2012 NFL Free-Agent Predictions: Where Brandon Carr and More Top Corners Will Go

With news breaking yesterday that Stanford Routt signed a three-year, $19.6 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, it became clear that cornerbacks are going to be a hot commodity this NFL offseason.

Routt isn’t even the best cornerback available. There is going to be an arms race to sign these next three guys, who are arguably the top corners available.

Cortland Finnegan

The Titans and Finnegan’s camp have made no reported progress in their contract negotiations and it looks like the veteran CB will become a free agent on March 13.

This is a Tennessee front office that does not care about upsetting key veterans (see Chris Johnson) and it’s quite plausible that Finnegan finds a new team this summer.

I believe he will end up in St. Louis, following in the footsteps of his former coach, Jeff Fisher. The team has the money and the need for a top corner like Cortland.

Brandon Carr

As mentioned earlier, Carr is likely on his way out KC because of Routt’s new presence.

The team will not pay Brandon Flowers, Routt and Carr big money when only two will start.

This makes Carr the odd man out and it’s more than likely he heads to another franchise and gets a $7 to $10 million per-year deal from them.

A team like Oakland could make a serious offer to this young man in order to replace the hole that Routt left them in the secondary.

Carlos Rogers

Rogers is doing extremely well despite being nearly 31 years old. He’s limited his opposition to a 52.6 completion percentage and making plays on the ball (six interceptions) as well.

He started on the Pro Bowl roster and was named a second-team All-Pro for his work with the resurgent 49ers defense and will be a valuable player in the open market.

Expect the 49ers to re-sign him for his veteran leadership and skills while other teams are leery because of his age.