The Top NFL Free Agents on the Scrap Heap and Where They Might Go, Pt. 5

In the series finale of my five-part analysis on the top remaining NFL free agents, we dive into the unglorified Special Teams unit. Although these players are primarily backups, or soccer players wearing big boy pads, they are critical to the success of teams. 

A broken-down special teams play can lead to an extra touchdown scored on you. The miss of a field goal can cripple your OT chances. A botched punt often puts the other team in great position to score. A bad snap can lead to an easy TD for the opposition. Any number of game-changing things can and do happen with Special Teams play.

Guys like Devin Hester are the reason you have to be weary with who you have on Special Teams. Here is a look at the top K's, P's and LS's still on the market.

Kickers

Matt Stover

One of the most underrated kickers ever to play the game. He has a career field goal average of 83.1 percent and he posted his career best 93.3 percent average just three years ago. Age does not quite factor in as much as a position like RB so at 41 years young he can give a team a few more quality years.

Plausible Destination: Denver Broncos

Denver K Matt Prater posted the second worst field goal percentage (74) among prominent kickers. Throwing a proven veteran into the mix could either push Prater to do better, or give the Broncos a more stable presence at K.

John Carney

The long-time NFL Veteran posted the fifth best field goal percentage in the league last year and still has a top leg to offer teams.

Plausible Destination: Washington Redskins

The Redskins need someone to push the worst kicker in the league last season Shaun Suisham, who posted a 72 percent mark in made FGs. 

Punter

Mitch Berger

He is an established veteran who has enjoyed a successful career. He won his first and only title just last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his prime, he was known for his booming kickoffs that would consistently sail out of the endzone. 

In Superbowl XLIII he had three punts for an average of 43 yards, including a critical punt that pinned the Cardinals inside their 15. He still has some quality years left in his leg. 

Plausible Destination: Cincinnati Bengals

With rookie Kevin Huber the only P on the roster the Bengals should at least be bringing a veteran to camp to compete with him. Berger would be an upgrade and allow the Bengals to develop Huber more.

Dirk Johnson

A serviceable veteran who should find his way into an NFL training camp to compete for a job. In 2008 he had a net average of 35.2 yards per punt for the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. 

Plausible Destination: TBD

I have no clue honestly, and as training camp looms on I suppose teams whose P's sustain an injury will give him a call.

Long Snappers

Tyler Schmitt

Having never snapped the ball in 2008, the Seahawks released Schmitt after they signed Bryan Pittman. At 23 he can still offer teams a stable future at the LS position if his back does not prove to be too much an issue. His youth and potential are what make him the most attractive LS available on the market. 

Plausible Destination: Kansas City Chiefs 

After letting LS JP Darche go, the Chiefs ahve a void to fill. Schmitt offers them a potential "franchise LS" who can man the position for years to come. If he can come in and compete with rookie free agent Tanner Purdum—two heads are better then one—they have nothing to lose.

JP Darche

Another LS with Seahawks-ties makes the list. He has been a reliable snapper for many years and at 34 has some years left in the tank. He was let go after the Kansas City Chiefs signed rookie free agent Tanner Purdum out of the 2009 NFL Draft Class. 

Plausible Destination: Carolina Panthers

The Panthers let go of Jason Kyle during the offseason and have not filled the void. Grabbing Darche gives them a solid fixture at LS for the next three to four seasons. 

That concludes my 2009 NFL Free Agency analysis. If you have not read the successful series already, begin with some more interesting subject matter with my first part to the series:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/189830-top-nfl-free-agents-on-the-scrap-heap-and-where-they-could-go-part-one

I will be continuing my analysis on some of the top NFL players that can become free agents in 2010. The second part of that series will be out shortly. If it interests you, check out the beginning of the series in progress.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/202295-looking-ahead-the-potential-nfl-free-agent-class-of-2010