2012 NFL Free Agents: 5 Best Value Signings This Offseason

With the NFL's free-agency period slowly coming to a close, let's take a look at five deals that represent the very best value the 2012 offseason had to offer:

Eric Winston - Kansas City Chiefs

How the Chiefs snagged Winston for under $6 million a season is a mystery.

Arguably the top right tackle in the NFL last season, Winston immediately turns a major weakness on the Chiefs roster into a strength. For a team that is likely to run the football as often as any team in the NFL next season, expect Winston to have an immediate impact.

At four years and just $22 million, Winston was highway robbery.

Evan Mathis - Philadelphia Eagles

Landing a top guard isn't as important as an offensive tackle, but getting Mathis back in Philadelphia for just $5 million a year was a great deal for the Eagles.

The deal works in football terms and money sense. Not only was Mathis the top guard in football last season, according to Pro Football Focus, but he also signed for $4 million less than Carl Nicks and $2 million less than Ben Grubbs.

A five-year, $25 million deal was a win-win scenario for the Eagles.

Brandon Lloyd - New England Patriots

By the time 2012 is over, it's possible no free-agent signing will have had the same impact as Lloyd landing in New England. A deep threat and capable receiver outside the numbers, Lloyd is exactly what the doctor order for the Patriots offense. 

Here's the kicker: New England is only paying the All-Pro receiver $4 million a year. Lloyd's talkative mouth likely killed his market early on, when he made it very clear about his intention to play with the Patriots in 2012.

If New England can get the rate of production from Lloyd as he's shown with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in the past, the three-year, $12 million deal Lloyd signed will look genius.

Peyton Hillis - Kansas City Chiefs

Hillis had his problems last season, and we all know what kind of risk free-agent running backs can be these days. But for just one year and $3 million, why not?

Hillis can be the kind of bruising, short-yardage back Kansas City lacked, as Thomas Jones has declined. And with Jamaal Charles still recovering from ACL surgery, Hillis can also be a strong insurance policy if the Chiefs want to ease him back to start 2012. 

In the end, it's another low-risk, high-reward move.

Matt Flynn - Seattle Seahawks

Rarely do you get the chance to sign a potential franchise quarterback in free agency, but that's exactly what the Seahawks got in Flynn. It's even rarer to get a player with his potential at Flynn's overall price.

At three years, $19.5 million, the Seahawks didn't have to invest a huge amount of money in the former Green Bay Packers backup. There was enough evidence from two games behind Aaron Rodgers to think Flynn can be the Seahawks' eventual answer at the quarterback position. 

Others: Jeff Saturday, Green By Packers; Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints; Stephen Tulloch, Detroit Lions; Mario Manningham, San Francisco 49ers