Manning, Williams headline free agent class
Posted March 13, 2012 2:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Get ready for free agent frenzy in the National Football League.
With the 2012 league year set to begin Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET, several teams will have an exuberant amount of money and salary cap space to spend in what could be one of the deepest free agent classes the NFL has seen in years.
There will be money flying around over the next month so we want you ready for all of the moves expected once the free agency period begins on Tuesday, so here is a primer of the upcoming free agent group:
Class of the class:
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts – It still seems strange that one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time is available on the open market. Despite having four neck surgeries and missing of all last season, Manning has drawn massive interest and has already visited with three teams. He comes with huge risk but expect the future Hall of Famer to land in Denver or Arizona.
Mario Williams, DE- The former No. 1 overall pick was hoping to return to Houston but the Texans don’t have the resources to give the star pass rusher the contract he deserves. Williams is scheme versatile and has shown the ability to play in both the 4-3 and 3-4 defence. Williams will command a massive salary and is one of the true difference makers on the market.
Vincent Jackson, WR – Jackson is a legitimate No. 1 receiver and has been one of the most consistent deep threats in the league during his tenure in San Diego. The Chargers did not have the cap space to place the franchise tag on the 29-year-old and the big-bodied receiver plans to test the open market. Expect teams like Tampa Bay, Washington, and Chicago to make a big play for his services.
Elite starters:
Carl Nicks, G- Nicks is entering his prime at 26-years-old and is hoping to become the highest-paid guard in the NFL. The two-time Pro Bowler has been working on a new deal with New Orleans but has not been able to come to terms. Nicks has shown an ability to dominate the opposition in both run blocking and pass protection. Expect Nicks to get an immense raise.
Cortland Finnegan, CB – The scrappy cornerback is one of the most physical players at his position in the league. Finnegan, who has a reputation for being a dirty player, isn’t expected to return to Tennessee and could be a rock-solid addition to a team looking for secondary help (DET, STL, TB) in what is a pass-dominated league.
John Abraham, DE- Abraham isn’t getting any younger but as the Giants proved again, you can never have too many pass rushers. The defensive end started to wear down at the end of last season and will be better off used in a situational role moving forward. The 33-year-old is a three-time All-Pro and has amassed an impressive 111.0 sacks over his career with the Jets and Falcons.
Unheralded, valuable players
Red Bryant, DE/DT- Fans outside of the Northwest might not know about “Big Red”, but Bryant has been playing at Pro Bowl level since Pete Carroll moved the underperforming defensive tackle to defensive end in their hybrid front. Bryant has led the Seahawks’ turnaround on defence with his run-stuffing ability and surprising agility for a 330-pounder. Seattle would hate to lose their locker room leader but will not overpay for a defensive end that doesn’t produce high sack totals. Expect 3-4 teams to make a run at the underrated defensive lineman.
Eric Winston, RT- The Texans stunned the NFL world after they released Winston on Monday afternoon. Houston needed the cap space to make a run at signing Mario Williams but could regret letting Winston go for nothing. Winston is regarded as a top ten right tackle that is an ideal fit for a zone blocking team. A team like the Redskins could really use the former Miami product to protect RG3 next season.
Paul Soliai, DT- With the Dolphins switching back to a 4-3 defence, Solai was deemed expendable by Miami and will draw a ton of attention from teams who use a 3-4 alignment. The 2011 Pro Bowler isn’t a household name but is one of the only true nose tackles available on the market and the reliable veteran will be greatly rewarded for his services.
Looking for an opportunity
Matt Flynn, QB- Flynn is the biggest conundrum heading into free agency. Everyone remembers Week 17 where Flynn made his mark with his six-touchdown performance against the Lions. With only two starts in his career, the hype is running wild for Flynn as Cleveland, Miami and Seattle could pay a premium to make him a full-time starter. Buyers beware.
Mario Manningham, WR – After making the game-changing play in the Super Bowl, Manningham is expected to depart New York in search of a starting job. He was demoted to the No. 3 role after the surprising emergence of Victor Cruz last season. The former Michigan product has shown elite potential in flashes but is a bit of a headache and makes too many mental mistakes.
Michael Bush, RB – Oakland has new management that isn’t expected to pay big money to two separate running backs. Despite wearing down at the end of last season, Bush has been a reliable power runner who has excellent ability in short yardage and on the goal line. He will likely get the opportunity to be a starting running back as the Bengals are expected to target Bush to replace Cedric Benson.
Robert Meachem, WR – The former first-round pick has been the key deep threat in the wide-open Saints passing attack. Meachem is a speedy receiver who could even be more productive if he was used in a full-time role. The Saints are very balanced and do not give Meachem the amount of looks that he could get with another team. Expect Meachem to exit New Orleans but he may regret leaving a franchise with Sean Payton and Drew Brees at the helm.
LaRon Landry, S – Landry has all the talent in the world but the hard-hitting safety’s production hasn’t been reliable during his tenure in Washington. The safety market was dried out after all the franchise tags were given out and Landry could benefit as a result. The former top-10 pick has durability concerns but will get paid a handsome sum as Landry is looking for a fresh start.
