2012 NFL Free Agents: 5 Players Sure to Stay with Current Teams

With so many teams looking to get a new coach for the 2012 season as well as an abundance of free agents, what about those who are going to stay with their current team?

Well, the certainty of the situation comes with needing these players to remain, as opposed to shopping elsewhere.

So, let's take a look at five players who aren't going anywhere.

Arian Foster: RB, Texans

The main man in one of the NFL's best rushing offenses, Houston cannot afford to lose running back Arian Foster.

Now he is a restricted free agent so the odds of the Texans re-signing him is high as it should be. After all, Foster ran for over 1,600 yards in 2010, 1,200 yards in 2011 and accounted for over 600 receiving yards in each season.

He's established himself as one of the better No. 1 running backs in the league and Houston will go a long way with him slamming the trenches while receiver Andre Johnson remains out wide. Foster's versatility and dynamics provide Houston with numerous ways to attack a defense.

Coach Gary Kubiak can't afford to move ahead without him.

London Fletcher: LB, Redskins

Arguably the most underrated player in the NFL, Washington's London Fletcher will be 37 years old next season and can still bring the pain.

For his career London has averaged almost 130 tackles per season through 14 years and hit a career high with 166 this past season. The leader on one of the NFL's better than advertised defenses, Fletcher needs Washington as much as it needs him.

There's good talent around him in Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan and LaRon Landry, so all coach Mike Shanahan needs to do is improve the offense. Well, the Redskins need to draft a quarterback, not replace their defense, so expect Fletcher to re-sign in our nation's capital.

Plus, there aren't too many teams interested in a linebacker pushing 40 years of age.

Drew Brees: QB, Saints

Easily the most obvious on the list, what would the New Orleans Saints be without Drew Brees?

He set the single-season passing mark and added another playoff win to his excellent resume. Despite losing on the road in San Francisco, the Saints know they can't compete without Brees.

Sure their ground was solid and coach Sean Payton used an array of running backs, however, that was set up late in games because of Brees consistently shredding defenses. What New Orleans needs to do is improve their defense.

Re-sign Brees and it won't matter who his receiving targets are as he can make any group of players better. The San Diego Chargers may not have regrets in replacing Brees with Philip Rivers, but there's no denying who the better quarterback is.

New Orleans cannot make that same mistake.

Wes Welker: WR, Patriots

When Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to three Super Bowl championships in four years, he did not have one overly dominant receiver who could stretch the field.

With guys like David Patten, David Givens and Troy Brown, none were deep threats, just solid reliable guys who Brady could sling the rock to. Well, Wes Welker is virtually that exact type of receiver except he's even better than the aforementioned players.

Welker's ability to get yards after the catch is what makes him so dangerous and he's the perfect complement to Deion Branch and Rob Gronkowski.

Brady needs a guy who he can trust over the middle and on quick slants. Welker is that guy.

Ronde Barber: CB, Buccaneers

On such a young team who's in the search of a new head coach, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers desperately need Ronde Barber to lead them at least one more year.

Although Ronde will be 37 by next season, even in a limited role the Bucs need his leadership among other intangible qualities. Whenever a new head coach gets hired, the young players need a guy who's been through that process before.

Barber has been through that transition more than once, and it didn't affect his performance.

After a 10-interception season in 2001, Barber was challenged less and began to accumulate more tackles. In 2006 he recorded 100 tackles and has averaged just under 80 tackles in the last four years.

Regardless of how long it's for, Tampa needs Ronde for at least one more year to get the younger players acclimated to a new coach. Especially since Raheem Morris was only there for three seasons.

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