NFL 2009 Free Agents: 15 Star Players Who Could Have New Homes Next Season

The franchise tag is the devil, but that won't stop a lot of teams from summoning Satan himself for his NFL contract negotiation powers before March.

There's a difference between great players and irreplaceable ones. And distinguishing where fan-favorites fall in such situations provides a unique conflict for NFL owners and general managers.

Every free-agency period is marked with big-name players on the verge of receiving top dollar, salary-cap casualties, and players falling victim to changes in the head coaching regime or newly drafted rookies.

Nonetheless, difficult decisions must be made. And I have made it my obligation to speculate upon them!

Franchise Tags

Let's get this out of the way first. It's already known that Matt Cassel will receive the franchise tag from New England. 

Jordan Gross of the Panthers and T.J. Houshmandzadeh of the Bengals are both likely to receive the franchise tag if their teams can't negotiate new contracts with them before March.

Given the way the tag has been used in recent years, there's a good chance even more players will be punished with it. Expect Nnamdi Asomugha to remain in Oakland as well.

Expiring Contracts

LB Ray Lewis, BAL

It's weird to even picture Ray Lewis in a different uniform, but it's a reality fans should try and embrace. The Ravens long-time leader and former Super Bowl MVP may find himself listening to offers in March. While Lewis is the undisputed heart and soul of that defense, the explosive Ed Reed, young Haloti Ngata, and dominant Terrell Suggs should be the focus for Baltimore's defensive future.

Teams who need him most: New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins

DE Julius Peppers, CAR

The Panthers are faced with quite the dilemma. They're poised to make a playoff run, and will want to do whatever they can to keep their 12-4 squad in tact. But two line of scrimmage anchors on both sides of the ball are primed for a big pay day. My belief: they let Julius Peppers hit the open market. Jordan Gross was given the franchise tag in 2008, and deserves a long-term commitment in 2009.

Teams who need him most: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos

RB Derrick Ward or RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG

It remains to be seen which player will emerge as most valuable to the Giants. My money is on Brandon Jacobs sticking around, but it's a double-edged sword. Jacobs misses games with injuries, and Ward steps in and makes sure the offense doesn't miss a step. But when Jacobs is on, he's the most vicious player on the field. He makes the rest of the offense work in a way no one else can while battering down the defense.

Teams who need them most: Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears

CB Dunta Robinson, HOU

If the Houston Texans don't apply the franchise tag to Dunta Robinson, expect him to attract mountains of attention in March. Cornerbacks are always in high demand. And with the Raiders likely tagging Nnamdi Asomugha again, Robinson instantly becomes the next guy to receive a lot of interest and a monster contract.

Teams who need him most: Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints

LB Jonathan Vilma, NO

When the Jets traded the former Defensive Rookie of the Year to New Orleans, it was expected that he would be a dominant presence in the middle of their defense. And he didn't disappoint, but he was still part of the NFL's most disappointing units. The Saints never gave Vilma a new contract, and he can hit the free agent market and attract plenty of attention.

Teams who need him most: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

RB Darren Sproles, SD

Sproles' recent emergence will have a lot of teams watching him closely leading up to March. San Diego has been fortunate enough to draft talented backs to complement LaDainian Tomlinson. If they believe Jacob Hester can fill the role, then Sproles should expect Michael Turner money in 2009. He's shown he can be a feature back, and an all-around weapon from anywhere on the field.

Teams who need him most: Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts

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