2012 NFL Free Agents: Projecting Destinations for the Top Player at Every Spot

After we dispense with the three-ring circus that is the NFL Scouting Combine later this month, the National Football League's attention will focus in March on something more akin to a half-auction/half prison break: NFL Free Agency, set to begin March 13.

There are any number of star players set to hit free agency that have very little chance of going anywhere, so rather than predict that Drew Brees will end up, well, right where's he's at with the New Orleans Saints, here's a look at some top players who actually could see a change in mailing address before training camps open.

QB: Matt Flynn, Green Bay Packers

Assuming for a moment that the New Orleans Saints don't want their fans to revolt, quarterback Drew Brees isn't going anywhere, making Green Bay Packers back-up quarterback Matt Flynn the hottest commodity set to hit free agency.

That is, of course, until a certain player in Indianapolis' future becomes clearer.

Should the Miami Dolphins miss out on the Peyton Manning, sweepstakes it's likely they'll turn their attention to Flynn, hoping that the fourth-year pro will play more like Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans after signing a fat deal and less like the Arizona Cardinals' Kevin Kolb.

Projected Landing Spot: Miami Dolphins

RB: Peyton Hillis: Cleveland Browns

Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens, Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears, Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks and Arian Foster of the Houston Texans are all free agents this year, although Foster is a restricted free agent.

Franchised, franchised, franchised and franchised.

That leaves Cleveland running back Peyton Hillis as the best of a rather thin group at the running back position, and with starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis set to hit free agency himself, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick may look to upgrade the New England running game by hoping that Hillis can recapture his 2010 form.

Projected Landing Spot: New England Patriots

WR: Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers

With such big names as Wes Welker of the New England Patriots, Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs and DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles all reportedly candidates for the franchise tag, 6'5" Vincent Jackson of the San Diego Chargers is likely the most prominent wide receiver set to hit the open market.

The seventh-year veteran has some injury and attitude issues, but has also put up over 1,000 receiving yards in three of the past four seasons and could certainly help a team with big wide receiver issues such as the one a little farther up the California coast.

Projected Landing Spot: San Francisco 49ers

TE: Fred Davis, Washington Redskins

Even though Jermichael Finley struggled though an up-and-down 2011 season with the Green Bay Packers, he's still such a physical talent that it's less than even money that he will be leaving Titletown in the offseason.

The four-game suspension that ended the season of Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis will absolutely affect some teams' willingness to consider the fourth-year veteran, but Davis was on pace for over 1,000 receiving yards last year, so should he remain in the nation's capital, a few teams will certainly at least kick the tires.

Projected Landing Spot: Washington Redskins

OL: Carl Nicks, New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints would be loathe to lose the services of Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks, but the financial reality of the situation is that given their other free agents, they may not be able to pony up the cash needed to keep the fourth-year pro.

If that's the case, then a full-on bidding war may erupt, and it's a distinct possibility that one of the NFL teams with the deepest pockets (i.e. most cap space) may wind up securing the services of the 6'5", 343-pound road grader.

Projected Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals

DL: Cliff Avril, Detroit Lions

Given that the Detroit Lions have nearly half their salary cap room tied up in four players it's going to be hard for the team to find a lot of space to lock up their defensive free agents, including defensive end Cliff Avril.

The 25-year-old had a career year in 2011 with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles, so even if Avril is moving on, there should be no shortage of suitors for a pass rusher of his youth and upside, and a long-term deal at over $10 million a season could easily be in Avril's future.

Projected Landing Spot: Jacksonville Jaguars

LB: Curtis Lofton, Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton was fifth in the National Football League in tackles in 2011 with 147, but with news reports circulating that Lofton could be removed in passing sub-packages next year, the writing may be on the wall that the Falcons aren't "all in" on bringing the 25-year-old back.

That opens the door for a team looking to upgrade at the position or one switching to the 4-3 this season to make a big run at Lofton, and while there's still a significant chance that Lofton stays in Atlanta what was once a near certainty is now just a probability.

Projected Landing Spot: Atlanta Falcons

CB: Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee Titans

Cornerbacks Brandon Carr of the Kansas City Chiefs and Brent Grimes of the Atlanta Falcons may be more attractive targets, but they are also much more likely candidates for the franchise tag and are likely staying put with their respective teams.

That leaves Cortland Finnegan of the Tennessee Titans as the best option at his position in free agency that's expected to change teams, and recent reports are swirling that a certain cash-strapped team north of Nashville may be looking to free up space to take a run at him.

Projected Landing Spot: Detroit Lions

S: LaRon Landry, Washington Redskins

After two injury-plagued seasons with the Redskins and disagreement with the team on how best to treat safety LaRon Landry's troublesome Achilles, it appears that the talented fifth-year veteran's time in Washington may be coming to an end.

The bugaboo with Landry is the injury to that pesky tendon, and the team that signs Landry in free agency will likely do so with an incentive-laden deal that they hope nets them the player that had 245 tackles from 2007-2009 and not the hobbled pro that's missed 16 of his past 33 games.

Projected Landing Spot: New England Patriots

K/P: Neil Rackers, Houston Texans

In my last piece regarding some of the top free agents at each position, I was criticized for not including a kicker or punter, and never let it be said I don't listen to my readers, so here goes.

Neil Rackers still has plenty of leg left at 36 years young, connecting on 32-of-38 field goal attempts in 2011 with a long of 54 yards, and it's possible that a Houston Texans team without a lot of salary-cap room may choose to go with a less expensive option at the position.

Predicted Landing Spot: Arizona Cardinals