2012 NFL Free Agents: Mario Williams and 15 Players Who Will Command Big Money

2012 NFL free agency is finally here. The beginning of the period always incites a bidding war for the top players available, as teams with cap space attempt to find the one superstar to change the fortunes of their franchise.

Whether the players are a grizzled veteran looking for one last paycheck or a young stud entering their prime, one thing’s for sure: These 15 players are going to land massive contracts thanks to their special abilities.

While these players are the most expensive options on the market, they are individuals with the capability to push a team over the top and make them instant Super Bowl contenders. Competing for a championship, as many fans will agree, is worth any financial risk.

Here are 15 players who will command big money on the open market this offseason.

Mario Williams, Outside Linebacker

Mario Williams claims it’s not about the money this offseason, but one has to be inclined to believe that once he sees the ridiculous contract offers teams will send his way, his mind will change. Players like Williams are very hard to find, and teams will pay top dollar for his services.

Williams missed the majority of last season with a torn pectoral, but that won’t impact how much he makes in free agency. If the Houston Texans had franchised Williams this offseason, it would have come at the hefty price tag of $22 million.

Williams is a valuable asset in any kind of defense, as he can play end in a 4-3 or outside linebacker in a 3-4. His ability to rush the passer is almost unmatched around the league, and the contract he receives will be extravagant.

Matt Flynn, Quarterback

Matt Flynn is going to land a starting gig somewhere in the league in the first few days of free agency, and it will come at a big cost to the lucky team. Flynn is expected to call for a Kevin Kolb-like contract. Kolb received a six-year deal worth $65 million, with about $12 million guaranteed.

Flynn, as of now, is worth the money for a team looking for a franchise quarterback. He has shown flashes of greatness while learning from the best quarterback in the league, Aaron Rodgers.

Flynn will find a home as soon as Peyton Manning picks his destination. Being the second quarterback behind arguably the greatest of all time in a free-agent pool isn’t a bad thing at all. Flynn will certainly incite a bidding war that will make him a very well-paid, unproven quarterback.

Vincent Jackson, Wide Receiver

Vincent Jackson is one of the best receivers in all of football, and he will be paid like one very soon. The San Diego Chargers elected not to tag Jackson, and his services will be in high demand once he hits the open market.

Last year Jackson yet again proved he was elite by catching 60 passes for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s a threat no matter where he lines up on the field, and has the ability to instantly make any quarterback better.

Jackson is 29 years old and is believed to be looking for a four- to five-year deal worth about $12 million annually. That’s a small price to pay for an elite receiver who could put a solid team over the top on the way to a Super Bowl.

Carl Nicks, Guard

Carl Nicks is the best guard in football, and the New Orleans Saints made a huge mistake in paying his teammate and fellow guard Jahari Evans a massive contract last offseason. Now the Saints are going to lose Nicks to free agency, because it would be unprecedented to have so much money invested in the guard position.

Nicks has openly stated that he wants more money than Evans. Evans signed a seven-year deal worth a grand total of $56.7 million with the Saints last year. Nicks seeking a bigger contract makes sense, saying he is a better player.

Nicks will likely receive one of the bigger contracts of the free-agency period, and rightfully so. He’s an elite talent who can make a difference for a long time.

Ben Grubbs, Guard

Ben Grubbs is the best guard on the market not named Carl Nicks, and he’ll be paid accordingly. Like the Saints, the Baltimore Ravens have too much money already invested in the guard position to truly make a run at Grubbs. Marshal Yanda signed a five-year deal worth $32 million last August, and it’s a sure bet that Grubbs will be looking for more.

Grubbs is another elite talent in his prime who will cause a bidding war once free agency begins. He might have to wait for Nicks to be signed somewhere, but that’s a good strategy because as soon as the Nicks domino falls, Grubbs will be hotly pursued by multiple teams.

Jared Gaither, Offensive Tackle

Jared Gaither revived his career last season with the San Diego Chargers after battling injuries and being benched in Kansas City. Now Gaither is the best offensive tackle on the market and will be paid accordingly once the floodgates open.

Gaither was a major reason for the Chargers’ late-season push last year. Once he was inserted into the starting lineup to protect quarterback Phillip Rivers’ blindside, the team began its resurgence. Gaither shut out players such as Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs with relative ease.

Gaither has always had a tremendous amount of upside, and he is still only 25 years old. He’s a gamble worth taking for a team in need of a great offensive lineman.

Marques Colston, Wide Receiver

Marques Colston has been an amazing talent for the New Orleans Saints for the past six seasons, hitting the 1,000-yards-receiving mark five times in that span. He is now 28 years old and looking for a nice end-of-career deal that some team will be more than happy to give him.

Colston is expected to cost somewhere in the range of $8 million per year, a small asking price for such a great talent. Colston is a game-changing receiver who has to be accounted for on every play or he could potentially burn opposing teams.

Colston is a buyer-beware sort of player because not every team has a Drew Brees at quarterback or such a pass-heavy offense, but he’s worth the slight financial risk because the rewards could be exceptional for years.

John Abraham, Defensive End

John Abraham is still one of the best pass-rushers in the league despite approaching the age of 34. He has publicly stated that he wants a deal that will pay him $12 million a year, and it’s hard to imagine there won’t be at least one team willing to pay him that much.

Abraham racked up 9.5 sacks last year, nothing out of the ordinary for him. He has 112 career sacks in 12 seasons, and hasn’t really shown any signs of slowing down. Abraham was on a snap count last season, meaning he played reduced time, but that’s simply a precaution at this point.

In what is becoming a pass-first league, pass-rushers are of the utmost importance to disrupt the timing of plays. Abraham is still very, very good at what he does, and some team will pay him whatever he wants.

Curtis Lofton, Inside Linebacker

Curtis Lofton is one of the better young linebackers in all of football and is seeking a deal that will pay him like one. A four- or five-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $35 million isn’t out of the question.

Last season alone, Lofton racked up 147 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and two interceptions. The only flaw in Lofton’s game, and it’s a pretty glaring flaw, is his inefficiency to defend the pass. He’s a liability of passing downs, which could make some teams hesitant to pay him top dollar.

Still, Lofton is only 25 years old and has room to improve. He is an extremely productive player who could still improve in some areas. Lofton could be a long-term solution to a team in need of a presence in the middle of their defensive unit, and they’ll have to pay him like one.

Stephen Tulloch, Inside Linebacker

Stephen Tulloch is another linebacker set to hit the open market who is going to see a massive payday from a needy team. Tulloch is a force in the middle of the defense who can make plays anywhere on the field.

Last season Tulloch made a measly $3.25 million while compiling 111 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. He was the undisputed leader of a rejuvenated defensive unit. The Lions are unlikely to be able to keep him because he will command so much money on the open market.

Tulloch is 27 years old and currently in the prime of his career. Like fellow free-agent linebacker Curtis Lofton, he can be a long-term solution for a team in need, and he’ll certainly be paid what he is worth.

David Hawthorne, Inside Linebacker

Yet another great young talent at the linebacker position set to hit free agency, David Hawthorne is going to command top dollar as well. Hawthorne was the leader of a vastly underrated Seattle Seahawks defense last year, and it’s likely he’ll leave for more money in free agency.

Last season with Seattle, Hawthorne recorded 115 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. Hawthorne isn’t the fastest in coverage, but he is one of the best in the league when it comes to shutting down the run.

Hawthorne will be right behind Curtis Lofton and Stephen Tulloch in terms of money this offseason. They are all great options, and all will be paid a ridiculous amount of money for their skills.

Cortland Finnegan, Cornerback

Cortland Finnegan was quietly a top-10 player at his position last season, and he’s expecting to be paid like one in free agency. A contract worth $10 million a year is a likely scenario at this point, and he won’t have trouble finding that or more on the open market.

During Finnegan’s elite campaign last season, he recorded 75 tackles, a sack and an interception. He’d likely have better stats if teams passed his way, but they typically don’t. Finnegan is one of the best corners in the league when it comes to defending the run as well.

Finnegan is a force in the defensive secondary who could turn a defensive unit around quickly with his ability to shut down No. 1 receivers. A player like that is hard to find, and teams are going to have to go deep into their checkbooks to attract Finnegan’s attention.

Brandon Carr, Cornerback

Brandon Carr is the second best corner on the market, and at 25 years old will be hotly pursued by multiple teams. The Kansas City Chiefs elected to use their franchise tag on receiver Dwayne Bowe, which all but ensures Carr will have the opportunity to incite a bidding war.

Carr is a large, physical corner who recorded 45 tackles and four interceptions last year. He flusters receivers with his size and ability to read a play correctly and react accordingly.

Carr’s combination of youth and talent will ensure he lands a massive contract on the open market. Teams that struggle against the pass, and there are a lot of them, will surely pay Carr top dollar.

Lardarius Webb, Cornerback

Lardarius Webb had a breakout season last year as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, and was arguably a top-10 corner. He is a restricted free agent, but that doesn’t mean he won’t make top dollar this offseason from someone other than the Ravens.

Webb racked up 67 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, 20 passes defensed and five interceptions during his elite 2011 campaign. He isn’t the biggest corner, but he does a great job of being proactive and preventing big plays.

Webb could be signed to an absolutely monster contract by another team, meaning the Ravens wouldn’t be able to match the offer. For example, the New England Patriots have been rumored to want to steal Webb—all they would have to do is offer him a huge contract and give the Ravens a first-round pick. Or, the Ravens could give him a massive payday themselves.

Either way, Webb is in a position to make a ridiculous amount of money this offseason.

Mike Wallace, Wide Receiver

Mike Wallace is undeniably one of the best young receivers in the league. The Pittsburgh Steelers elected to not place the franchise tag on Wallace, but instead place a first-round tender on him, meaning another team could swoop in and steal Wallace.

Wallace had an exceptional 2011 season with 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns. Wallace is the best deep threat in the game, and his game-breaking ability is next to none right now.

If a team covets Wallace enough, they can offer the restricted free agent a preposterous contract that the Steelers would be unable to match, as well as forfeit a first-round pick to Pittsburgh.

Like Lardarius Webb, Wallace is in a position this offseason to land a monster contract.

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