NFL Predictions: Matt Flynn and 7 Players Who'll Wear Different Jerseys in 2012

Every year there are big-name free agents that attract a lot of attention from teams around the NFL.

Last year, it was Nnamdi Asomugha, Jonathan Joseph, Sidney Rice, all of whom signed massive contracts with different teams than they were with the previous year.

This year is filled with high-impact free agents like Drew Brees, Ray Rice and Wes Welker who will most likely stay on their respective teams.

There are players however, like Matt Forte, Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson and Matt Flynn who very well might be wearing a different jersey in 2012 than they did in 2011.  

Who are those players who are most likely to be signed by a different team in 2012?

Read on to find out.

DeSean Jackson: No. 10 Miami Dolphins

In the midst of a tumultuous season for the Philadelphia Eagles, DeSean Jackson proved yet again that he isn't mature enough to step up and be a leader, and that's the main reason why Jackson will not be in an Eagles uniform come the beginning of the 2012 NFL season. 

Jackson made it known that he wasn't happy with his current contract situation, and the Eagles did a good job of letting him know that they didn't care.  Jackson played well enough in 2011, recording 961 yards and four touchdowns on 58 receptions, but that won't be enough for the Eagles to bring him back. 

Jackson has made it clear that he wants to be paid a lot of money, and there are teams who are willing to pay Jackson's asking price, but the Eagles certainly are not.  

If Jackson returns to the Eagles in 2012, I will be absolutely shocked, especially with other free-agent wideouts on the market and the talent that's in the 2012 NFL draft.

The Dolphins will salivate at the opportunity of having a healthy Reggie Bush in the backfield and two star wideouts in Brandon Marshall and DeSean Jackson. 

Jersey Prediction:  No. 10 Miami Dolphins 

Matt Flynn: No. 10 Washington Redskins

Even before Matt Flynn went off on the Detroit Lions, a team playing for playoff positioning, with 480 yards and six touchdowns on 31 completions, the hype surround NFL teams interested in him was starting to build.

Unlike a lot of players in the league, Matt Flynn was able to take advantage of the opportunity that was given to him at the end of the 2011 regular season and make the most of it by proving to teams out there that he has potential to be a successful quarterback in the NFL.

There are teams out there like the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins that will be very interested in Matt Flynn this offseason, and they will ultimately overpay for a player who hasn't proved much yet, aside from one solid game.  

There's no way around it, somebody in the 2012 NFL offseason will make Matt Flynn a very wealthy man, all because of one impressive game. 

Jersey Prediction:  No. 10 Washington Redskins

Vincent Jackson: No. 83 Chicago Bears

Vincent Jackson will be looking for a max-contract deal in 2012, and that's something that the Chargers are most likely not going to be willing to give him.  

It does not seem realistic either that the Chargers will place the $13 million franchise tag on him, because they think it's too much money to pay a wide receiver.  Put all that together and it's highly likely that Jackson won't be a Charger in 2012.

Vincent Jackson has been one of the most dominant receivers over the past few seasons, recording 1,000-plus yard seasons in three out of the past four years. 

In 2011 alone, Jackson accounted for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns on 60 receptions, for an average of 18.4 yards per catch. That kind of performance is something a lot of NFL teams are willing to pay top dollar for.

Teams who lack a serious depth at the wide receiver position like the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens (might not have enough cash to get Jackson), Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets (if they release Plaxico) will all be interesting in Jackson, who will ultimately go where the money is. 

Jersey Prediction:  No. 83 Chicago Bears 

Ben Grubbs: No. 66 Carolina Panthers

Ben Grubbs won't be a Baltimore Raven at the beginning of the 2012 NFL season because the Ravens won't have enough money to keep him.  

With Ray Rice and Ben Grubbs both entering the free-agent market in 2012, the Ravens will undoubtedly have to make a decision between the two, ultimately going with a player who will be the future of the franchise in Ray Rice. 

Ben Grubbs is one of the best young offensive lineman in the game today, and most importantly, he has been able to stay healthy throughout the majority of his career.  

While Grubbs isn't the tallest guard in the NFL, he has the strength and quickness to solidify any offensive line in the NFL. 

Teams who've had lots of trouble on the offensive line of late like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals will be willing to pay the kind of money Grubbs will require.  

The Panthers will be one of the teams pushing the hardest for Grubbs, in hopes that he can help protect young quarterback Cam Newton more than the Panthers' line did in 2011. 

2012 Jersey Prediction: No. 66 Carolina Panthers 

Peyton Hillis: No. 40 Dallas Cowboys

Peyton Hills gets the award for being the player who handled his contract situation the worst in 2011.  

Hillis sat out games because he was "sick" which turned into him sitting out games because his agent told him to and so on, ultimately playing in only 10 games of the 2011 NFL season.

While Hillis was the latest casualty of the "Madden Curse," there are still teams who are going to be willing to pay him a lot of money to be their franchise running back. 

In just 10 games in 2011, Hillis' production severely decreased, accounting for only 583 yards and three touchdowns on 161 carries, for an average of 3.6 yards per carry.  Fortunately for Hillis, a lot of teams will overlook his lack of production in 2011 and pay him a lot of money in hopes that he will return to his Pro Bowl form of 2010.

Teams like the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears (if they let Forte go), and even the Denver Broncos will undoubtedly be interested in adding Hillis' bruising running style to their teams.  

I highly doubt that the Browns will bring Hillis back after all of his troubles with the team this past season, and I expect the Cowboys to make a strong push to solidify their rushing attack with the strength of Hillis.

2012 Jersey Prediction:  No. 40 Dallas Cowboys  

Vince Young: No. 9 Seattle Seahawks

While the Eagles' 2011 season was a complete failure, one thing came to light. 

Vince Young just doesn't fit well with the Eagles.  

Young looked absolutely terrible in his six games with the Eagles, accounting for 866 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions with an abysmal 60.8 total quarterback rating.  While most think Young doesn't deserve another shot in the NFL, I think there are a few teams willing to give him a chance.

Young won't attract serious interest from many teams, because his lack of production as of late and the serious questions surrounding his maturity in the locker room and on the field, but he will get another chance somewhere.  

Young will make an NFL roster in 2012 as a second or third-string quarterback, and that's something he will have to come to terms with.

Teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans (as a solid third-stringer), Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars will be interested in bring Young to their team for low cost with high potential.  

The team that will most likely end up with Vince Young is the Seattle Seahawks, who haven't found their franchise quarterback in Tavaris Jackson but could benefit from a little offseason competition by bringing Vince Young in.

2012 Jersey Prediction: No. 9 Seattle Seahawks 

Matt Forte: No. 22 Cincinnati Bengals

The Chicago Bears really dropped the ball this season when they failed to give Matt Forte the money and the contract extension that he so aptly deserved.  

Matt Forte was none too pleased about it either, coming out and saying that he thinks the Bears were "grinding him into a pulp," and that didn't sit well with Forte.  I know the Bears intend on giving Forte the contract that he deserves this offseason, but I don't think it will be that simple to keep him in a Bears uniform. 

In 2011, Matt Forte rushed for 997 yards and three touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 490 yards and one touchdown.  There's no doubt that Forte is one of the most dominant running backs in the league, and teams this offseason will undoubtedly see that.  One of the highest selling points teams will make to Forte is the kind of offense he will be featured in, and the Cincinnati Bengals West Coast offense would be a near perfect fit for him.

Other teams like the Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns (if they don't bring Hillis back) and the the New York Jets would all benefit from Forte's ability to run like he does and catch passes out of the backfield.  

Ultimately, which team grabs Forte will come down to who has the most money and who's a serious playoff contender, something that the Bengals proved they were this past season.  

I expect the Bengals to make a serious push to get Forte this offseason, and while it might be unlikely that he ends up there, if he does it will make them a very dangerous team.

2012 Jersey Prediction:  No. 22 Cincinnati Bengals