5 NFL Players Who Could See Huge Paydays Before 2012 Season Ends

Every season in the NFL, a few teams look to solidify their cores by extending their most productive players' contracts set to expire at the end of the year. 

While many fans aren't thinking about the 2013 class of free agents, many general managers and coaches have their impending free agents in the back of their minds. 

The following players are in the last year of their current deals, and are great candidates to receive a lucrative mid-season contract extension. 

Mike Wallace

Mike Wallace has finally reported to the Pittsburgh Steelers' facilities to sign the one-year, $2.742 million restricted franchise tag contract he'll play under this season. 

He can negotiate an extension during the season, but it won't go into effect until after the 2012 campaign is complete. 

The speedy wideout has been a steady performer for the Steelers and is one of the most dynamic deep threats in all of football, a guy who takes the top off the defense on a consistent basis and opens up the field for Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. 

It could take Wallace a few weeks to learn Todd Haley's new offensive system, but once he's up to speed and begins making huge plays for Pittsburgh, the organization could be looking to finalize a long-term extension for one of its best players with plenty of great football ahead of him. 

Joe Flacco

There were rumblings Joe Flacco would see his big payday prior to the start of the 2012 season, but the Baltimore Ravens intelligently focused on getting a deal done with offensive life force Ray Rice before anything else. 

Flacco's not severely underpaid in 2012, as he'll make a base salary of $6.76 million. 

However, with his deal expiring at the end of the year, the Ravens must look to lock up their franchise quarterback for the future. 

He hasn't been an elite quarterback in his four seasons with the team, but they've been to the playoffs every year and were a play away from the Super Bowl last year. 

There are plenty of recently signed signal-caller extensions which have set the market for Flacco, so finding a common ground between his agent and the Ravens' fantastic front office shouldn't be a problem. 

Greg Jennings

Jennings is set to hit the market after the 2012 season, and although he dealt with a nagging injury that kept him out of three games in 2011, he's still an extremely valuable asset within the Green Bay Packers' dynamic aerial attack. 

He's caught 46 touchdown passes over the last five seasons and has a respectable 15.9 yards per catch for his career.

At 28 years of age, he undoubtedly has explosive of football in front of him and still strikes fear in opposing cornerbacks and safeties. 

He's also become a favorite target of reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers. 

The Packers are loaded offensively, with a slew of immensely talented pass-catchers, but they don't want Jennings to leave the state of Wisconsin. 

After what should be yet another electric start for Green Bay's offense, Jennings would undoubtedly be in line for a well-deserved extension.

Dwayne Bowe

Bowe was a holdout this offseason, but eventually signed the one-year, $9.15 million franchise tender the Kansas City Chiefs offered him. 

Like Wallace, he has to play as the team's franchise player in 2012, but he can negotiate an extension during the year. 

The team's first-round pick in 2007, Bowe has been a steady contributor, having recorded three 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his five years as a pro, many of which have come with shaky quarterback play. 

He's the most proven receiving commodity on the team and with guys like Jamaal Charles and Tony Moeaki returning from 2011 knee injuries this season, Bowe could once again prove himself as a bona fide No.1 wideout, aiding the relatively inconsistent Matt Cassell. 

If the Chiefs rebound and return to 2010 former early in the year, the 6'2'', 221-pound LSU alum may get the extension he wanted all along.

Victor Cruz

Cruz's 1,536 receiving yards set a New York Giants record in 2011, and it can be argued that he was Eli Manning's favorite target during the team's magic run to the Super Bowl. 

His combination of sudden acceleration, elusiveness and soft hands made him nearly uncoverable last season. 

Cruz's 2012 base salary? 

$490,000. 

There's no way Big Blue lets such a dynamic player depart after the 2012 season—when Cruz's contract expires—but stellar GM Jerry Reese could have his sights set on extending the 25-year-old's contract during the 2012 season to alleviate any pressure once the calendar flips to 2013.