NFL Free Agents 2012: Top 5 Remaining Free Agents Teams Should Avoid

The NFL's free-agency period is over two weeks old now, which means teams are sorting through the second- and third-tier players to find a potential bargain or fit in their system. While those players are out there, the following five aren't among them:

OT Barry Richardson - Kansas City Chiefs

It's hard to imagine how the Chiefs stuck with Richardson for 32 straight starts from 2010-11. While there have been brief flashes of run-blocking prowess, Richardson is arguably the worst pass-blocking offensive tackle that has started regularly the past two seasons.

During that time span, Richardson has allowed 13 sacks, 19 quarterback hits and 78 pressures, all while ranking in the red of Pro Football Focus' grading system. He bottomed out in 2011, finishing the year as the NFL's second-worst offensive tackle.

Maybe the most telling part of this story is the complete lack of interest he's seen on the open market, despite being a 25-year-old player with no health issues and at a premium position.

LB Ernie Sims - Indianapolis Colts

Once a promising first-round draft choice, Sims has bounced around the league recently, while remaining incapable of holding down a solid role. Just 27 years old, however, it would seem that a team starved of linebackers could take another flier on Sims.

The stats don't back up that claim.

PFF rated Sims as the second-worst 4-3 outside linebacker last season after he got engulfed in the run game and failed to cover anybody against the pass. Over 84 percent of the passes thrown in his direction were completed, and only three linebackers, each of which played more than twice the number of snaps as Sims, allowed more passing yards in coverage.

At this point, I'm not sure Sims is worth more than a training camp invite.

LB Erik Walden - Green Bay Packers

Walden is young (26), and has shown some pass-rushing flashes in the past.But after going through a domestic assault case midway through the 2011 season, Walden completely fell off the map.

By the time the year was over, PFF had him ranked as the worst 3-4 outside linebacker—and it wasn't even close. No player in the NFL was worse against the run than Walden, and the three sacks over 900-plus defensive snaps weren't close to enough. Opposing quarterbacks also had a 103.1 passer rating when throwing his way.

I think there will ultimately be teams who show interest, but giving Walden anything more than a minimum level contract is a mistake.   

TE Dallas Clark - Indianapolis Colts

Once the Denver Broncos signed Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen, shunning Clark in the process, you knew that the former 100-catch tight end might lack a job next season. It seemed like a natural fit, considering the Broncos signed his former quarterback and had a need for a veteran tight end on the roster. 

But it's also easy to see why the Broncos turned him down. At 32 years old, Clark has battled injuries over the last two seasons. Even when Clark has been on the field, he hasn't been all that effective. PFF ranked him in the bottom five for tight ends in 2011, including a horrendous grade as a run-blocker.

At this point, you might consider Clark to be all but done in the NFL. Injuries have gotten the best of him, and the legs just aren't there anymore as a blocker or receiver.

OT Marc Colombo - Miami Dolphins

Colombo would have made this list a year ago when the Dallas Cowboys cut him loose. Instead, the Dolphins signed him and then started him 16 games last season. While you have to praise the 33-year-old for staying healthy, he's been one of the NFL's poorest starting tackles since 2010.

PFF gave him a bottom-five grade for tackles in 2010 when he was still in Dallas, then Colombo followed that up by putting together the 69th best (out of 76) season by a tackle in 2011.

Even for a team that desperately needs tackle help, Colombo shouldn't be an option. It's possible that, like Clark, Colombo will be pushed to retire. Not by choice, mind you, but by teams simply not wanting him any longer.