2012 NFL Free Agents: Reggie Wayne and Top Wide Receivers Left on the Market

The gates of NFL free agency have only just opened up to all 32 teams, and the market for wide receivers is already close to barren. Marques Colston and Stevie Johnson have re-upped with the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills (respectively), Vincent Jackson has taken his talents to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan have joined the Washington Redskins, and the Chicago Bears have already filled their void at wide receiver by acquiring Brandon Marshall from the Miami Dolphins.

In other words, there's been a mad scramble for pass catchers in the wee hours of free agency.

Don't be surprised if that continues, with these three veterans among the most likely to cash in on the good fortune of their pass-catching peers.

Reggie Wayne

Like superstar teammate Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne is a true free agent for the first time in his NFL career, though he could just as easily end up following in Peyton's footsteps. Manning and Wayne could very well end up together in Miami now that Brandon Marshall is in Chicago. Manning reportedly wasn't all that thrilled with the prospect of playing with the mercurial Marshall, whose departure opens up an obvious void at wide receiver and clears extra cap space with which GM Jeff Ireland can now operate. 

Whatever the case may be, expect Wayne, a Hall-of-Fame talent in his own right, to end up in the same stripes as Manning when all is said and done.

Brandon Lloyd

The drop-off in talent between Wayne and the next best option (Brandon Lloyd) isn't quite as cavernous as you might think. The former Pro Bowler has emerged as something of a stud in recent years, thanks in large part to a strong working relationship with Josh McDaniels, under whom he played with the Denver Broncos and the St. Louis Rams.

That connection could be enough to lure Lloyd to the New England Patriots, who brought McDaniels back on board earlier this year.

Not to mention the prospect of playing with Tom Brady on a Super Bowl contender. Lloyd has publicly expressed interest in a move to Beantown, though don't count out the Rams' chances of retaining his services now that Jeff Fisher is in charge. 

Robert Meachem

Every dollar for Marques Colston is another fewer for Robert Meachem, which likely means a move for the latter away from the Big Easy.

And there should be no shortage of teams clamoring for Meachem to sign on the dotted line. According to Manish Mehta of The New York Daily News, Meachem is already on his way to a meeting with the Buffalo Bills, with whom he'd serve as Stevie Johnson's sidekick.

"

WR Robert Meachem, who may be possibility for Jets, is visiting another AFCE team. Source tells me Meachem is visiting Bills tonight. #nfl

— Manish Mehta(@TheJetsStream) March 13, 2012"

Meachem has yet to crack the 1,000-yard plateau in any single season, though he's proven himself to be an excellent option in the slot with the talent and route-running skill to rack up big numbers under the proper circumstances.

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