2012 NFL Free Agents: Leading Options at Receiver for New England Patriots

The closer we get to the beginning of the NFL's free agency period, the more sure it seems that the New England Patriots are going to take a serious run at one of the top receivers on the market. 

Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe reiterated that fact on Sunday.

"

Keep hearing that the Patriots’ top priority on the free agent market will be receiver. Would have to think that Vincent Jackson (Chargers) and Mike Wallace (Steelers) are at the top of the list.

"

NFL teams have until Monday, March 5 to franchise tag players. Free agency opens on Tuesday, March 13. 

Vincent Jackson has long been a candidate to get the franchise tag from the San Diego Chargers, but it appears as if GM A.J. Smith isn't willing to go down that route with his No. 1 receiver.

In fact, Smith said in a radio interview last Friday that it is "highly unlikely" that Jackson will receive the tag. He also mentioned that the Chargers wouldn't make a decision either way until the deadline on Monday.

Over seven seasons with the Chargers, Jackson has almost 5,000 career receiving yards and 37 touchdowns. Franchise-tagging Jackson would cost San Diego almost $14 million next season after they gave him the tag in 2011.  

If Jackson did get to free agency, it's very likely that he would be on his way out of San Diego. The two sides have been in turmoil.

Compensation for the Patriots would only come through a multi-year contract.

That wouldn't be the case if the Patriots targeted Mike Wallace. New England would have to give up one of their first-round picks plus give Wallace a deal that the Pittsburgh Steelers couldn't match.

Is there enough of talent difference between Wallace and Jackson for the Patriots to give up that much? If Jackson is available in free agency, there doesn't seem like there would be much incentive for the Patriots to surrender so much for Wallace.

Bedard favors Jackson right now too.

"Don’t see how San Diego can afford not to franchise Jackson and then at least trade him. I’d go with Jackson over Wallace despite Jackson being 29 and four years older," he wrote.

Brandon Lloyd is also an option, and Bedard points out that he would be considerably cheaper at 31 years old.

There are obvious connections between Lloyd and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who previously worked with Lloyd in Denver (head coach) and St. Louis (offensive coordinator). Lloyd posted his two best professional seasons in McDaniels-run offenses—77 receptions for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns with Denver in 2009, and 51 receptions for 683 yards in 11 games with St. Louis in 2011.

As late as Saturday, the Rams were not expected to franchise-tag Lloyd.

By the time Monday is over, we'll have a clearer look at who the Patriots might be targeting in free agency. Franchise tags will and should have a huge impact on which names top New England's short list.  

But as it stands now, the top target might be the guy who caught 10 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a Chargers' Week 2 loss in New England last season.