2012 NFL Free Agency: Top Offensive Options (Part 1)

A week from today, a sadness will blanket America in one realization: the football season is over. No football Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, too. We will have to fill our sports void with basketball, baseball, and a little bit of Summer Olympics whilst waiting for the 2012 season to start. At least we have a few things to hold us over.

For one, we have the 2012 NFL Combine and draft in the next couple of months, which will shape together the promise of some teams needing some young talent. But equally as important, focus will be shifting to the free agency market available for the 2012 season.

This year's crop is very deep of top-tier players. And, this list can't even have Peyton Manning in it yet (Will he be a Colt? Will he be forced to retire?). With that said, here is the first of two lists of the best offensive options on the market prior to the 2012 season beginning.

Drew Brees, QB for the New Orleans Saints

2011 season: 468 of 657, 71.2 %, 5,476 yards, 46 TD, 14 INT, 110.6 QR

Drew Brees put together quite a season, regardless of him being accused of padding his numbers or not. He broke Dan Marino's record for passing yards in a single season, and also posted personal bests in completion percentage, passing touchdowns, and quarterback rating.

The 2011 season was also the sixth consecutive 4,000 passing yard season for Brees, and two of those were over 5,000. It's hard to imagine the Saints letting Drew Brees enter the free agency market, but you can believe that teams will try to entice him with some pretty lucrative contract offers. 

Arian Foster, RB for the Houston Texans

2011 season: 278 ATT, 1,224 rushing yards, 4.4 AVG, 10 TD. Receiving - 53 REC, 617 yards, 2 TD

We missed Arian Foster in three games this season. What we didn't miss was the fact that he still put up fantastic numbers. Foster finished fifth in rushing yards, sixth in attempts, and eigth in rushing touchdowns. Foster also was second on the Houston Texans for receptions and receiving yards.

If Foster can stay healthy, he should be a front runner for most 2012 fantasy football drafts, and of course teams across the leagues.

It will all depend on what approach the Texans take going into the 2012 season, given that Ben Tate has shown he is a capable lead back on a team. The Texans should try their best to not split up that 1-2 rushing threat, which should keep them atop the AFC South in the upcoming season.

Wes Welker, WR for the New England Patriots

2011 season: 122 ATT, 1,569 receiving yards, 12.9 AVG, 9 TD

Welker led all receivers in receptions in 2011, with the closest being Roddy White with 100 attempts. He also came in second in receiving yards; only Detroit's Calvin Johnson bested Welker.

And the fact that Welker did this in an offense that also included Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez makes his season that much more special. I doubt that we will see Welker in a different uniform in 2012, but his contract from the Pats will set the standard for what other free agent receivers are worth on the market (a la the Pujols and Fielder game in baseball this offseason).

Ray Rice, RB for the Baltimore Ravens

2011 season: 291 ATT, 1,364 yards, 4.7 AVG, 12 TD. Receiving - 76 REC, 704 yards, 3 TD

Ray Rice is the Baltimore Ravens offense, putting up more than 2,000 yards between his rushing and receiving attack. His yardage was sixth in the league, attempts third best, and rushing touchdowns also third best in the league.

Much like Arian Foster, Ray Rice poses the dual threat of rushing and receiving, which can keep a team from having to spend a ton of money on both a back and receiver. It's hard to imagine that the Ravens will be able to let Rice go given how much their offense depends on him. 

Jermichael Finley, TE for the Green Bay Packers

2011 season: 55 ATT, 767 yards, 13.9 AVG, 8 TD

Jermichael Finley is a star tight end, although his numbers compared to other tight ends in the league. The fault lies in a Packers field crowded with receiving targets for Aaron Rodgers to spread his passes to.

His average yards per reception ranked fifth amongst receivers with 20 or more receptions and his touchdowns were third in the league. His attempts and yardage however did not even break the top 10.

If Finley moved into an offense that needs a few more receiving targets, such as Seattle or Arizona, Finley's numbers would most likely rise to the top tier of tight ends.

Matt Forte, RB for the Chicago Bears

2011 season: 203 ATT, 997 yards, 4.9 AVG, 3 TD. Receiving - 52 REC, 490 yards, 1 TD

Matt Forte was very close for most of the season gunning for the rushing title. Unfortunately, his season was cut short when he injured his knee in Week 13 against Kansas City. Forte, despite lower numbers in 2011, is among the top running backs in the 2012 free agency pool.

He again joins the class of running backs who can also be a receiving threat on the field. The Bears will most likely keep Forte, but will have to give him a hefty and lengthy contract to do so. If they aren't prepared to do so, Forte will have suitors lined up at his door.

Matt Flynn, QB for the Green Bay Packers

2011 season: 33 of 49, 67.3%, 518 yards, 10.6 AVG, 6 TD, 2 INT, 124.8 QR

If it wasn't for his Week 17 performance against the Detroit Lions, Matt Flynn would not be grouped amongst these elite athletes in contention for big contracts in 2012.

But it was that performance, that one where he set franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns in a single game, that will land him some big bucks in 2012.

The man has only started two games in his four-year NFL career, but both have been beauties, and would surely be good enough to start for the Packers if it wasn't because of a certain person named Aaron Rodgers.

And, Flynn's free agency comes at the perfect time where many teams in the league drastically need improvement at the quarterback position (here's looking at you Washington and Miami). 

Vincent Jackson, WR for the San Diego Chargers

2011 season: 60 REC, 1,106 yards, 18.4 AVG, 9 TD

Vincent Jackson worried many fantasy owners, and Chargers fans alike, coming off an injury year this past season. But Jackson did not disappoint, recording his third 1,000-yard plus season in four years. His yards per reception average was sixth best among receivers with at least 20 catches, and his touchdown totals tied for fourth in the league.

This was all during a "down" Philip Rivers year. Jackson is the number one receiver on the Chargers, and San Diego should waste no time in keeping him there. They will be paying him some big dollars, which they don't intend paying their other top offensive free agent (Mike Tolbert).

Peyton Hillis, RB for the Cleveland Browns

2011 season: 161 ATT, 587 yards, 3.6 AVG, 3 TD. Receiving - 22 REC, 130 yards, 0 TD

Peyton Hillis caused a lot of drama in Cleveland this year, whether it was due to his multiple "injuries," skipping events and leaving mid-week supposedly to get married.

Cleveland had obviously had enough of his drama, and will not pursue the running back to return for the 2012 season. What will be seen though is that Hillis will still attract many suitors based on his 2010 numbers, where he broke 1,000 rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns in his first season as a Cleveland Brown.

2012 will prove whether or not 2010 was a fluke, or if Hillis was just playing a game to lose Cleveland's interest in him for the 2012 season. 

Reggie Wayne, WR for the Indianapolis Colts

2011 season: 75 REC, 960 yards, 12.8 AVG, 4 TD

You cannot blame Reggie Wayne for a down season in 2011. The man replaced Marvin Harrison as Peyton Manning's go-to guy, and Wayne experienced what a season was like without Manning in the Colts offense.

It was the first time in eight seasons that Wayne didn't break 1,000 yards. A lot of this is to blame on the faulty play of Kerry Collins and Curtis Painter (who should never play in the NFL again).

If Orlovsky had started for the entirety of the 2011 season, we would have seen a much difference results from the Colts, and especially from their receivers. Reggie packed up his locker at the end of the 2011 season, and it seems almost certain that he will not be re-signed for the 2012 season, much to the dismay of Colts fans.

With the Colts cleaning house, they obviously want to go with a younger team, and have those options in Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. Wherever Wayne ends up, there is still plenty of gas left in his tank going into his 12th season, and he will add depth to any receiving squad.