Biggest Question Marks Still Out There with NFL Free Agency Over

The NFL's free-agency signing period is over, and many teams filled some major holes with their recent acquisitions. That said, there are still some huge question marks for players and teams alike that need to be answered before the NFL regular season begins in the fall.

It's hard to believe that guys like Plaxico Burress and Cedric Benson are still unsigned, but they only represent the tip of the iceberg when considering the amount of talent that remains on the market. There are still a ton of players that have yet to be signed.

It's a good thing, too, because some teams haven't filled all the holes they still have on their rosters. 

Let's take a look at the biggest question marks in the NFL as we head into the dog days of summer.

Who Will Start at Right Guard for the San Francisco 49ers?

When the 49ers ended the season, I was convinced that they would strongly pursue someone to upgrade the weak link on their offensive line—right guard.

I wholeheartedly agree with their dismissal of Chilo Rachal, and I'm not upset they let Adam Snyder go, either. Neither player is consistent enough for my liking, though I hardly expected the team to stand pat. But that's exactly what they did. 

Yes, they drafted Joe Looney in the fourth round. Yes, they still had Daniel Kilgore from last year's draft class. But I never expected them to use Alex Boone to fill that vacancy. That's exactly what's being reported by ProFootballWeekly.com, though, as the 49ers seem hell-bent on making Boone their choice to take over on the right side.

I don't know about this one, folks. Boone seems much more suited to play on the edge as a tackle. This is a move that I will be keeping a close eye on throughout the summer, as I'm not convinced the 49ers will be able to get away with this strategy. 

A player they should consider is veteran Vernon Carey—the ex-Miami Dolphin guard who still has some tread on his tires.

Where Will Braylon Edwards Land?

Braylon Edwards isn't washed up just yet. Granted, Edwards may not be quite as dangerous a deep threat as he once was after suffering a knee injury last year, but he's still a big-time red-zone threat.

There are a number of wide receiver-needy teams that could use Edwards' talents, but they're all waiting to see how Edwards' recovery progresses throughout the summer. He will definitely be on some team's starting roster before the season begins, though.

Here are the teams who could use a big, veteran wide receiver like Edwards: Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams.

Will the Detroit Lions Be Any Better on Defense?

Thank God the Detroit Lions were able to re-sign Stephen Tulloch, because they didn't do anything else to upgrade what was a terrible defensive unit last year. In fact, you could argue that the Lions may have regressed in terms of talent after losing Eric Wright to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The biggest free-agency acquisition the Lions landed was cornerback Jacob Lacey, but he's not as good in coverage as Wright, the player they lost. Throw in the legal troubles of Nick Fairley, and you have a defense that looks to be going in the wrong direction.

The Lions are in for a tough season from my vantage point, as the Green Bay Packers will continue to be the Packers, and the Chicago Bears got much better on the offensive side of the ball.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson will need to score a ton of points in order to make up for their defense's inability to stop opponents from scoring.

Which Team Will Sign Cedric Benson?

Cedric Benson had a down year statistically for the Cincinnati Bengals the last couple of years, and last year, he averaged only 3.9 yards per carry and scoring only six touchdowns. You can hardly pin the blame on Benson, though, as the Bengals' offensive line was horrible at creating running lanes.

Benson isn't exactly a spring chicken anymore, at the age of 29, but he still has a lot to offer to a team that could use a power running back. To be honest, I'm surprised that Benson is still available. He hasn't generated any buzz this offseason, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why. 

Teams that could use Benson in 2012: Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers.

Will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Be Any Better in 2012?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had loads of money to spend in free agency, and boy, did they spend it. The big names whom they signed include Vincent Jackson, Carl Nicks, Dallas Clark and Eric Wright. 

I'm not convinced they'll be a whole lot better in 2012, though, even with their high-priced acquisitions. Their season hinges upon the question of whether or not Josh Freeman will improve upon what can only be described as a lost season last year.

If ever there was a good year for the Bucs to make a move in the right direction, though, 2012 is that year.

The New Orleans Saints will be hard-pressed to come anywhere close to being as good as they were last year with all the upheaval surrounding the franchise. The Carolina Panthers need at least another year before they're ready to hit the big time. And finally, the Falcons, while featuring one of the talented rosters in the league, always seem to under-achieve somehow.

Tampa Bay needs to take advantage of this opportunity, but they don't have the right man under center to get the job done. 

Where Will Plaxico Burress Play in 2012?

Plaxico Burress, at the age of 34, is still a baller on the gridiron.

His 6'5" frame is still capable of getting down the field with speed, and his hands are as reliable as ever. He will be a big-time contributor for an NFL team this year as a No. 2 or No. 3 option, but at this moment, we don't know which team that will be.

Last year, Burress was able to contribute eight touchdowns to the New York Jets offense. He accomplished that feat while only catching a total of 45 passes all year. That's an incredible catch-to-touchdown ratio, and there's no doubt he'll land on a playoff-caliber team before this summer is through.

Teams that could use Burress in 2012: Baltimore Ravens, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers.

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