2012 NFL Free Agents: 5 Underrated Studs on Open Market

While the big names are going to dominate the headlines of the free agent market, they aren't going to bring the best value to their teams. No, that honor belongs to these players. 

All of them are flying under the radar as sexier names are on the market, but these players will make a big impact on whatever team is fortunate enough to sign them in 2012. 

Michael Bush, RB, Oakland Raiders

We can start with the fact that at 6'1, 245 pounds, Bush is an absolute monster inside of the 10, but he isn't just a terror in short yardage spots. 

The Raiders can blame a lot of people for missing the playoffs in 2011, but Bush is not one of them. He ran for 977 yards in 2011, becoming the team's primary back after Darren McFadden's Week 7 injury. 

In the previous year, when McFadden was the primary back, Bush had a respectable 655 yards. He is 28 years old and still has a few good years left in the tank. A team would do well to bring him in as a nice change-of-pace smash back. In a good offense, he can easily top 10 touchdowns. 

Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts

While the Colts' 2011 season was quite forgettable, Garcon put up good numbers, even without Peyton Manning. As a matter of fact, he caught more passes for more yards with the trio of Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky than he ever did with Manning. 

Garcon has a nice combination of size and speed that will make him an asset in different formations. He is clearly not just a product of Peyton Manning, but his production is sure to be better in a more consistent and stable quarterback situation. 

When you consider that he caught 70 passes for 947 yards and six scores in 2011, improvement is going to produce a tremendous season. 

Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Minnesota Vikings

It needs to be noted that in the two years he played on a good team, Shiancoe was a red-zone terror on opponents. 

Look at the numbers Shiancoe put up in the last two years that he played on a playoff team. 

	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns
2008	42	596	7
2009	56	566	11

Those seasons weren't that long ago, not for a tight end who is still 6'4", 250 pounds. If you put Shiancoe on a team that has consistent offense, he will make the difference between field goals and touchdowns. 

Andre Carter, DE, New England Patriots

Four times in his career, Carter has sacked the quarterback more than 10 times. In all but one of those years, his team made the playoffs. 

Line him up on the edge and let Carter attack the quarterback. He has done that extremely well throughout his time in the NFL and will do so again on a contending team. 

Look at a team like the Packers, who were 15-1 but still only tied for 27th in quarterback sacks. They would do extremely well to land this kind of player. 

Jameel McClain, LB, Baltimore Ravens

It is easy to be overshadowed in the Ravens defense, but McClain has been a remarkably consistent linebacker on the Ravens defense over the last few years. While battling with some of the best defensive players in the NFL, McClain found a way to record 71 tackles in 2010 and 84 in 2011. 

In addition to that, McClain will only be 26 next season, so he does have time to improve, which is a nice thought for any potential teams.

So many defenses today are built from the outside in. McClain is a stable force in the middle that would allow talent to be built around him on the outside. 

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