NFL Free Agency: 15 Teams with a Chance to Snag Nnamdi Asomugha

Think of an NFL team. Any NFL team. I guarantee that no matter who you thought of, that team is interested in signing superstar CB Nnamdi Asomugha. This corner is so good, catching passes in his area is like spelling his name correctly on the first try: It just doesn't happen.

However, out of the roughly 32 NFL teams that would love to snag Aso, most of them don't really have much of a chance. Whether because of cap room, no chance of being a playoff contender or just having no need to upgrade their CB corp, most teams have nothing to sell to Asomugha to convince him to help turn them into playoff contenders.

With that in mind, I compiled the top 15 teams that have the best shots at landing the All-Pro corner. These are teams that can either throw a lot of money at him, can become instant Super Bowl contenders with him (if they aren't contenders already) or are simply teams that have had a rumor or two told about an interest in him and vice-versa. The teams on here could either use his services the most, have had rumors circulating about them or just give me a feeling as though they could make a good push for him.

Let's start with No. 15...

15. Miami Dolphins

To be honest, I don't see much of a chance of this happening, but I did hear a rumor today that they could try to force themselves into contention for Aso. They could use a boost in their CB corp, and Asomugha on that defense could turn them into the top defense in the league, possibly making them good enough to overcome their atrocious offense.

But still, I don't expect to see Nnamdi taking his talents to South Beach any time soon.

14. Arizona Cardinals

This is another one that doesn't seem too likely, but there is reason to believe he could find Arizona attractive. He gets to stay out West. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie may be shipped off to Philly for Kevin Kolb, so Nnamdi would be the only proven vet in that corp. The Cardinals do have some decent money to throw around, and between picking up Aso and Kolb, they would instantly become the favorites to come out of the NFC West.

Maybe it's just my bias making me want to come to Glendale, but there is reason to believe he could at least have them in mind.

13. New Orleans Saints

Here we have a proven Super Bowl contender, being just a year removed from their title run. They're a team that could use a boost in their secondary as well. They don't have a ton of money to throw around though, but that could change if they ship off expensive RB Reggie Bush.

I'm keeping them low because I haven't heard a peep about them doing anything for him, but they're on this list because if they were to compete for his services, they would have a reasonable argument as to why he should come down to the bayou.

12. Green Bay Packers

This is another one that doesn't really make much sense. The defending Super Bowl champs have no reason to upgrade their corner; Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams and Sam Shields make up possibly the best trio of CBs in the NFL. They don't have a ton of cap room to throw around. They have other places they need to address, like DE (assuming Cullen Jenkins leaves).

And yet, I keep hearing their names thrown around as a possibility, hence why they're on this list. I could at least see that Asomugha would like the fact that going to the defending Super Bowl champs would give him his best chance at getting a ring, but until I see any other reason why they would appeal to him, I'm keeping them down low.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

The sound you're hearing is the sound of 13 NFL offensive coordinators crying at the prospect of having to try to play against a defense that does not only have the best front seven and safety in the league, but also has the best CB as well.

There's no real reason to see him come to the Steel City besides the thought of putting together possibly the greatest defense in NFL history. They do need to bolster their secondary, but the Steelers are already over the cap, and generally aren't known for signing other teams' superstars.

Though if there was any player they could make an exception for, it's this guy.

10. New England Patriots

Possibly the only thought scarier than Nnamdi going to the Steelers is the All-Pro going to the Patriots. Between having the greatest shut-down corner in the league in Aso and having a young, big-time play maker in Devin McCourty, it would basically become a game of "pick your poison" for opposing QBs.

They do have the cap room to do that too. But between drafting Ras-I Dowling and having major needs up front defensively, they really shouldn't be focusing too much on going after Asomugha.

9. Washington Redskins

The Redskins have a rich history of signing aging veterans to ludicrous contracts (see: Albert Haynesworth, Donovan McNabb). While these signings almost always end up backfiring, even a blind dog finds his bone eventually. Maybe thy could somehow accidentally back their way into signing the superstar corner. They do have a massive need at CB, and the largest paychecks in Haynesworth's cap-room-destroying $100 million contract are in the past.

The reason they aren't higher on this list is because this would almost be TOO smart of a move for the Redskins' front office.

8. Dallas Cowboys

Here's a name we've heard a lot in the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes. America's Team? Check. Perennial January contenders? Check (last season notwithstanding). Big need at CB? Check. The one thing keeping them from topping this list?

They're $20 million dollars over the new salary cap.

I don't care how much people would love to see Nnamdi go to Dallas. No sane owner would tear up $40 million worth of contracts to sign this guy. Then again, Jerry Jones isn't exactly a sane owner.

7. Baltimore Ravens

Haloti Ngata. Ray Lewis. Terrell Suggs. Ed Reed. Nnamdi Asomugha. That's a defense that would just be unfair to the rest of the NFL. The Ravens are currently over the salary cap, but just barely, so they could find some contracts to terminate/restructure to give Nnamdi the $15-20 million per year contract he's looking for.

Though with the Ravens needing to find a dose of youth to inject into their WR corp, I see them looking toward a guy like Sidney Rice before they try to target a guy like Nnamdi.

6. New York Jets

I don't really see it myself. The Jets have no need to bolster their CB group (though the combo of Revis and Aso is truly a nightmarish thought). They don't have a ton of money to throw around and have a lot of players they need to re-sign, including superstar WR Santonio Holmes and fellow CB Antonio Cromartie.

And yet, I keep hearing rumors saying that the Jets are one of Nnamdi's top teams, hence why they are so high. I don't see it happening myself, but everybody else seems to think it could, so I'll place them here as the highest ranked team that doesn't actually NEED his services.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If it weren't for the recent rumors that the Bucs weren't actively pursuing Nnamdi, they may be No. 1 on this list, and for good reasons. They need to spend $40 million this offseason, so they could give him a ridiculously massive contract. They need to bolster their defense to keep up with the young, strong offense. They're a team on the verge of contention as well.

If the Bucs decide to pursue him, they'll instantly go to No. 1. Until then, they'll hang in the top five as the team with the most reasons to sign him.

4. Oakland Raiders

The team that he is coming from automatically has to be near the top of the list. As far as I can tell, his situation is not like Carson Palmers. He has no ill-feelings toward the Raiders organization. He simply wants to go to an immediate contender that can pay him a massive contract, something the Raiders will be hard pressed to do thanks to a bad recent history of signing bad players to lucrative contracts (coughjamarcusrussellcough).

The Raiders may be in contention in a few years, hence why we could come back, but it's looking more and more like he will be going elsewhere, so I can't put them higher than 4th on this list.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

In reality, no team in the top five of this list would benefit more from the signing of Aso than the Eagles. They have a lot of cap room to fill, are in bad need of a corner and would likely become the instant favorites to come out of their conference to the Super Bowl with his help.

The reason they're not at No. 1 is because of the rumors that they're already targeting the Cardinals' Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as a potential trade partner for QB Kevin Kolb. Between DRC and Asante Samuel, they Eagles would not have as much of a reason to pursue Asomugha, because the other two are both already starting material; put three in there and someone will be unhappy.

2. Detroit Lions

Here is one of the most talked about teams in the Nnamdi sweepstakes. The Lions are a team on the rise; there is no denying that. Between their high powered offense and their elite D-line, the Lions are one or two pieces away from being a playoff team, and Nnamdi would definitely be such a piece. They have the money to throw at him too and a young enough team that, if they aren't in contention right now, the pieces will stay in place until they are.

The big issue is that they AREN'T in Super Bowl contention right now. At the moment, they're looking at a wild card spot at best, and even with Aso, they won't be able to take out teams like the Packers and Eagles. But they are still one of the favorites to land this superstar and would be a frightening team if they did. Only one team is more likely to land him, and that's the...

1. Houston Texans

I would honestly almost be shocked if the Texans do not snag Asomugha. They are the heavy favorites to acquire him, and it's easy to see why: They meet EVERY requirement. They can give him the lucrative contract he wants. They have an unbelievably massive need at CB, having fielded the worst pass defense of the last decade in 2010. He would get plenty of action as he faces Peyton Manning twice a year. They would immediately become a Super Bowl contender (and a favorite as well) with him on their team. He would definitely get the media attention he would like too, as Houston is one of the largest cities in the United States.

I'm not gonna say this is a done deal by any means. What's great about the NFL is that things like this can change at any moment, but I definitely believe the Texans are easily the favorites to snap Nnamdi Asomugha, and doing so would easily make them one of the top two teams in the AFC (alongside the Patriots) and a favorite to not only win their first ever AFC South title, but a favorite to go to Super Bowl 46 and play on their biggest rival's (the Colts') home field.