2012 NFL Free Agent Predictions: Where Vincent Jackson and More Studs Will Land

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson is easily the most valuable and realistic target on the 2012 free agency market, and if he does indeed test the market, he's going to be quite a snag for some lucky team.

This may not be what fans of the San Diego Chargers would like to hear, but I think he's going to try to find football happiness somewhere else when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 13.

The Chargers have been a late-season mess under head coach Norv Turner and they didn't even make the playoffs in a very weak AFC West last season.

Jackson can literally have his pick of teams, and there are more than a few teams that would love to throw a ton of money at him in hopes that he can make them a contender.

You know what that means folks...

It's open season.

Where will Jackson end up, and where will the rest of the biggest names in this class play in 2012?

Here are my predictions for some of the biggest names:

Vincent Jackson, WR: Chicago Bears

Yeah folks, you are reading this right.

The Bears have a ton of holes to fill and being in the same division as the Packers and Lions, they don't have the luxury of taking their time.

They need to get better and do so fast if they want to compete, so I expect them to make a big play for Jackson.

Jay Cutler can be a great quarterback with the right receivers to throw to, and there is no doubting Jackson could be elite catching passing from him.

Bringing in Jackson, taking care of Matt Forte and handling the offensive line through the draft would be a dream scenario for the Bears.

Expect them to make a big push for the elite wideout they haven't had in a long while.

Matt Flynn, QB: Miami Dolphins

Flynn absolutely dazzled the NFL with his 480 yard, six touchdown performance against the Detroit Lions in replacement of Aaron Rodgers, who was resting for the playoffs.

If this was a one time deal it would be a different story, but filling in for Rodgers in 2010 he almost beat the Patriots on the road, throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns in a narrow 31-27 loss.

It's not safe to say it yet, but it looks as if Flynn has a great chance to be the real deal—and the Dolphins look to be the perfect destination for him.

I don't see them being able to snag a quarterback worth stretching for in the draft, and keep in mind new head coach Joe Philbin was formerly the Packers offensive coordinator.

I see a good fit in Miami for both parties involved. The Dolphins are desperately seeking a franchise quarterback, and Flynn seeks a place that will give him the shot as the No. 1 guy.

Brandon Lloyd, WR: New England Patriots

If we learned anything about Tom Brady and the Patriots in their Super Bowl loss, it's the fact that Brady can't do it all on his own.

Having two great tight ends and a slot guy like Wes Welker—who I expect to re-sign—is all fine and dandy, but at the end of the day Brady needs somebody who can help him stretch the field.

Enter in Lloyd, who has a deep connection with new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and has been very vocal about wanting to play for him again, according to Ron Borges of the Boston Herald.

There is a slight issue involving a tattered relationship between the Patriots and Lloyd's agent. But if they can get that solved for the greater good, putting Lloyd on that offense would make the Patriots favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl yet again.

Both sides are smart enough to realize the potential that a signing like this could have, so I have no problem making this prediction.