2011 NFL Free Agency: 5 Teams Hurt the Most with No Right of First Refusal

The details of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and owners are finally coming to the surface. One of the major questions was whether we would have a right of first refusal system for the upcoming free agent market.

That system would allow teams with multiple free agents to talk with their players before those players had a chance to walk to another team.

It was in the discussion, and according to NFL Network's Albert Breer, there was originally a system in place that would allow teams to have a right of first refusal on three of their players. That number was soon reduced to two, and as of the end of today's negotiations, the right of first refusal had been...well, refused.

This is especially painful for teams with multiple free agents, because now those teams could stand to lose many key components to their team. Which teams stand to lose the most from these decisions?

Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda and Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter @erikfrenz

New York Giants

Eli Manning could lose two of his favorite targets, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss, in one offseason. The two were targeted a combined 145 times in 2010. They came down with 83 of those targets for 1,060 yards and eight touchdowns.

Speaking of which, the player targeted next most behind those two just happens to be another impending free agent, Ahmad Bradshaw. With 47 catches and 314 yards, his receiving talents help out the offense quite a bit. Don't forget, though, that he is a running back, and averaged a respectable 4.5 yards per carry. The big thing, though, is his ball security. Six fumbles just won't cut it in the NFL.

Add Mathias Kiwanuka to those names, and the Giants are suddenly looking at at least four key players that could jump at the first opportunity. Kiwanuka is a talented pass rusher coming off surgery, which may bode well for him to stay in New York. As always, though, there are plenty of teams that could use a pass rusher with the potential of Kiwanuka.

But they're not the team that's hurt the most by the news. Heck, they're not even the team in New York that's hurt most by it.

Green Bay Packers

A team that wins the Super Bowl is always in an interesting situation with their free agents. The free agents feel they can get more money with that "Super Bowl champion" label attached, while the team wants to gauge exactly how important that player is to the team.

Cullen Jenkins is an integral part of that 3-4 defense, but the influx of 3-4 defenses in the NFL could spell the end of Jenkins in Green Bay. He is one of those stout space-eating linemen that clogs holes in the running game and opens space for the linebackers.

James Jones ranked seventh in the league in average yards after catch last year, and the Packers probably aren't too eager to give up a playmaker for Aaron Rodgers. There may be teams willing to pay him top dollar to be a starter, though, and he wouldn't be getting that kind of money in Green Bay.

Although a bit less notable, Atari Bigby has been a playmaker for the Packers in years past. He was injured much of 2010 (as was a large portion of the Packers' roster) and his future will depend on how the Packers feel about Charlie Peprah.

Carolina Panthers

Salt, meet wound. Wound, salt. Now that the sting of the initial introduction is over, let's observe everything behind the Panthers' free agent woes coming off their two-win season.

The departure of Julius Peppers was lessened by the emergence of Charles Johnson as the team's leader in sacks. The youngster registered 11.5 sacks last year.

One of the more interesting free agent scenarios lies with Thomas Davis and James Anderson. Davis has been the long-time starter at left side linebacker for the Panthers, and James Anderson filled in for him when he was injured last year. Whichever one the team extends will be the decision they'll have to live with for the next four years at that spot.

The lemon on the salty wound has to be DeAngelo Williams, one of the lone bright spots for the Panthers over the past few years. Injuries slowed down his 2010 season, but he was on a hot streak with two consecutive seasons of over five yards per carry from '08-'09.

As they try to bring along the first overall pick Cam Newton, they would be foolish not to equip him with as many offensive weapons as possible. They must prioritize keeping Williams.

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders had one of the most historic changes of fortune in NFL history last year, when they more than doubled their scoring output from one year to the next.

They were able to do this as a result of great play from their backfield trio of Marcel Reese, Darren McFadden, and Michael Bush. The latter of the trio is set to become a free agent in 2011, though, so who knows if he'll be back for a return tour.

Zach Miller has been one of the most consistent receiving tight ends in the game over the past few years, and if the Raiders hope to build on their success of last year, they will need to make him their top priority.

Defensively, the Raiders could lose many of the key components to their front seven, including John Henderson, Thomas Howard, and Kamerion Wimbley. This is important, because the Raiders Defensive Hogs ranked seventh in the league last year, and though Richard Seymour played a large part of that, he can't do it on his own.

New York Jets

I forecast this recently, and it's seemingly coming true: The Jets are definitely hurt the most by this recent news that there will be no right of first refusal for teams on their own free agents.

With that, many of their key players will become free agents.

The biggest of all, though, are Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, and Brad Smith. Those three made up the Jets' most powerful offensive weapons. Now, the Jets may lose all three. Brad Smith was a utility player, used in the kicking game and in the wild cat to maximize his incredible speed. Edwards and Holmes, on the other hand, were the Jets' two best receiving threats last year.

Defensively, they could lose Shaun Ellis and Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie became an integral piece to the defensive puzzle last year, while Ellis has been a key cog since he arrived 11 years ago.

Needless to say, there may just be too many free agents to keep them all around. As a result of the salary cap, they don't have the same luxuries that their baseball counterparts may have.