likely end up with the Oakland Raiders or Buffalo Bills: teams that have a young core and will look to greatly improve from their record last year.

    Hakeem Nicks

Lastly, we have Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is a proven veteran receiver who still has plenty of gas in the tank when it comes to catching the football, and without the competition like Golden Tate, Jeremy Maclin and Eric Decker, he’s become the premier wide receiver in the 2014 free agent class. Nicks has spent all of his five-year career with the New York Giants, where he’s racked up 311 receptions for 4,622 yards and 27 touchdowns in 70 games. He hit his statistical peak in 2010, his second year in the league, with 79 receptions, 1,052 yards and 11 touchdowns, and has been steadily declining in each of those categories over the past three years. Some say that his best years are behind him, but he still has a lot of upside. He just needs the right system in which he can succeed. The best team for Nicks would be the New England Patriots, who are looking to add a legitimate downfield threat to their young receiving corps. He could also land in Indianapolis with the Colts to help their young quarterback and be the missing piece of their championship puzzle.

There have been many moves in the free agent market that have both shocked and pleased many fans, and there are still plenty to come. This year’s has been so exciting in the first few days that it is hard to imagine that the action will tone down. For fans, it is always a great experience to watch as their favorite teams make moves that can make or break the franchise. At this time of year, every team has a chance at the championship. Past records don’t matter; every team is on an even playing field and they’re all trying to accomplish the same thing: find the right formula for a championship team.

For news on all of the big-name free agent transactions, visit this website: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/45947/309/2014-nfl-free-agents