2012 NFL Free Agents: Big-Name Players Not Worth Franchise Tag

The franchise tag can be a blessing and a curse for teams.

It signifies that a player is truly elite and pays them as such. But it also means that they are only contract for one year and are soon to be free agents.

Many guys get frustrated with the lack of financial security and try to negotiate a new contract or hold out if they get franchised.

Here are a few players that squads should not even bother throwing the tag on, and rather should sign them to a long-term deal or let them walk away.

Marques Colston

The Saints have a lot of key offensive free agents to re-sign. Drew Brees, Carl Nicks and Colston are all set to hit the open market this summer and will be highly coveted.

New Orleans needs to sign Brees to a long, big-money contract to keep football relevant in their city and use the franchise tag on Nicks if they have to.

Colston certainly isn't worth it.

There are a number of solid receivers on the roster and losing Marques would not be as big of a blow as losing Brees or Nicks.

Cedric Benson

The Bengals don't need Cedric and his off-the-field problems lingering around their locker room any longer.

It's going to be Benson's eighth year in the league next season and Cincinnati should use one of their two first-round picks on a new RB.

He's revived his career in Cincy, but he's clearly not the player the team needs to build around and he's certainly not worth top-five money.

DeSean Jackson

This guy doesn't have a solid head on his shoulders.

He has so much potential and skill but consistently fails to harness it and sulks when things aren't going his way.

There is no justifiable reason to pay him like an elite receiver until he proves he actually can be one on a consistent basis.