When NFL free agency opens at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday, two cornerbacks with Alabama football roots are among the players expected to cash in.

Jamel Dean (Auburn) played the final season of his four-year rookie contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) played for the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year deal signed after the New York Giants released him last offseason as a salary-cap casualty.

Those contracts expire on Wednesday afternoon, and Bradberry and Dean will become unrestricted free agents when they do.

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The sports-financial website spotrac.com estimates Dean’s market value at a three-year, $49.7 million contract and Bradberry’s at a three-year, $45.5 million contract.

Interested teams don’t have to wait until Wednesday to start negotiating with the cornerbacks. That can happen as early as 11 a.m. Monday, but a contract can’t be signed until after the NFL’s 2023 business year starts at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Almost 600 NFL players will become unrestricted free agents at that time, including 42 from Alabama high schools and colleges.

Six more of those players could have contracts worth at least $20 million in their immediate futures. Those players with their market values, as estimated by spotrac.com, include:

· Panthers center Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama): Three years, $36.1 million

· Patriots running back Damien Harris (Alabama): Three years, $21.5 million

· Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (Auburn): Two years, $24.9 million

· Rams defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama): Three years, $24.1 million

· Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama): Two years, $20.6 million

· Vikings defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama): Three years, $25.5 million

Two players with Alabama football roots were essentially removed from the free-agent pool when they received the franchise tag. Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama) and Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) still can negotiate with other teams, but each player’s current team retains the ability to match any offer and will receive two first-round draft choices from any team that signs its franchise-tagged player.

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The franchise tag also extended the period to work out a new deal from Wednesday to July 17. If Jacobs or Payne don’t get a new deal, he will play the 2023 season for the franchise-tag value — $10.091 million for Jacobs and $18.937 million for Payne.

Three players with Alabama football roots who were headed for free agency on Wednesday won’t be on the open market as scheduled. Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood), Chicago Bears fullback Khari Blasingame (Buckhorn) and Houston Texans defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (Murphy) signed contract extensions to stay with their teams.

But four players from Alabama high schools and colleges who were not to suppose to become free agents on Wednesday already are because their contracts were terminated this offseason:

· Titans linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley)

· Cardinals center Rodney Hudson (B.C. Rain)

· Titans center Ben Jones (Bibb County)

· Commanders defensive back Bobby McCain (Oxford)

They are scheduled to be joined as unrestricted free agents by these players with Alabama football roots on Wednesday:

· Jets linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford)

· Raiders cornerback Anthony Averett (Alabama)

· Bears defensive lineman Angelo Blackson (Auburn)

· Panthers center Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama)

· Eagles cornerback James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford)

· Colts cornerback Tony Brown (Alabama)

· Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs (Alabama)

· Colts defensive tackle Byron Cowart (Auburn)

· Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (Auburn)

· Ravens running back Kenyan Drake (Alabama)

· Falcons linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High, Alabama)

· Dolphins defensive end Trey Flowers (Columbia)

· Packers safety Rudy Ford (New Hope, Auburn)

· Titans defensive end Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama)

· Patriots running back Damien Harris (Alabama)

· Browns safety Ronnie Harrison (Alabama)

· Texans tight end O.J. Howard (Autauga Academy, Alabama)

· Browns offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (UAB)

· Saints running back Mark Ingram (Alabama)

· Broncos safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama)

· Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (Alabama)

· Buccaneers wide receiver Julio Jones (Foley, Alabama)

· Bears linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville)

· Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park)

· Buccaneers defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City)

· Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama)

· Packers defensive lineman Jarran Reed (Alabama)

· Steelers outside linebacker Malik Reed (Dothan)

· Rams defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama)

· Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama)

· Steelers offensive lineman Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville)

· Commanders wide receiver Cam Sims (Alabama)

· Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (Auburn)

· Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama)

· Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks)

· Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn)

· Seahawks long snapper Carson Tinker (Alabama)

· Vikings defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama)

· Forty-Niners defensive back Jimmie Ward (Davidson)

· Giants defensive lineman Nick Williams (Minor, Samford)

· Jets outside linebacker Quincy Williams (Wenonah)

· Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery, Alabama)

Two other NFL players from Alabama high schools and colleges are restricted free agents.

A restricted free agent is a player with three NFL seasons and an expiring contract. Like unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents can negotiate with any interested teams, but their original teams can tender restricted free agents with qualifying offers from four tiers. All the tenders give the original teams the ability to match any contract offer before losing a player and some carry draft-pick compensation if a player signs elsewhere.

The pending restricted free agents with Alabama football roots include Pittsburgh Steelers center J.C. Hassenauer (Alabama) and New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal).

Neither player has been tendered. If that doesn’t happen by 3 p.m. Wednesday, they will become unrestricted free agents.

Yet another type of NFL free agent is the exclusive-rights free agent. An ERFA is a player with fewer than three seasons and an expiring contract. If his original team offers the ERFA a contract, he cannot negotiate with other teams.

The NFL’s pending exclusive-rights free agents include one with Alabama football roots – Denver Broncos punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama).

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.