2012 NFL Free Agents: London Fletcher and Other Veterans Who Must Be Re-Signed

As the NFL's free agency period nears, teams have already put franchise tags on some players and have re-signed others.

Expect the personnel moves to continue to come fast and furious after free agency begins and until the 2012 season kicks off.

That said, here are some veterans that need to be re-signed by their 2011 franchise for increased odds at a better 2012 campaign.

Deion Branch, Patriots

The Patriots may not have a standout receiver who can consistently stretch a defense like they did in Randy Moss. However, the veteran leadership of a guy like Deion Branch can make just as much of an impact.

For one, he's a former Super Bowl MVP and since rejoining New England in 2010, Branch has revived his career as well as improved the Patriots offense.

Yes, he'll go overlooked because of other targets like Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, but Branch's contributions as a key role player are vitally important to the Pats success.

Last season he caught 51 passes for 702 yards and scored five touchdowns, while adding eight receptions for 148 yards and one touchdown in the postseason. Needless to say, the Patriots went back to the Super Bowl.

Branch may be old but he can still beat most single coverage situations. He's never going to see double-coverage because of Welker and Gronk, so anytime Tom Brady has a favorable matchup, Branch is getting the hot-read.

Exclude Branch from this offense and all a defense needs to do is play Cover 2 back deep and double-team Gronkowski. Elsewhere, Welker and Hernandez can be isolated in zone underneath since there's no well-established veteran on the outside.

Branch's mere presence is a significant piece of the puzzle that keeps the rhythm flowing in the Pats offense.

Jeff Saturday, Colts

Arguably the best center of his era, if the Indianapolis Colts want to quickly rebuild, retaining Jeff Saturday is just as important as holding on to Peyton Manning.

Going undrafted in 1998, Saturday was acquired by the Colts in 1999 and since winning the starting role has established himself as a potential Hall of Fame candidate.

With five Pro Bowl and four All-Pro selections, Saturday has played in 10 full seasons and in less than 11 games only once (1999). Regardless of what happens with Manning, the Colts would be well served to re-sign Saturday to orchestrate the offensive line.

Despite being weak across the board in 2011, the Colts have a capable rushing attack with Donald Brown and Joseph Addai. However, their production will take an even steeper nosedive if Saturday is not calling the shot in the trenches.

He's arguably the most intelligent center in the game and will help the development of a young quarterback as well. Saturday recognizes virtually every blitz and is great at anticipating defensive line stunts.

And if Manning returns to Circle City, then great. But if Saturday does not, Indianapolis will have lost the most important player on the team's most important unit. Because no matter how great Manning was or is, that success can't happen without a consistent offensive line.

London Fletcher, Redskins

Next to Baltimore's Ray Lewis, if we're talking about linebackers who play at a high-rate of consistency, Washington's London Fletcher is among the best.

Although he's been with three teams (Rams, Bills, Redskins), Fletcher has never missed a step controlling the middle. In every season since 2000, Fletcher has recorded at least 116 tackles and yet still remains as one of the most underrated players.

Last season he recorded a career-high 166 tackles, while also forcing three fumbles and defending eight passes.

Washington may have finished 5-11 but they swept the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants and the defense ranked No. 13 overall, allowing just under 340 total yards per game. Considering Fletcher and Co. were backed by a terrible offense and a lack of special teams, they were consistently sound.

As for Fletcher, he can still move quite well laterally, recognize when receivers are near his zone in coverage and stop the run as well as any 'backer in the game.

Despite being on the back end of his career, Fletcher remaining in Washington will help lay a foundation for the future. His football IQ is arguably the best in the game and the Redskins can't afford to lose a guy who's basically a coach on the field.

Rashean Mathis, Jaguars

One of the better complete corners in the league, Jacksonville must retain Rashean Mathis to remain a premier NFL defense.

In 2011, Jacksonville only went 5-11, but had wins over Baltimore and Tennessee and owned the No. 6 overall defense. And the Jags weren't just strong in one area.

They ranked No. 8 against the pass, No. 9 against the run, lost five games by a touchdown or less and allowed just 313 total yards per game. Jacksonville also ranked No. 11 in allowing only 20.6 points per game, despite having an offense that scored just 15.2 points per game (ranked No. 28).

Before his injury, Mathis was having a grand season with 34 tackles and four defended passes through nine games. In previous seasons, Mathis was extremely consistent even when he wasn't fully healthy.

Which in the long run, may be a reason for Jacksonville to look elsewhere or at the very least, sign him to a one-year deal and make 2012 a test for the future. After having recorded 20 picks through his first four seasons and defending 66 total passes, it's no surprise to see opposing offenses throwing to the other side of the field.

And with defensive coordinator Mel Tucker staying in town, Mathis will have an opportunity to step into a leadership role on the Jaguars defense. Rashean has great instincts and experience, is a great interception returner, and would be a huge loss for the Jaguars going forward.

John Rozum on Twitter.