2012 NFL Free Agents: Who Will Command Big Money This Offseason?

The 2012 class of NFL free agents is loaded with talent and a handful of players are bound to get major paydays.

I'm talking mega deals—many years and lots of zeroes.  

Who are those players? 

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints 

Brees isn't leaving the French Quarter. He just completed the best "contract year" in the history of professional football. Even in the Saints' divisional round loss to the San Francisco 49ers, he threw for 462 yards and four touchdowns.

New Orleans has other key free agents on its roster like Marques Colston, Robert Meachem and Tracy Porter, but their franchise quarterback is clearly priority No. 1.

Expect him to sign a Tom Brady-esque deal that pays him around $20 million per season.

Give or take a few million.

No big deal.

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens 

Rice led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and averaged nearly 130 yards per game in 2011. The Ravens have been renowned for their defense the past decade, but Rice was certainly the team's MVP this season. 

He's small in stature, but packs a punch on every run. 

Rice is a great pass-blocker and has become one of the league's most threatening players on the screen. 

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson signed a six-year, $55 million deal this year, so expect Rice to ink a similar contract. 

Matt Forte, Chicago Bears 

The same goes for Forte, who was the Bears' offensive life force in 2011. After his injury, Chicago struggled mightily and failed to make the playoffs. 

He totaled 997 yards at a 4.9 yards per carry clip and caught 52 passes in 12 games this season. 

At one point, Forte was responsible for nearly 50 percent of the team's yardage output on offense. 

Whichever running back comes to terms on a new deal first will set the market for the other. 

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