2011 NFL Free Agency: Top 25 Players To Be Signed As Soon As CBA Is Reached
There are a lot of big free agents in the NFL at the moment, and there isn't a lot of time to sign any of them prior to March 4, when the collective bargaining agreement ends.
In the absence of a new collective bargaining agreement, there will be virtually no movement on the free-agent front.
With the exception of the Indianapolis Colts, who have not yet signed Peyton Manning to a new contract, no teams are really offering any of their players anything at this point.
Once a new CBA is signed, though, expect a flurry of activity, especially if everyone is lucky enough for a new CBA to happen prior to the draft.
25. Phil Dawson
1 of 25
Phil Dawson is 35-years-old and probably wants more than the average kicker, but he's proved that he's one of the best cold-weather kickers in the game, so why the Cleveland Browns have held off on signing him is a frustrating mystery for fans of the team.
24. Adam Vinatieri
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Adam Vinatieri, like Dawson, is starting to get up there in years, but kickers don't age like the rest of NFL players, and Vinatieri is one of the best kickers in the game.
23. Brandon Jackson
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Brandon Jackson really helped out in the Packers running game this year, but James Starks' emergence in the playoffs may have devalued Jackson slightly to the Packers.
Jackson still will command interest no matter what, though.
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22. Logan Mankins
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Logan Mankins proved he was an integral part of the Patriots offensive line this year, so expect the Patriots to snap him up as quickly as possible.
21. Seneca Wallace
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Seneca Wallace always has wanted to be a starter in the NFL, but that ship probably has sailed. With Eric Mangini gone, but his mentor Mike Holmgren still in the front office, expect Wallace to be signed quickly by the Browns should Colt McCoy falter in his sophomore season.
20. Alex Smith
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Alex Smith still is young enough that a change of scenery might do him good, but it's not outside the realm of possibility for new 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh to try again with the former No. 1 overall pick.
It's doubtful, but it could happen. Either way, Smith will get another chance in the NFL.
19. Richard Seymour
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Richard Seymour will be a hot commodity in the free-agent market, and expect him to have several suitors once a CBA is signed.
Seymour didn't want to go to the Raiders when Bill Belichick traded him there, so it will be interesting to see what happens.
18. Braylon Edwards
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Braylon Edwards had a great 2010 season and was good in the playoffs, but you have to be suspicious of a player who does great in a contract-year after a bunch of sub-par years.
Unfortunately for the fans of one team, possibly the Jets, there will be a front office who will sign this guy. Make no mistake, once Edwards has his money, he'll lose his focus and start dropping balls again.
17. Haloti Ngata
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The Ravens know how crucial Ngata is to their defense, so they'll be throwing money at him before the ink is dry on the new CBA.
16. Antonio Cromartie
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The Jets have a lot of free agents to sign, and Cromartie is one of them. However, with the expectation that the new CBA will have a salary cap, something will have to give, and it's doubtful the Jets can re-sign everybody.
If the Jets choose to move on from Cromartie, he will find more than one team waiting in the wings.
15. Malcolm Floyd
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Malcolm Floyd is everything you want in a receiver, so it would make sense for the Chargers to lock him up quickly, assuming they don't decide to throw their money elsewhere.
14. Ahmad Bradshaw
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Ahmad Bradshaw is a pretty big part of the running game in New York, so unless the Giants are going in a different direction, Bradshaw should be signed fairly quickly.
13. Joseph Addai
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The absence of Joseph Addai showed how much Indianapolis needed him. Once Manning is signed, Addai will be the No. 1 priority for the Colts.
12. Nnamdi Asomugha
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The Raiders voided the last year of his contract, and now Asomugha is free to test the waters, but he could remain in Oakland. Al Davis was quick to point out it was the size of the option that deterred him from picking it up.
If Asomugha is willing to accept less to go back to Oakland, he'll be signed fairly quickly.
11. Champ Bailey
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Champ Bailey is in the back part of his career, but he still has a few good years left. It's unclear whether Denver wants to keep him, or if he even wants to stay, but it won't be long after the signings begin until we know what uniform he'll put on in 2011.
10. Matt Hasselbeck
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Matt Hasselbeck is 35, but Pete Carroll said he is interested in re-signing the QB, and the Seahawks' brass would like to keep him in Seattle.
Hasselbeck probably does have a few good years left in him, so he'll get work.
9. Caleb Hanie
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Caleb Hanie wouldn't have even registered on a Top 50 list of free agents to be signed prior to the NFC Championship Game, but now the Bears have a hot commodity on their roster.
You can bet after what Todd Collins did, and how Jay Cutler is being perceived, that the Bears will move quickly to lock Hanie up for the next few years.
8. Vincent Jackson
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Vincent Jackson wasn't happy with the Chargers tender last year and sat out most of the season. That won't be an issue this year, as there will be plenty of bidders for his services.
7. Benjarvus Green-Ellis
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The Patriots made Benjarvus Green-Ellis a critical part of their offense, so expect Bill Belichick to move quickly to make sure he doesn't have to find another running back next year. The Patriots have too many needs elsewhere to create another one.
6. Sidney Rice
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Sidney Rice proved he can be one of the Vikings main offensive weapons, so they'll do their best to get Rice re-signed as soon as they can.
5. Marcedes Lewis
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Marcedes Lewis probably is the best tight end on the market, and he won't last long once the contracts start flying.
4. Cedric Benson
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Cedric Benson is a threat whenever the ball is in his hands, and the Bengals may not be the only ones to give Benson an offer for the 2011 season.
Benson gives the team he plays for instant offense.
3. Santonio Holmes
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Without Santonio Holmes, the Jets don't reach the AFC Championship Game.
Period.
The one advantage to any kind of lockout is the Jets will get to see how Holmes does with a lot of time off. If Holmes can stay out of trouble, he'll get the contract he wants, and he'll get it quickly.
2. Michael Vick
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Michael Vick at the very least is going to get the franchise tag. But Vick is very valuable to the Eagles right now, and Vick wants to get a contract that will get him through the rest of his career and secure his future.
This probably will be one of the easiest deals to get done in free agency.
1. Peyton Manning
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Peyton Manning already has a rather large contract offer in front of him, reportedly bigger than Tom Brady's, and it will make him the highest paid player in the NFL.
The Colts want Manning signed yesterday, but Manning may wait, choosing to hold off until after the CBA is signed, and let the Colts slap the franchise tag on him.
Either way, Manning will get a huge contract, and Colts fans will be happy.
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