With the entire movie-going public all up in arms about "Interstellar" - "It's brilliant! No, it's awful!" - I looked back on another of Christopher Nolan's films, "The Prestige." One thing I like about "The Prestige" - and there are many things to like about this film - is that a central theme is being blind to your own shortcomings. The two main characters rarely look themselves in the mirror honestly.
The ability to truthfully self-critique is an essential attribute to team building in sports. It enables you to build on areas of strength while improving in areas of weakness. As a result, teams identify key players they want to target in free agency.
But which players are most deserving following all of this self-evaluation? Here are the ten best NFL free agents set to hit the open market in 2015.
1. Justin Houston, OLB
Houston leads the league in sacks with 13. He's racked up double digit sacks in three consecutive seasons and doesn't turn 26 until January. Similar to bacon, you can never have enough young pass rushers. Pro Football Focus rates him as the best 3-4 outside linebacker among 46 qualifiers. As a result, Houston is the best defensive player entering free agency this off-season. Expect a deal approaching J.J. Watt money.
2. Ndamukong Suh, DT
Suh is a game-changer, even at the defensive tackle position. Yesterday's game aside, the Detroit Lions are the NFL's top-ranked defense thanks largely to the havoc Suh wreaks in opposing backfields. He currently ranks sixth among DTs in sacks (4.5) and is a premiere run stuffer as well. All signs point to a parting between Suh and the Lions, with the 27-year-old apparently heading for New York. While fellow DT and 2010 No. 3 overall selection Gerald McCoy recently signed an extension that pays him up to $98 million over seven years, Suh is reportedly looking for a contract that tops $100 million.
3. Demaryius Thomas, WR
The Age of Demaryius. I'm putting Thomas ahead of Dez Bryant as the best receiver on this list because of maturity concerns, and, because Thomas has been ripping it up this season. Thomas leads the league in receiving yards with 1192 while hauling in 82 passes and nine touchdowns. He's the No. 1 target on one of the NFL's best offenses. Sure, having Peyton Manning helps. But you could just as easily make the argument that Thomas has helped to extend Manning's career. Thomas will turn just 27 next month and should do well on the open market.
4. Dez Bryant, WR
Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys are each reportedly playing hardball. The receiver's recent signing with Roc Nation Sports will only increase tensions at the negotiating table. No one doubts Bryant's immense talent; he's caught 63 balls for 879 yards and ten touchdowns this season. But concerns over his character and maturity have prevented Dallas from committing big guaranteed money to Bryant so far. The Cowboys are cap-strapped in a major way and still have to figure out what to do with pending free agent DeMarco Murray.
5. Chris Harris, CB
I don't believe that Harris is the fifth best player on this list. But I do believe that a thin market of free agent corners will drive up his price. Almost every single team in the NFL can always use a good corner, and that will cause Harris' stock to rise. Guys like Richard Sherman, Joe Haden and Patrick Peterson are all averaging somewhere in that $13-14 million annual range. Could Harris command such a deal coming off one of the best seasons in his career?
6. Randall Cobb, WR
If I had a clever pun that would accurately represent how good Cobb has been this season, I wouldn't use it because that would be too corny...
But seriously, Cobb has been amazing this year as he's coupled with Jordy Nelson to form the best receiving duo in the league. Cobb has caught 58 passes for 837 yards and 10 touchdowns, good for second in the league. He's only 24 years old and already one of the best slot WRs in the game. You just don't let young, productive home grown talent hit the open market.
7. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
JPP could easily end up being three spots higher or three spots lower after next season. He's a free agent question mark, pure and simple. On one hand, he's an excellent run defender at a premiere 4-3 defensive end position who posted 16.5 sacks in 2011 and will turn just 26 in February. On the other, he's totaled just 12 sacks since that breakout year with only 3.5 this season. Will teams want to pay big money for a pass-rusher who, you know, doesn't rush the passer?
8. Julius Thomas, TE
Thomas leads the league in touchdown receptions with 12. He's a matchup nightmare, especially in the red zone. The Broncos will have to figure out how to keep both him and Demaryius. Should Demaryius agree to a long-term deal, expect Denver to hit Julius with a franchise tag worth upwards of $7 million. If he does hit the open market, I'd think his deal would come close to the $10 million annual salary Jimmy Graham is working with down in New Orleans.
9. Jeremy Maclin, WR
Maclin is enjoying a career year (63 catches for 980 yards and nine touchdowns). But Chip Kelly's offense is designed to produce attention-grabbing numbers. Maclin did miss five games over his first four seasons and suffered a torn ACL in 2013. There is risk in signing the 26-year-old, but as we saw when the Washington Redskins gave DeSean Jackson a big contract, teams are willing to pay for productive Philly receivers.
10. DeMarco Murray, RB
Boy, the market sure has not been kind to running backs. The position has seen a dramatic decrease in value over the last several years. Just take a look around the league. Branden Oliver has been productive for the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent. Arian Foster has dominated the league over the last handful of seasons as an undrafted free agent. Alfred Morris is remarkably productive as a sixth-round draft choice. Teams just don't need to invest heavily at RB. Murray may be playing like an MVP, but he surely won't garner a contract that reflects his level of play.
