2012 NFL Free Agency: 10 Veterans Who Deserve One Last Big Contract

On March 13 at 4 p.m. ET, NFL free agency for the 2012 year will officially begin.

There are so many free agents out there who are either at the end of their rookie contracts, or are looking to cash in one more time before their career is over.

It's hard to determine a player's worth.

Statistics, marketability, remaining potential and injury risk are all major factors when discerning who to sign and who to let go.

Especially if you're the only team a certain player has played for his entire career, there can be added pressure to re-sign that player.

I've taken a look at all of the 2012 free agents, and narrowed the list down to ten veterans who deserve one last big pay day.

Troy Polamalu (Re-Signed 9/10/11)

Other than Ed Reed and Darrelle Revis, Troy Polamalu is the best defensive back in the game today, and one of the best ever.

He's had to deal with many injuries in his career, like most NFL players.

However, when most players incur those injuries, they slow down, or even retire.

Polamalu maintains greatness despite adversity.

He's the best player on a team that went to the Super Bowl a year ago, and 12-4 in 2011.

He may be nearing the end of his prime, but he deserves the big money he received before last season.

Chances player returns to current team: 100 percent

Drew Brees (Unrestricted Free Agent)

If there is one person who means more to a team and to a city than any other player, it's Drew Brees.

If there is one player in the NFL who is worth all of the money he earns, it's Drew Brees.

Since Brees signed with the Saints in 2006, he's shattered numerous all-time passing records, led them to two NFC conference championship games, and a victory in Super Bowl XLIV.

Saints Owner/President Tom Benson has one job this off-season: give Brees a blank check.

Period.

The end.

Chances player returns to current team: 99 percent

Wes Welker (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Obviously, he had a key drop in Super Bowl XLVI.

In the five years he's been with the Patriots, Wes Welker has led the league in receptions three times.

His worst season with New England was 2010 (86 receptions, 868 yards, seven touchdowns).

Tom Brady is still his quarterback.

Bill Belichick is still his head coach.

Don't be a prisoner of the moment.

Welker is still among the best receivers in the game, without a doubt.

Chances player returns to current team: 95 percent

Mario Williams (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Mario Williams notched five sacks in five games this year, before suffering a season-ending torn pectoral injury in Week 5 versus the Raiders.

He was the first overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, and was named to the All-Pro first team in 2007 and 2008.

From an emotional perspective, people were doubting him because they thought Reggie Bush deserved to be the No. 1 pick.

Williams simply went to work, honed his craft, stuck with a raw franchise and now is among the best players in football.

His versatility only makes his stock grow higher.

With Wade Phillips coordinating the defense this past season, Williams had to move from defensive end to outside linebacker.

Williams didn't miss a beat, and was on track for another stellar season before he got injured in Week 5.

If the Texans defense can go from 30th overall in 2010 to second overall in 2011, without Williams for most of the season, imagine what they can do now, with him healthy.

Chances player returns to current team: 95 percent

London Fletcher (Unrestricted Free Agent)

He led the league in tackles in the regular season (166).

Since 2001, he's never had less than 116 tackles.

Since 1999, he's missed one start (207 starts out of 208 games).

For an organization such as the Redskins that is just starting to stabilize, the last thing you want to do is let your leader play somewhere else because of money.

Is London Fletcher worth ten million dollars a year? Probably not.

Has he truly earned one last big contract? Absolutely.

After all, this team did sweep the Super Bowl champion Giants in 2011.

In those two games, the defense (led by Fletcher), compiled seven sacks, four Eli Manning interceptions and allowed 24 points combined.

Chances player returns to current team: 85 percent

D'Qwell Jackson (Unrestricted Free Agent)

D'Qwell Jackson plays in a division where each team's defense finished 2011 ranked in the top ten.

Still, he's as much of a contributor to his defense as any player in the division.

In his last two full seasons (2011, 2008), Jackson recorded a combined 312 tackles.

Although he's very much in his prime, this may be Jackson's last chance to receive a big pay day.

Chances player returns to current team: 85 percent

Matt Forte (Restricted Free Agent)

Although Matt Forte has only played in the NFL for four years, he's been given an unusual amount of responsibility, which is why he made this list.

From the beginning, Forte has produced at a high level in Chicago, and he hasn't had much help at all. He started in every game since his rookie year (2008), before getting hurt in Week 13 this past season.

Before he sprained his right MCL on December 4 against Kansas City, Forte was averaging 5.9 yards per touch.

In 13 games, including the Chiefs game in which he only carried five times, Forte rushed 203 times in 2011.

All other Bears rushers (seven players) rushed 220 times.

In 2011, Forte caught 52 passes.

The next closest receiver (Johnny Knox) caught 37 passes this season.

Even though Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has improved his play, the main reason the Bears are competitive is because of Forte.

Being a restricted free agent means that if any team offers Forte a deal, the Bears have the first shot to match that deal. If the Bears don't want to match it, they will receive a draft pick in compensation.

Obviously, Forte and Ray Rice are the cream of this year's free agent running back crop. Rice has been assured by Ravens management that he will remain in Baltimore.

As far as Forte goes, the Bears need him more than he needs the Bears.

If they don't re-sign him, good luck competing with the Packers and Lions.

Chances player returns to current team: 80 percent

Marques Colston (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Right away, you may ask, "Why re-sign Marques Colston if Drew Brees spreads the ball around so often?"

That's the point.

The reason the Saints offense is so hard to defend is that Brees can depend on Colston when other options break down.

If the Saints don't re-sign him, sure, Brees will still light up the stat sheet.

But if they do re-sign him, there's no reason to believe they won't be as good or better than they were this year.

Here's a comparison of two unrestricted free agent wide receivers in big-time offenses with big-time quarterbacks:

Receiver A

• 2011: 60 receptions, 1,106 yards, nine touchdowns
• Career (seven seasons): 272 receptions, 4,754 yards, 37 touchdowns

Receiver B

• 2011: 80 receptions, 1,143 yards, eight touchdowns
• Career (six seasons): 449 receptions, 6,240 yards, 48 touchdowns

Receiver A is Vincent Jackson.

Receiver B is Marques Colston.

Colston brings much more production, and much less resistance than Jackson does.

Chances player returns to current team: 75 percent

Jarret Johnson (Restricted Free Agent)

When Chuck Pagano signed on to be the next head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, it was assumed that he'd take some coaches and players with him.

Pagano has since hired two former Ravens assistants to his staff (Marwan Maalouf, Roy Anderson), but as far as which players (if any) will join him, we don't yet know.

One player that has a shot at playing for the Colts next season is Ravens outside linebacker Jarret Johnson.

He's as tough as they come, and Johnson knows what it takes to be a big part of the league's best defense.

Johnson has played every single one of his nine NFL seasons with the Ravens.

Since 2003, only once did the Ravens finish the year with a defensive rank lower than sixth (tenth in 2010). Johnson was a big part of that success, but with Pagano trying to rebuild in Indy, this may have been Johnson's last year in Baltimore.

The good thing for Ravens fans is the Johnson is a restricted free agent, which will make it harder for Pagano (or any other coach) to take Johnson from the Ravens.

What could hurt Baltimore's chances to keep him is the amount of free agents they would like to re-sign.

In other words, there may not be enough money to go around to keep No. 95 in purple and black.

Chances player returns to current team: 65 percent

Reggie Wayne (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Peyton Manning may not play again, much less for the Colts.

That figures to have a very big effect on where Reggie Wayne plays in 2012.

Take a look at that photo.

I think you get it.

Chances player returns to current team: 35 percent