NFL Free Agents: Who Will Be Among the 1st To Sign Once NFL Lockout Ends?

The NFL lockout is expected to end in the coming days. Once it is finally over, there will be mad chaos to sign free agents. 

The week of free-agent frenzy is going to be one of the greatest events ever in the history of sports. There will never be an hour of the day where there isn't news to break.

There are so many free agents available, which means NFL teams must move quickly to sign the players they strongly desire.

Here are five free agents who will be among the first to sign.  

5. Braylon Edwards, WR

Braylon Edwards is one of a few top receivers available this offseason. The New York Jets have a tough decision to make because their top two receivers are both free agents. 

They may not be able to bring both Edwards and Santonio Holmes back, but they will put in offers to both wideouts. 

Because teams know there is limited time to sign a player, Edwards will get a lot of love from a few teams. The 6'3", 214-pound wideout has had off-the-field problems before, but there is no denying his skill level is top notch. 

4. Sidney Rice, WR

Sidney Rice burst onto the NFL scene with Brett Favre as his quarterback. An injury last season prevented him from proving he is a legit NFL wideout, but many believe he is the real deal. 

The Minnesota Vikings would love to re-sign Rice, but he is definitely going to listen to other offers. The shortened free-agency period will make it harder for the Vikings to re-sign Rice because multiple teams will be after him so fast. 

Rice has the speed to beat anyone on the field, and he is growing into one of the top receivers in the league. He has great hands, and that is why so many teams covet the 6'4" wideout. 

3. Santonio Holmes, WR

The New York Jets must decide whether they should keep Santonio Holmes or Braylon Edwards. There is a chance they will re-sign both players, but it will mean they will have to take a hit elsewhere. 

If the Jets are smart, they will choose Holmes over Edwards. Holmes came through in the clutch so many times for the Jets last year. He does all the little things, and that's why the Jets will quickly re-sign him. 

2. DeAngelo Williams, RB

DeAngelo Williams is the top running back in the 2011 free-agency class. Multiple teams will be after Williams because of his playmaking ability. 

The Carolina Panthers desperately need to re-sign Williams, but he could decide it's time to move on and go play for a winning team. Or he could decide to follow his old coach and play with the Denver Broncos. 

It won't be an easy decision for Williams, and even though he missed a portion of last season, NFL teams know what he is capable of and they will act fast to sign him. 

1. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB

The most coveted free agent this year is Nnamdi Asomugha. The Oakland Raiders cornerback will have a slew of teams throwing him offers. 

Nobody knows where he'll land, but we're all excited to see how it unfolds. It will happen fast because the lockout has limited the time NFL teams can sign players. 

The Raiders will set the bar high with a very big offer to Asomugha, but teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins will try to match it.