FRISCO, Texas -- With the Oakland Raiders saying goodbye Thursday to longtime kicker Sebastian Janikowski, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has lost another contemporary of sorts.

Of players currently under contract for 2018, only New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Houston Texans punter Shane Lechler have been in the NFL longer than Witten.

Now, there are a couple of asterisks needed here.

The first: Four players from the 2001 and 2002 drafts are expected to continue to play in 2018 but are not currently under contract. Julius Peppers (first round, 2002), Dwight Freeney (first, 2002), Josh McCown (third, 2002) and Drew Brees (second, 2001) are set to become unrestricted free agents, but all will or should find homes for 2018.

Peppers and McCown played well for the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets, respectively, in 2017 and could re-sign with those teams or find homes elsewhere. Freeney ended the season with the Detroit Lions after not signing with a team until October when he joined the Seattle Seahawks.

Brees and the New Orleans Saints should come to an agreement on a contract before the market opens as well.

Second: Suggs was a first-round pick in 2003, so he technically entered the NFL before Witten, a third-rounder that year. Plus, Witten's former teammate, Terence Newman, who was the fifth overall pick in 2003, wants to continue his career. Newman would become just the second 40-year-old corner to play in the NFL, joining Hall of Famer Darrell Green, and there's little question coach Mike Zimmer wants him back with the Minnesota Vikings.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2003, Carson Palmer, announced his retirement earlier in the offseason.

From 2000 to 2003, there were 1,023 players selected in the draft. Only Brady, Suggs and Witten remain under contract.

That speaks more to the longevity and success of those players, who have combined for 31 Pro Bowl seasons. Brady, who was drafted 199th overall in 2000, has 13. Witten has 11 and Suggs has seven. Witten and Suggs, who are 35, played in the most recent Pro Bowl as Brady, 40, prepared for Super Bowl LII. Lechler was drafted by the Raiders in 2000.

Witten's 11th Pro Bowl appearance tied him with Bob Lilly for the most in franchise history. He is about to play in his 16th season, which would be a franchise record. Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Bill Bates and Mark Tuinei played 15 seasons for the Cowboys.