2012 NFL Free Agents: Ranking Alex Smith and the Biggest Names Yet to Sign

With the 2012 free-agency market thinning out with the signing of huge names like Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning, it’s time to focus on those players left on the board.

Stars like Alex Smith and Mike Wallace will garner plenty of attention on the open market, but they won’t be the only ones.

All of the following players will have plenty of attention paid to them, but as the time drags on, they will become more and more valuable.

Alex Smith

The San Francisco 49ers may it perfectly clear to the NFL that their plan was to sign veteran free agent Peyton Manning. That left last season’s starting QB, Alex Smith, on the outside looking in.

Smith met with the Miami Dolphins while San Fran was courting Manning, so it’s obvious that other teams in the NFL would take a chance with the inconsistent starter.

Now that Manning has made his choice and left the 49ers high and dry, Smith and San Fran will return to each other’s arms like two jilted lovers. They deserve each other.

Mike Wallace

While there was little chance that a team would take the kind of risk needed to snag a talented wide receiver like Wallace from the Pittsburgh Steelers, that was before Manning turned the Denver Broncos into Super Bowl contenders.

With Denver’s need at wide receiver and Wallace’s availability and skill, the idea of sending the team’s No. 25 overall pick in the first round to Pittsburgh in return for the restricted free agent is a no-brainer.

Wallace can use his elite speed to take the top off a secondary, not only opening up a serious deep threat, but making the short game that Manning loves so much easier to manage.

Cedric Benson

The Cincinnati Bengals have made it clear that they will not overpay last year’s starting running back Cedric Benson. That’s why the star still remains on the market.

Say what you will about Benson’s lack of explosiveness, but he is one of the best runners in the NFL between the tackles. He is extremely durable and can be depended on for 20 to 25 rushes every game.

At this point of Benson’s career, he needs to find a team that has a stellar finesse back and become their short-yardage and goal-line bruiser. With fresh legs and touchdown potential, Benson will be one of the best again next season.

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