2012 NFL Free Agent Predictions: Stevie Johnson and 3 WRs Poised to Switch Teams

The 2012 free agent class is littered with wide receivers that aren’t exactly loyal to their current franchise.

With dollar signs dancing around their heads, the grass is always greener on the other side. Others are just ready for a change of scenery, while some have just outgrown their franchise.

Here are three receivers that have little to no chance of ending up back on their original team.

Stevie Johnson—Buffalo Bills

He is coming off of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the first time in Bills’ team history, and he finished 2011 with 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns.

As the only explosive weapon at QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s disposal, they need him back.

Yet Johnson’s violate personality caused him to get benched for the final three quarters of the Bills’ last game of the season. He had drawn an excessive celebration penalty for the third time in two years, and coach Chan Gailey had had enough.

With the bitter end of the season, it appears that Gailey is fed up with Johnson and his me-first antics.

Rodney McKissic of the Buffalo News has reported the team won’t be franchising the 25-year-old. That means a deal from the Bills would be less than the roughly $9.4M it costs to franchise a receiver.

With the dreams of playing in a bigger market surely on the front of his mind, he’ll find a receiver-needy team like the San Francisco 49ers or Washington Redskins willing to shell out the big dough on a multi-year deal.

Mario Manningham—New York Giants

He will always be remembered for his incredible catch in the Super Bowl, but the Giants have to pay a lot of free agents.

Manningham isn’t the No. 1 priority.

With his newly-found fame, he can land a huge deal, but the Giants know he only had 39 receptions for 523 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season in a part-time role of sorts. That’s not worth $15 million guaranteed.

The Giants will let him walk because his value is incredibly inflated at the moment, and they already employ Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.

Reggie Wayne—Indianapolis Colts

He may not be associated with the team anymore, but according to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports, he thinks Wayne is on his way out the door.

He also believes that if this is the case, a reunion with Peyton Manning is a likely possibility.

It makes plenty of sense. Wayne is 33, and he doesn’t want to be around for a rebuilding year or two in Indianapolis. Wayne and Manning were one of the most prolific tandems in the sport since they paired up together back in 2001.

So, if Manning ends up on the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins or Miami Dolphins…expect Wayne to follow.