Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is expected to be one of the hottest players on the free agent market. (Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports) The new NFL league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, but teams have already been busy applying franchise tags, reworking contracts and releasing players to clear room under the $123 million salary cap. And there is an added twist this year: In an effort to prevent tampering, teams can enter non-binding negotiations with free agents from other clubs starting Saturday at midnight ET. USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis and Mike Garafolo highlight the top five players in four categories that help define free agency. Five who could be signed first 1. Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers When you have elite speed, very good production and are only 26, you're not likely to last long once teams can start recruiting you. With so many teams operating with cap space to burn, Wallace should be a very rich man, quite possibly by Wednesday. 2. Cliff Avril, DE, Detroit Lions If 3-4 teams believe the 6-3, 260-pounder's claim he can also play linebacker, he'll be an even hotter commodity. With 29 sacks over the last three seasons, Avril, 26, will be atop many wish lists. 3. Paul Kruger, OLB, Baltimore Ravens He had nine sacks in a breakout 2012 season before adding 4½ in the playoffs. Kruger, 27, has only seven starts in four seasons, so there's every reason to think he's far from maxing out his ability. His ability to line up at defensive end is a bonus. 4. Dashon Goldson, FS, San Francisco 49ers Despite Jim Harbaugh's stated desire to reward the all-pro, it appears Goldson, 28, is headed for a market in a league that values safeties who create turnovers (Goldson has 14 interceptions since 2009) and lay the wood to opponents. 5. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers He might be playing second fiddle to Wallace among wideouts, but Jennings isn't likely to be unemployed much longer, either. He's been dogged by injuries since the end of the 2011 season, but none of them seemingly chronic or major. Jennings, 29, appeared to be back in Pro Bowl form by the end of 2012, running his usual crisp routes. His ability and personality are bound to make him a fan favorite at his next stop. AFC TEAM PREVIEWS: East, North, South, West NFC TEAM PREVIEWS: East, North Five who are likely to stay put 1. Brian Urlacher, MLB, Chicago Bears Knee problems have rendered him an ordinary player. But like Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary before him, Urlacher, 34, wants to be a life-long Bear. Expect him to return at a price that won't stress the cap. 2. Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots He's averaged a gaudy 112 receptions during his six years with the Pats and Tom Brady. Welker, 31, the NFL's premier slot receiver, isn't nearly as valuable elsewhere nor likely to find a more lucrative offer. 3. Ed Reed, FS, Baltimore Ravens He's no longer the league's top safety, and there's no shame in that after 11 seasons of wear and tear. But he has a few years left, and the champs need this steady, cerebral, beloved veteran to help offset the retirement of Ray Lewis. 4. Jermon Bushrod, LT, New Orleans Saints A solid player who probably won't find a megadeal elsewhere in a flooded offensive tackle market. There's no reason the Saints shouldn't hold together a line that's done a great job safeguarding Drew Brees, who has suffered about 1½ sacks a game since Bushrod became his blind side protector in 2009. 5. Jerome Felton, FB, Minnesota Vikings A Pro Bowler for the first time in 2012, he was one of the trail blazers who paved MVP Adrian Peterson's path to 2,097 yards. And given fullbacks don't cost too much, GM Rick Spielman can afford to keep Felton (even if he needs to focus on right tackle Phil Loadholt first). Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes played the 2012 season under the franchise tag. (Photo: Jamie Squire, Getty Images) Five who might take one-year, prove-it deals 1. Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons He was an ascending player a year ago, but tore an Achilles' tendon in Week 1 — a nightmare scenario for a player saddled with the franchise tag. Given the rigors of his position, Grimes might have to show he's physically up to the task in 2013 before he can cash in on a multiyear pact. 2. Fred Davis, TE, Washington Redskins His circumstances mirror Grimes', though Davis, also a 2012 franchise player, injured his Achilles in October. He also might have to re-establish himself as the emerging playmaker who had nearly 800 receiving yards in 12 games in 2011. 3. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers An all-purpose back who averaged 1,400 yards from scrimmage spanning the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Mendenhall tore an ACL in the 2011 regular-season finale and was never right physically last year. Equally concerning, questions about his attitude persist after he earned a one-game suspension from the team in 2012 (while injured) for detrimental behavior. 4. Rey Maualuga, MLB, Cincinnati Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis tried to publicly light a fire under the 2009 second-rounder last season but apparently didn't have enough matches. Maualuga is ranked as the NFL's least-effective inside linebacker, according to ProFootballFocus 5. Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts When healthy, he can be a devastating weapon out of the slot. But the Colts are letting the 27-year-old go after last year's ruptured patellar tendon besmirched a medical chart already laden with several scary concussions. Collie can play, but what price will a team be willing to risk? Five underrated bargains 1. Brandon Gibson, WR, St. Louis Rams He has amazing hands and quietly comes off a 51-catch season. At 25, he could compete with 2012 teammate Danny Amendola atop the No. 2 wide receiver market. 2. Antoine Cason, CB, San Diego Chargers The Bolts want to bring him back, but so far the sides remain far apart. That could change in the coming days. If not, the former first-round pick will interest teams wanting a smart, durable player with good size (6-1, 195 pounds) and very good ball skills (12 career interceptions). 3. Phillip Wheeler, LB, Oakland Raiders As an NFC personnel evaluator said, "He had a great year in Oakland. He was playing like his hair was on fire. He was their best defensive player on the field most of the time." We'll put it this way: He was playing like his next contract depended on it, and it did. 4. James Casey, FB-TE, Houston Texans At 6-3, 240 pounds, he runs the entire route tree like a tight end, blocks like a fullback, plays special teams, catches everything and gives great effort. What's not to love? 5. Donald Thomas, G, New England Patriots He's got all of the tools to be a starter in the NFL. The issue has been his consistency. But when it comes to free agency, teams often pay based on potential and ability. This is a thin guard market, so Thomas could make some cash. *** Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis and Mike Garafolo @mikegarafolo PHOTOS: 25 hot NFL free agents Story Highlights
.com. He has a lot of work to do before convincing any team he's worth more than a one-year gamble. 
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