With the NFL playoffs in full swing and the conference championships just days away from thrilling the nation, it’s time to analyze which future free agents have upped their stock.

When looking at which players have done well in a contract year, you have to think of the teams that have lasted this long and of the players that have outplayed their expectations.

Each of the following players will be free agents in the 2012 offseason, but they have played well enough to earn a hefty contract from whatever team takes the risk.

 

Carlos Rogers, CB, San Francisco 49ers

Which Player Has the Highest Stock Right Now?

Submit Vote vote to see results

It looks like all of the players on the 49ers defense have been inspired by the youthful exuberance of their head coach, Jim Harbaugh. That includes veteran cornerback Carlos Rogers.

While Rogers has never been and will never be the best corner in the NFL, he doesn’t take plays off and his career-high six interceptions this season prove the misconception that he can’t catch is false.

As if his regular season weren’t special enough, Rogers has played a key role in the San Francisco dream playoff run this season and looks to even further raise his stocks with bigger performances in the biggest games of his life.

 

Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens

136322706_crop_340x234 Andy Lyons/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens have only played one game this postseason, but that victory over the Texans catapulted them into the AFC Championship Game. That’s where Ray Rice will really shine.

While 60 yards on 21 carries isn’t that impressive, we can’t forget the Ravens played the fourth-best run defense in the NFL. All things considered, the 80 all-purpose yards from Rice was a solid day against a vaunted defense.

With the Ravens heading to New England to take on a Patriots' defense that was statistically one of the worst teams in the NFL, Rice will have a monster day. And if any team thinks Baltimore will let its star running back walk without a war is fooling themselves.

 

Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers

137042891_crop_340x234 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

While it’s true 49ers quarterback Alex Smith has been a train wreck his whole career, a wonderful 2011 regular season and a clutch performance against New Orleans will have plenty of teams interested in the soon-to-be free agent.

It was that 299-yard passing day against the Saints in the divisional round, but more importantly the three-touchdowns-to-no-interceptions ratio that has teams around the league re-evaluating Smith as a quarterback prospect.

As much as Smith has played poorly over the years, he lacked any kind of consistency in the offense and therefore could never advance his learning. Jim Harbaugh turned Smith into a top-15 quarterback and he may have to watch him walk away.

 

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL page to get your fill of all things football.