NFL Free Agency 2011: Top Game-Changers Ready to Find Homes Once Lockout Ends

The NFL lockout is extremely close to being over, and the ensuing days are going to be pure madness. Free agency will be conducted over the next two weeks when usually, it takes an entire offseason to sort out everything.

Once the ink dries on a new agreement, who will be the first player off the board?

What teams have secretly broken the rules and spoken with free agents about a new deal?

It's going to be a frantic few days, and figuring out what teams are thinking has been like trying to get military intelligence from the Pentagon.

With so much information being withheld and with months of planning to figure this out, we are going to be looking at one of the craziest stretches in the history of the league.

Teams want to ensure they get their man and will be working the phones as soon as they can. The race is on.

Here are the top 10 players to find homes in the blink of an eye once this lockout finally comes to an end.

10. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB

There aren't any winners in the aftermath of Cedric Benson's arrest...but Ahmad Bradshaw is looking a lot better now. 

The two backs had very similar value before this past weekend; now Bradshaw is the clear cut better choice now.

The New York Giants have made it clear they are looking in a different direction, and Bradshaw has been connected to the Miami Dolphins in the past few days. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has mentioned that Bradshaw has been training in Miami and would love to join the team.

Can Miami take a hint?

They are losing Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams to free agency and will need a set of fresh legs.

Expect this deal to get done in a flash.

9. Ray Edwards, DE

Coming off a year where he made 37 tackles and eight sacks, Ray Edwards enters free agency in a good spot.

The Minnesota Vikings are struggling with payroll and are already giving big bucks to the likes of fellow defensive linemen Jared Allen and Pat and Kevin Williams.

There are no shortage of teams that need a solid pass rusher, and Edwards will be fielding plenty of offers as soon as the lockout is over.

The Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles are two teams that have been connected to the 26-year-old.

Whoever makes the first call may be the team to snag him. If not, Edwards will surely haunt franchises that decided to pass on this emerging superstar.

8. Stephen Tulloch, LB

You may not be familiar with free agent linebacker Stephen Tulloch, but that doesn't mean he isn't one of the best tacklers in the league.

In 2010, Tulloch was second in the league with 160 tackles, and over his career, in 45 starts, he has recorded 457 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and defended 11 passes.

These are the kind of numbers that make every team in the league drool.

Tulloch's game is constructed around high energy and emotion. He has been the vocal leader of every defense he has played for.

Tulloch would be a incredible signing because he is able to play both middle and outside linebacker. The 26-year-old will likely be the next victim of the Tennessee Titans policy of never splurging on their free agents.

Talks of reuniting with former Titans assistant and current Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz have been hinted at throughout the offseason.

If they can sign him...the Lions defense is suddenly extremely dangerous.

7. DeAngelo Williams, RB

DeAngelo Williams is looking for a new home, and a certain team in an high altitude makes perfect sense.

The Denver Broncos had one of the best passing games in the league last season, even with QB Kyle Orton under center for a vast majority of it. The problem was the running game, which ranked 26th in the league. It's safe to say that Knowshon Moreno is a bust and there are no other viable options on the current roster.

So why would Williams want to join a team that still hasn't committed to QB Tim Tebow and has been horrible for the past two seasons?

It starts and ends with one name: John Fox.

He was the Panthers head coach for the entire tenure of Williams' career, and the two have a very close relationship.

Now that he's the head honcho in Denver and his team needs a running back badly—expect this transaction to be made very quickly once the opportunity is there.

6. Johnathan Joseph, CB

Here is the first player on our list that will likely re-sign with his original team.

Johnathan Joseph is one of the top corners in the league, and when combined with Leon Hall, make a killer combo in the secondary.

The Bengals defense has plenty of questions, but a solid secondary is the saving grace. Joseph has made it clear he wants to return to the only place he has ever played in his NFL life and will garner a contract the Bengals can afford (especially now that Cedric Benson's future with the team is in jeopardy).

Unless J-Jo is swept off his feet by another offer—expect one of the top corner units to stay intact for at least another season...when Hall enters the same position his colleague is currently in.

5. Santonio Holmes, WR

The math is pretty simple... the New York Jets have three receivers entering free agency and they can't keep all of them.

Santonio Holmes, Brad Smith and Braylon Edwards are all seeking the same thing from Jets management, and only one, and possibly two, will stay in the Meadowlands.

Holmes had a decent year in green and white, but may be out of their price range.

The 27-year-old has one serious suitor that is known for making snap decisions when it comes to free agency.

That team is the Washington Redskins.

They need a receiver badly, and owner Daniel Snyder could care less how much it costs to get his man. Expect Holmes to be heading to Washington in the blink of an eye once a labor deal is in place.

4. Carl Nicks, OL

Carl Nicks is the premier offensive guard on the entire list of free agents and has plenty of suitors.

The former New Orleans Saints star certainly didn't get treated like one during his tenure in the Nola. A fifth round pick in 2008, he entered the league with little fanfare. Now he has emerged as a top flight guard and one that has a ton of value on the open market.

There hasn't been a specific team that has been rumored to court Nicks, but there are plenty of suitors.

Expect a large market team to break the bank for his services, and expect them to do it rather quickly.

3. Plaxico Burress, WR

After taking two years off to serve a jail sentence, Plaxico Burress still has plenty of suitors for his services.

The only thing we know for sure is that Plax is finished with the New York Giants. He has already publicly stated he doesn't want to ever play for Tom Coughlin again.

But that's OK, because there are plenty of teams still interested in his services.

There have been rumors connecting Burress with the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers.

He still has gas left in the tank, and it will be interesting to see how many teams are willing to take on a player with the baggage of Burress.

Look no further than Mike Vick for a good redemption story.

2. Sidney Rice, WR

Sidney Rice has quickly become one of the most explosive receivers in the league. He already has amassed 146 receptions for over 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns in his career.

Better yet...he is only 25 years old.

It's unclear how much the Vikings are willing to spend in free agency, but Rice may be out of their price range. It's going to take at least $40M to keep him in the Metrodome.

The Chicago Bears have been rumored to be interested, as have the Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers.

The premier receiver in the 2011 class is going to garner plenty of offers, and teams will need to work quickly to ensure he doesn't get snatched up by a new team immediately.

1. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB

Nnamdi Asomugha is the best player at his position in the league. No corner is better in one-on-one coverage than Asomugha.

The Oakland Raiders voided his contract, and this is one guy that will without a doubt be on a new team in 2011.

There is likely going to be an intense bidding war between teams that aren't afraid to spend money.

Two teams that have been connected to Asomugha are the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. Each team needs help in the secondary and are willing to write the big check.

Don't count out the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, either.

Once the lockout ends, Asomugha's agent's phone will be ringing off the hook for the foreseeable future. He is the game changer that can have a huge effect on a team and is good enough to alter a team's fortunes in 2011.