Two former Alabama running backs who have led the NFL in rushing will be among the players in the spotlight when free agency starts on Monday.

NFL players with expiring contracts and four seasons in the league will become unrestricted free agents at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday. But free agency essentially begins at 11 a.m. Monday.

At that time, NFL teams are allowed to enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday. The impending free agents cannot sign contracts before 3 p.m. Wednesday, but they can reach agreements with NFL teams before that time.

Among the 39 players from Alabama high schools and colleges who are headed toward becoming unrestricted free agents on Wednesday afternoon are former Crimson Tide ball-carriers Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs. Henry led the NFL in rushing yards in 2019 and 2020 and has been the runner-up for the rushing title in each of the past two seasons. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yards in 2022.

They’re part of a top-heavy group of running backs about to hit the open market. Among the other running backs set to be available are Saquon Barkley, Austin Ekeler, Zach Moss, Tony Pollard and D’Andre Swift.

The player with Alabama football roots expected to land the biggest contract in free agency isn’t going to be a free agent. The Jacksonville Jaguars used their franchise tag to keep outside linebacker Josh Allen (Abbeville) from reaching that status.

Two other players who were impending free agents signed contract extensions with their 2023 teams – running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) with the Las Vegas Raiders and safety Daniel Thomas (Lee-Montgomery, Auburn) with the Jaguars.

The players from Alabama high schools and colleges scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at 3 p.m. Wednesday include:

· Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn)

· Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford)

· Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Angelo Blackson (Auburn)

· Indianapolis Colts cornerback Tony Brown (Alabama)

· Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley)

· Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville, Auburn)

· Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (Alabama)

· Carolina Panthers linebacker Tae Davis (Oxford)

· Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (Auburn)

· Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama)

· Washington Commanders running back Derrick Gore (Alabama)

· Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama)

· Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris (Alabama)

· Indianapolis Colts safety Ronnie Harrison (Alabama)

· New York Giants center J.C. Hassenauer (Alabama)

· Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama)

· Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (UAB)

· New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal)

· Dallas Cowboys cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn)

· Houston Texans safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama)

· Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama)

· New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville, Alabama)

· Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Julio Jones (Foley, Alabama)

· New York Jets defensive end Carl Lawson (Auburn)

· Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn)

· New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama)

· Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City)

· Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville)

· Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama)

· Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (Alabama)

· New York Giants defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama)

· Cincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama)

· Los Angeles Rams long snapper Carson Tinker (Alabama)

· Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace (Alabama)

· Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens)

· Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama)

· Los Angeles defensive tackle Nick Williams (Minor, Samford)

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

· New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (Hueytown)

Three players with Alabama football roots who were not scheduled to become free agents on Wednesday already are after being released from the contracts – safety Eddie Jackson (Alabama) by the Chicago Bears, cornerback Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) by the Buffalo Bills and cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) by Jacksonville.

Two other NFL players from Alabama high schools and colleges are eligible to become restricted free agents on Wednesday – Seattle Seahawks cornerback Mike Jackson (Spain Park) and Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho (Edgewood Academy, Auburn).

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.

Neither Jackson nor Wanogho have been tendered, which could make them unrestricted free agents on Wednesday.

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