2012 NFL Free Agents: 5 Teams That Could Sign CB Stanford Routt

The first big move of the NFL offseason came on Thursday. The Oakland Raiders released well-paid cornerback Stanford Routt in an effort to regain some financial stability for a franchise that has lacked as much for several years.

Routt had signed a five-year, $54.5 million deal to avoid free agency just under a year ago. However, Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie obviously couldn't handle the combination of production on the field and the cap number Routt possessed.

Routt is now a free agent and allowed to sign with any team he likes before March 13 and the start of free agency. There should be several teams interested. The former Oakland man is not required to wait until the start of free agency because his contract was terminated, unlike traditional free agents whose contracts expire. 

Let's take a look at five teams rumored to have interest:  

Buffalo Bills

ESPN's Josina Anderson reported that the Bills have already scheduled a visit with Routt's agent, while Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweeted on Thursday night that Routt's visit to Buffalo will take place on Sunday. 

Tennessee Titans

Wyatt also tweeted that Routt "has been in contact with the Titans, but no visit set up yet."

Starting cornerback Cortland Finnegan is a free agent and could leave Tennessee this offseason, in which case Routt would be a sensible replacement.

Dallas Cowboys

According to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com, the Cowboys "have expressed an interest" in Routt following his release. That interest makes plenty of sense, as the Cowboys have a gaping hole at cornerback and will likely be axing Terrance Newman to save cap room.

In Watkins' report, he mentions that owner/GM Jerry Jones has said on many occasions how the Cowboys will add new faces to the secondary. Routt could be the first.    

Denver Broncos

Bill Williamson of ESPN.com speculated that the Broncos could be a landing spot for Routt, as the Broncos "will be looking for a cornerback either in free agency or early in the draft."

Williamson went on to state that "Signing a player of Routt's skills now would allow the Broncos to concentrate on other areas. Routt was better as Oakland’s No. 2 cornerback playing with Nnamdi Asomugha, so he’d benefit from playing with Champ Bailey. I don’t think Denver would break the bank for Routt, but I could see interest."

Hard to knock Williamson's thought process. It's not often that a talented cornerback in his prime becomes available on the market, and a Bailey-Routt cornerback tandem looks solid on paper. 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings were another team who expressed early interest in Routt, according to Watkins' report at ESPNDallas. Like the Cowboys, Minnesota desperately needs help in the secondary, and adding Routt could speed up the rebuilding process at cornerback.