25 Best Value NFL Free Agents of 2011
NFL free agency is just around the corner with only two weeks left in the regular season.
There are plenty of big names on the open market this offseason and teams will be looking to fill up holes in their roster.
Which free agents will bolt for greener pastures and which will remain with their teams?
25. DeAngelo Williams, RB
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DeAngelo had a breakout year during the 2008-09 NFL season. He rushed for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns.
He followed that up with a disappointing 1,117 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while missing three games.
This season, his stock completely plummeted and hit rock bottom after rushing for only 361 yards and one touchdown in six games.
If a team is confident in his abilities, he may get scooped up. It doesn't look likely that the Panthers will keep him around so he'll have to prove himself in workouts with other teams.
24. Donovan McNabb, QB
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Even if Donovan McNabb didn't make it in Washington, the NFL is a quarterback-based league and there are plenty of teams that will be calling McNabb in the offseason.
More than ever teams live and die by their signal caller and McNabb is still a capable quarterback despite his disastrous tenure in Washington.
23. Terrell Owens, WR
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Say what you will about Terrell Owens, but even at the age of 35, he's still an animal.
Through 13 games, Owens has 72 receptions, 983 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
He's had three 100-plus yard receiving games and one 222 yard receiving game.
The best part is that he has been relatively quiet all year long.
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22. Zach Miller, TE
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Zach Miller isn't really a household name because he's playing for the Oakland Raiders, but he's one of the best tight ends out there.
Since coming into the league, he has steadily increased his production every year despite having poor quarterbacks behind center to throw him the ball.
He started out the season strong, but injuries more or less derailed his season. Even so, he's one of the most complete tight ends in the NFL and teams will be vying for his services if the Raiders don't get to him first.
21. Steve Smith, WR
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Steve Smith is in a precarious situation. He broke out last season, but took a back seat to Hakeem Nicks this year.
He suffered a season-ending injury the other week that will take anywhere from six to nine months to recover from. Chances are that he won't be ready for the start of 2011.
The Giants will closely monitor his rehab, but he could return a shell of his former self.
20. Mathias Kiwanuka, DE
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Mathias Kiwanuka got the starting job for the New York Giants at defensive end and he had four sacks and 11 tackles through three games.
But a herniated disc in his neck ended his season.
Kiwanuka oozes potential and he's an athletic freak who could make an impact for any team if healthy.
19. Chad Greenway, LB
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Standing at 6'2", 242 lbs., Chad Greenway has the prototypical build for a linebacker.
He's having one of his best seasons with 128 tackles and a sack.
The Vikings as a whole have had trouble getting to the quarterback, but Greenway is a better pass rusher than his current numbers indicated.
Greenway is extremely versatile and he can take on any number of assignments.
18. Barrett Ruud, LB
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Barrett Ruud is a tackling machine. In his last three seasons, he has averaged 131 tackles a year.
In 14 games this season, he has104 tackles, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.
Ruud is young and consistent and he's likely to get the extension that he wanted back in training camp.
17. Matt Light, LT
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At this point, it looks like Matt Light will reach free agency without a contract from the New England Patriots.
He's no longer one of the elite at the left tackle position, but he's still a very capable tackle that plenty of teams will be gunning for.
If Light can't get a position at left tackle, he may very well find himself on the right side.
16. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB
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Ahmad Bradshaw was promoted to the starting lineup prior to the start of the season and he paid great dividends for the Giants early on.
For the year, he has rushed for 1,182 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 40 passes for another 265 yards through the air.
Despite Bradshaw's recent demotion from the starting lineup due to his fumbling issues, he is a hard-nosed and versatile runner plenty of teams would covet.
Chances are, the Giants wouldn't dare let him walk after his breakout season, but crazier things have happened.
15. David Harris, LB
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David Harris is one of the league's top, young linebackers.
Standing at 6'2", 250 lbs., Harris is a hard hitter any defense could use.
He had 127 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles last year.
His 93 tackles and three sacks aren't as great, but teams know what to expect out of Harris by now.
The Jets have some higher priority signings they need to make first and they may not have enough money to retain Harris. If he reaches free agency, he could make a lot of money with plenty of teams sure to bid for his services.
14. Ike Taylor, CB
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Ike Taylor isn't a shutdown corner by any means, but he's a solid defensive back who will get plenty of attention in free agency if the Steelers don't extend him outright.
This season he has 59 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and 10 pass deflections.
Taylor is about as consistent as they come. He's reliable, has great size and he's a hard-nosed corner who can run stride to stride with some of the fastest receivers in the NFL.
13. Ray Edwards, DE
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Ray Edwards is a 6'5", 268 lb. beast.
He has averaged 52 tackles in his last 2 seasons and he has a combined 13.5 sacks in that same span.
While his tackles are down to 28 thus far, he does have seven sacks through 12 games.
Edwards will turn only 26 next year. Expect Edwards to get a huge deal if he isn't franchise tagged.
12. Tamba Hali, LB
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Tamba Hali is having the best years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Through 14 games, he has 43 tackles, 11 sacks and four forced fumbles.
This 6'3", 275 lb. defensive end is consistent and durable, and he hasn't even reached his full potential just yet.
11. Eric Wright, CB
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Eric Wright is only 25 and he's developed into an excellent young corner.
He's been starting since his rookie season and he has improved every year he's been in the league.
While he had a better season last year, the Browns would be smart to make him one of the top priorities in the offseason.
10. Vincent Jackson, WR
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Vincent Jackson held out all season long and it certainly did not help his cause. It would've been prudent for him to just play out the season and find a deal elsewhere in the offseason.
Even so, he's one of the top wide receivers available on the open market and there will be teams knocking at his door. The only question will be how much he'll settle for.
His five receptions, 112 receiving yards and three touchdowns in Week 15 will certainly raise his stock heading into free agency. How he plays over the final two games will make a huge impact on his value.
9. Champ Bailey, CB
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When Champ Bailey was in his prime, he was one of the few cornerbacks to earn the label Shutdown Corner. One side of the field was practically off limits for quarterbacks, lest they want their ball to get swatted away or picked off.
While Bailey is still one of the top corners in the game today, he's no longer as dominant as he used to be.
He's had some injuries over the last few seasons, so that might factor into his next contract, but a player of his caliber will be highly sought after.
8. Sidney Rice, WR
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Sidney Rice broke out in his first year with Brett Favre under center. He had 83 receptions for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns.
However, a hip injury kept him out for the majority of the current NFL season. While he had one big game this year, inconsistency in the Vikings offense has limited him.
Standing at 6'4" and 202 lbs., Rice has the size, length and speed to be an impact receiver no matter where he goes.
7. Richard Seymour, DE
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Richard Seymour is having an excellent season with the Oakland Raiders. He has 48 tackles and six sacks through 13 games.
Standing at 6'6" and 310 lbs., Seymour is a monstrous defensive end. He's likely to command a hefty price tag in free agency.
Of course, there was the infamous punch he landed on Ben Roethlisberger earlier this season, but most teams hardly overly concern themselves with red flags like that.
6. Jonathan Joseph, CB
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Playing for the inept Cincinnati Bengals isn't likely to help your cause, but Jonathan Joseph is an excellent corner who will command a high price in free agency.
Through 10 games this season he has 34 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass deflections. Last year he recorded 70 tackles, 20 pass deflections and six interceptions.
While his numbers this year aren't astounding, Joseph is a great cover corner who can knock your lights out just as easily as he can drape you.
Teams will take little stock in the poor play of the Bengals defense when trying to sign a player of his talent.
5. Haloti Ngata, DT
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Haloti Ngata is an absolute beast standing at 6'4" and weighing in at roughly 350 lbs.
Ngata is a mountain of a man who often requires double teams to stop. Let me put it this way, he makes Ray Lewis look small by comparison.
He's currently enjoying his best season as a pro with 60 tackles and 6 sacks. The Baltimore Ravens are going to have to pony up a lot of cash to keep him around if they don't franchise him.
4. LaMarr Woodley, LB
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LaMarr may not be the best when in coverage, but he's one of the best pass rushing linebackers in the NFL. He has earned his spot as the top left outside linebacker in the league.
For the year, he has recorded 46 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Woodley has a combined 25 sacks and 122 tackles in the last two seasons.
3. Logan Mankins, G
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If New England lets Logan Mankins walk in free agency, he may just break the record books in salary for an interior lineman.
Mankins is far and away the best offensive lineman to enter free agency this offseason and teams will be gunning for him if the Patriots don't want to pay him.
2. Michael Vick, QB
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In preseason, Michael Vick may not have even made this list. He was widely considered to be an afterthought with the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, he's stepped into McNabb's shoes behind center in Philly and he has electrified the entire NFL.
Vick has been nearly unstoppable this season absolutely decimating opposing defenses. He's gone from a running quarterback who had a strong arm but made poor decisions, to a smart pocket passer who can get out and run for a touchdown on any given play.
If the Eagles don't offer him a new contract, you can guarantee they will franchise him.
1. Peyton Manning, QB
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Did you expect anyone else to be at the No. 1 spot?
Peyton Manning is the smartest player in the NFL and arguably the best there is and maybe ever was.
A down year for Manning is a career year for a lesser quarterback.
Manning will break all records with whatever deal he signs in the offseason.
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