18 NFL Players Who Need New Contracts Before They Hit the FA Market in 2013

NFL free agency has become something all NFL teams and their fans fear, which means that many key players need new contracts before they hit the 2013 NFL FA market. 

Learning from the potential disasters that a few NFL franchises face in 2012, teams whose biggest names will hit the FA market next offseason will want to lock up their main men before it's too late. 

Regardless of the reputation of any given franchise, they would be a different organization without their cornerstones. 

As teams try to coax their stars into playing for less, sometimes the franchise is simply better off breaking the bank and keeping their best players.

With a healthy list of phenoms set to become free agents in 2013, fans better believe that they'll be playing their hearts out with plans of hitting the lottery next offseason. 

Expect big numbers followed by big dollars from these players, as it would be in the best interest of their current teams to sign them now. 

The Extra Point: The Detroit Lions Have Already Avoided a Mega Crisis

The Detroit Lions got a deal done this offseason with star wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who was set to become a free agent in 2013. 

Megatron became the highest paid receiver in NFL history, but there's no doubt that he'll be one of the best by the time his number hangs from the rafters of Ford Field. 

Johnson has become the face of a Lions franchise that is finally headed in the right direction after a decade of doom. There's nothing he can't do on a football field, and although he signed a hefty eight-year, $132 million deal, he's worth every penny. 

The Lions front office deserves credit for taking care of business, and the team can now focus on winning a tough NFC North division and returning to the playoffs in 2012. 

Megatron led the NFL with 1,681 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011, and there's no reason to believe he won't repeat those numbers in 2012 and beyond. 

Expect nothing less than greatness from Johnson and the Lions in the near future. 

NFL Stars Don't Like Being Slapped with the Franchise Tag

Many NFL stars are threatening to holdout in 2012 if they don't get a long-term deal from their teams soon.

The biggest names include Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens.

All three men have been slapped with the franchise tag by their respective teams, but these guys see it more as a slap in the face. Another star, Wes Welker of the New England Patriots, has vowed to play in 2012 despite being tagged this offseason, but will want a worthwhile deal to get done before too long.

These players have all put up the numbers to justify their contract demands over their careers, and their teams would be best to fork over the dough. The franchise tag buys these teams some time, but that doesn't stop these players from abstaining from playing. 

This is the exact situation NFL teams want to avoid heading into the 2013 FA market—why risk losing valuable time to create chemistry in the offseason and threaten the vitality of your team?

The Buffalo Bills Don't Want Jairus Byrd to Fly the Coop

Lately, the Buffalo Bills have done a better job of convincing NFL fans that they want to be relevant.

By having a solid 2012 NFL draft, re-signing wide receiver Stevie Johnson and signing defensive end Mario Williams, the Bills have shown that they want to be serious contenders in the future.

In order to continue that belief, the Bills will have to re-sign safety Jairus Byrd before he hits the free-agent market in 2013. 

2012 will be Byrd's fourth NFL season, and he'll undoubtedly stand out this season so he can stack paper in the offseason. He was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season of 2009 when he had nine interceptions, but has only had four in the two seasons since. 

With rookie Stephon Gilmore improving the Bills defensive backfield, look for Byrd's numbers to once again soar this season. 

The Bills would be smart to pay the man in advance. 

Ed Reed May Retire, but That Doesn't Mean Ravens Fans Don't Want Him in 2013

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed muttered the word "retirement" this offseason, which sent the Ravens faithful into a panic. 

While it's not believed that he'll actually retire before the 2012 NFL season begins, he is set to become a free agent when the season concludes. 

Reed is a future Hall of Famer who has only played in Baltimore, and the organization needs to keep it that way. A trip to Super Bowl XLVII should seal the deal on Reed returning in 2013, but the Ravens front office should get something in writing to avoid unwanted speculation during the season. 

It will be a somber day when Reed truly does decide to retire, as no true NFL fan wants to see him hang 'em up. 

Daryl Smith Is Underrated in Jacksonville, and the Jaguars Need Him to Stay

Daryl Smith may be 31 years old by the time the 2013 NFL season rolls around, but that doesn't mean the Jacksonville Jaguars shouldn't sign him. 

Smith has been quietly phenomenal for the Jags during his eight-year career. He's averaged over 100 tackles per season over the last three and will do the same in 2012. 

The Jags are an up-and-coming team that needs his veteran leadership in the future. Set to become a free agent next offseason, the organization would be wise to make Smith a Jaguar for life. 

There's plenty of promise in Jacksonville, and Smith is a major reason why. Already possessing a top-10 defense, the Jags need to keep it that way by maintaining Smith. 

Brian Urlacher Is a Must for the Chicago Bears

Linebacker Brian Urlacher is the lifeblood of the Chicago Bears defense, and they can't see him go. 

Due to become a free agent after the 2012 season, the Bears must do everything in their power to ensure the fans that Urlacher will remain a member of the team. 

Urlacher will be 35 years old in 2013, but that shouldn't matter for the Bears. He is just another Bears linebacker in a long line of tough-as-nails, blood-and-guts players who will have his name plastered in the Hall of Fame one day. 

Given his age, Urlacher may take a "hometown" discount when it comes time to signing on the dotted line.

With the improvements that the Bears made on offense this offseason, the team should be contenders for the foreseeable future and Urlacher would be best to stay with the only organization he's ever played with. 

The Rams Didn't Draft Chris Long with the Intention of Him Ever Leaving

The St. Louis Rams drafted defensive end Chris Long with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft—they don't intend on watching him walk after the 2012 NFL season. 

The organization got a new lease on life this offseason when they hired Jeff Fisher as head coach, and this should be enough to entice Long into re-signing with the Rams. 

Despite being a dismal 2-14 in 2011, Long shined with 13 sacks and looks to have a repeat performance in 2012. Another solid season this year, and Long's name will join the ranks of elite pass-rushers in the NFL—which is exactly what the Rams drafted him to become. 

Rams fans should be excited for the future, and the organization should realize that Long will be a key component in their recipe for success. 

Long will let his numbers do the talking in 2012, and the Rams will want to sign him sooner than later. 

Osi Umenyiora Wants to Be a Member of the Giants for Years to Come

Osi Umenyiora may have just signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to be a Giant for life. 

After bidding for a long-term contract with the Giants for quite some time, Umenyiora was happy to settle. This means that the Giants will be open to talks for a new deal when that time comes. 

He had nine sacks in 2011 and has alternated 10-plus sack seasons since 2005. If numbers tell the whole story in this trend, that means he's due for another 10-plus sacks in 2012, which will boost his contract demands next offseason. 

Umenyiora will be looking to prove to the Giants in 2012 that he deserves a contract that will give him the chance to retire with the team.

Giants fans should find no qualms with Umenyiora wanting to go down as one of the all-time greats with the team.  

The Colts Would Be Smart to Sign Dwight Freeney Early

The Indianapolis Colts are suddenly rebuilding, and they need defensive end Dwight Freeney to continue to anchor their defense. 

Freeney will be highly desired by all NFL teams, and Indianapolis needs to hand over the key to the city if they want him to stay in town. 

He'll be 33 years old when the 2013 season begins, but has yet to show signs of slowing down. It's true that his 8.5 sacks in 2011 were his lowest total since 2007, but the Colts' numbers were down across the board last season. 

Freeney's 102.5 career sacks currently ranks third among active players. Bottom line: Being a sack machine in the NFL pays, and Freeney's body of evidence will bring him a handsome salary when he becomes a free agent. 

It's imperative for the Colts' success that he remains in Indy. 

Jake Long Leads a Healthy List of Offensive Linemen Who Need to Be Paid

NFL offensive linemen don't sell many jerseys, but are in fact the most vital part of any team. The 2013 free-agent pool of big uglies is rich with talent, as no team likes to see their linemen leave. Here are the biggest names to hit the market in 2013: 

Jake Long: The Miami Dolphins drafted him with the first overall pick in the 2008 draft with the intention of him becoming the franchise left tackle. Long has done just that, and the Dolphins will have to empty their piggy bank if he's to stay in Miami. He's set to make $11.2 million in 2012, and the team will have to match that in the future. It will be interesting to see exactly how much money he gets since his class was one of the last to get ridiculously generous rookie contracts. So far he's done nothing to show that he's not worth the money. 

Ryan Clady: All he's done since being drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2008 is start every game possible. Now that quarterback Peyton Manning is in town, the Broncos will need to keep Clady to protect Manning's neck.

Phil Loadholt: This man is a monster. At 6'8", 343 lbs, he's got the size to make NFL GMs drool. If the Minnesota Vikings are serious about becoming contenders, they'll make a deal with Loadholt soon. After all, he's started 47 games in his three NFL seasons. Losing his experience would be detrimental to the Vikes.

T.J. Lang: The Green Bay Packers found a starter in Lang in 2011, and they won't want to see him go after the 2012 season. Set to become a free agent, Lang could hit the jackpot on the open market. The Packers need Lang to stick around, which shouldn't be hard considering they run one of the best organizations in the league.

Jermon Bushrod: He became a Pro Bowler for the first time in 2011, and the New Orleans Saints can't afford him to leave next offseason like former teammate Carl Nicks did this offseason. Bushrod has started for the past three seasons in New Orleans. In order to rebound from their recent troubles, they'll need Bushrod to set the tone on the offensive line.

The Atlanta Falcons Should Give Tony Gonzalez One More Season

Tony Gonzalez is one of the best offensive weapons in NFL history.

Even at 35 years old in 2011, Gonzalez had 80 catches and showed no signs of slowing down. He'll be 37 in 2013, and there's no reason to believe that he won't be able to produce.

The Falcons should sign Gonzalez out of respect for the future Hall of Famer.

While it's true that NFL teams don't carry around dead weight, does anyone really believe that he'll be worthless come 2013?

Give the man what he deserves.

Mike Wallace Is Currently Holding His Skills for Ransom

The Pittsburgh Steelers have something special in wide receiver Mike Wallace, but he has to be realistic in his long-term contract demands.

He may want Larry Fitzgerald money, but he's not going to get it.

Wallace is technically a restricted free agent in 2012, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want the big bucks right now. 

He is already missing minicamp, but both sides are hopeful to agree to terms soon.

Wallace was a Pro Bowler in 2011 with 72 catches for 1,193 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and is coming off back-to-back 1,000-plus-yard seasons. 

The Steelers need the explosiveness that Wallace possesses in 2012 and beyond.

Fans better hope that a deal can be reached before training camp begins so the Steelers can gain as much continuity as possible before the season starts. 

Greg Jennings Is a Wide Receiver Every Quarterback Wants

Greg Jennings is the type of player that NFL organizations and fans alike simply adore. 

He works hard, puts up big numbers and makes his teammates better. 

The Green Bay Packers will undoubtedly want to keep him catching passes in Lambeau for the foreseeable future and will have to pay the man before he becomes a free agent in 2013. 

To be honest, it's hard to imagine Jennings playing anywhere else but, then again, money talks.

The Miami Dolphins Need an Excited Reggie Bush in Their Backfield

Reggie Bush has been in the NFL for six somewhat lackluster seasons, but 2012 will be his best yet.

He was a highly touted prospect out of college and hasn't necessarily met expectations to this point in his career. 

2011 was his first season with 1,000-plus rushing yards, and Bush has publicly said that he's excited to be part of the new-look Dolphins offense. 

Whether you're a fan of Bush or not, you must admit that he's fun to watch.

With a new contract coming next offseason, expect him to play out of his mind in 2012. His numbers will be undeniable, and the 'Phins will be forced to re-sign him early.

The Texans Will Want Quarterback Matt Schaub to Stick Around

Matt Schaub has become the franchise quarterback the Houston Texans hoped he would become. Now all they have to do is ensure their fans that he stays just that. 

Schaub is scheduled to become a free agent in 2013, but the team shouldn't hesistate when it comes to re-signing him.

He'll be A-OK when the season begins after ending 2012 injured. The Texans made it to the playoffs without him, and Schaub will be hungry to get a taste of the postseason action himself. 

He's a pure gunslinger who can put up video game-like numbers. He's also the best quarterback to ever play for the franchise. The Texans are too smart to let him leave. 

Schaub will be out to prove that he can lead the Texans deep into the playoffs in 2012 and earn his upcoming paycheck. Expect an extension for Schaub before free agency even begins in 2013. 

All Joe Flacco Does Is Lead His Team to the Playoffs

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has faced plenty of ridicule in his four-year NFL career. 

Despite the scrutiny, all he's done is win.

He's started every game in his career and has a 44-20 record. He's led the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his four years and was a botched field goal away from Super Bowl XLVI.

In 2013 he'll become a free agent, and the Ravens can't risk the chance of him bouncing out of Baltimore. His numbers speak for themselves and are attractive to every team in the NFL. 

The Ravens need Flacco, as he's become indispensable for their future.

They need to wrap up a deal sooner than later in order to keep the team focused and avert the hoopla that surrounds unpleasant contract talks.

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