2012 NFL Free Agency: 6 Free Agents Who Killed Their Stocks in 2011

Contract years for NFL players about to hit free agency can be advantageous for those who perform their best right before hitting the open market.

Then again, a disappointing season can really drive the value down on some players who didn't come through.

For NFL front offices' standpoint, these players provide solid value for a team looking to fill holes with an undervalued free agent.

Be it injury, production or just being overrated in the first place, these players underperformed in 2011 and will subsequently take a hit in their bank accounts prior to the 2012 season.

Reggie Wayne

A model of consistency over his 11-year career, Reggie Wayne suffered immensely from the injury to star quarterback Peyton Manning.

During the 2011 season, Wayne posted a total yardage under 1,000 for the first time since 2003. His four touchdowns tie the second-lowest total of his career.

Now with the potentially cash-strapped Indianapolis Colts looking to save this offseason, Wayne will test the open market with a weak case for being the a dynamic option at age 33.

Wayne is durable, not missing a start since 2002, but has lost two steps, and his ability to create separation versus top shutdown corners.

More intriguing is how Wayne will perform down the road without Manning.

Perhaps the best option will be to follow Manning to his destination, creating an interesting opportunity for any franchise willing to take the pair. 

Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis falls into the overrated category as it pertains to his bad performance during the 2011 season. 

The bruiser for the Cleveland Browns struck gold in 2010, rushing for over 1,000 yards, pleasing fantasy football enthusiasts and making an appearance on the Madden cover.

In 2011, Hillis ran for half the yardage, ticked off fantasy enthusiasts and furthered the theory of a Madden curse.

In a contract year where Hillis could have potentially solidified his status as a No.1 back, the former Razorback sat in games with minor injuries and averaged a terrible 3.6 yards per rush.

Ouch.

Personally, I would not touch Hillis with a 10-foot pole this offseason as there are plenty of better options in the draft or even free agency.

Mario Williams

The season-ending pectoral injury to Mario Williams was a devastating loss to the Houston Texans in 2011.

For Williams, the injury evokes significant concerns about his durability and his importance on the Texans defense.

After starting every game throughout his first four seasons, Williams missed three games in 2010 and 11 tilts in 2011.

Perhaps more disconcerting is the fact that the Texans hardly missed a beat despite the absence of Williams for the majority of the season. Houston proceeded to win the AFC South with a stifling defense and could have advanced further in the playoffs with a healthy Matt Schaub.

Ultimately, Williams will not lose too much value given his natural ability and likely full recovery over the offseason. However, the Texans will now ponder if their money is best spent elsewhere given how little he was missed in 2011.

Brandon Lloyd

Brandon Lloyd had a nice season in 2011, nearly eclipsing 1,000 yards and improving once traded to the St. Louis Rams.

What's more telling about Lloyd's stock this offseason is his production when coached by Josh McDaniels compared to his production when not coached by the young offensive mind.

In 2010, Lloyd shocked NFL fans with an electrifying 1,448-yard season with Kyle Orton under center for the majority of the year. 

After the departure of McDaniels, Lloyd struggled to begin the year in Denver, leading to a trade by the Broncos carrying Lloyd back to McDaniels in St. Louis.

Now, other teams will be hesitant to up the price on Lloyd this offseason, limiting his negotiating leverage and potential monetary upside.

Cedric Benson

Cedric Benson's style of running is completely outdated in the present-day run-and-gun National Football League.

In no season was this more prevalent than in 2011, when the Cincinnati Bengals back suffered another decline in production and averaged a mere 3.9 yards per rush.

Surrounded by young, explosive talent in Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, Benson mustered just over 1,000 yards rushing with six scores. For the second straight year, Benson's total rushing yardage declined.

Moving forward, I expect the Bengals to address the running back position via the NFL draft. That leaves Benson on the open market, where he will likely be no more than a backup option for his new team.

Fred Davis

After failing multiple drug tests, Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis missed the final four games of the 2011 regular season due to suspension.

Red flag, anyone?

Teams looking for a highly-popular matchup nightmare at tight end would normally look the way of Fred Davis over the offseason as a potential option.

However, eyebrows were certainly raised with the news of the suspension to the promising tight end. Davis picked a bad year, his contract year no less, to get caught red-handed by the heavy hand of Roger Goodell.