2011 NFL Free Agency: 15 FA Losses That Could Ruin Teams' Seasons
The 2011 NFL free agent class is enormous.
There are big-name players out there that have become invaluable to their teams. The problem is, money talks and loyalty to one particular team is a rarity in today's NFL.
The lack of a collective bargaining agreement complicates things.
There are a number of labor-related scenarios that could happen and the free agent market will not open up for business until after a deal is reached.
How important are some of these players to their current team? Here's a look at 15 players that would devastate the team they leave in the dust.
(We assume Michael Vick is getting the franchise tag from Philadelphia.)
15. Brad Smith, WR/KR, Jets
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He doesn't get a ton of touches per game, but Smith can have a game-changing impact regardless. He returned two kicks for touchdowns in 2010.
The triple threat of being a receiver, running back and kick returner make him one of the most versatile players in the NFL. He even lines up as a QB in certain formations.
He is one of the best kick returners in the game and his role in the Wildcat formation has been just as valuable.
The Jets would be hard-pressed to replace the variety of production Smith provides.
14. Jonathan Joseph, CB, Bengals
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J-Jo has been the best player in the Bengals' secondary for the past three seasons.
In 2010, he had three picks and returned one for a TD.
He is a shutdown corner that, when paired with Leon Hall, creates one of the top CB tandems in the NFL.
Joseph is always assigned the other team's top WR in one-on-one coverage. Opponents tend to avoid him, and the Bengals D reaps the benefits.
Without him, there would be more pressure on Hall and the secondary would have to rely heavily on Adam "Pacman" Jones as well.
That's never a good thing.
13. Paul Posluszny, LB, Bills
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The Bills defense may already be one of the worst in the NFL, but it would reach a whole new level of bad with the loss of their top tackler.
Posluszny missed two games and still was able to collect 151 tackles. His sideline-to-sideline speed is incredible and allows him to chase down even the speediest running back.
He has emerged as the leader of a young defense that is learning how to play with each other. Losing Posluszny would set the defense back another year or two and any progress would come to a screeching halt.
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12. Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings
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Rice barely played in 2010 and the Vikings ended up being one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL because of it.
Rice had a Pro Bowl season in 2009, posting 1,312 yards and eight TDs and the Vikings were a Brett Favre INT away from reaching the Super Bowl.
A healthy Rice will give the Vikings a No. 1 receiver and takes the pressure off Percy Harvin and his problems with migraine headaches.
Without him, the Vikings offense will be without a WR to help make the life of their new QB easy.
11. Dawan Landry, S, Ravens
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Landry stepped up for the Ravens in 2010 and finished the year with 111 tackles.
He lets Ed Reed get the INTs, only finishing with one. Landry plays the run as well as anyone on the Ravens and can cover slot receivers.
The Ravens CBs are the weakest link on the defense and losing a key member of their secondary would expose the flaw even more.
10. Cullen Jenkins, DE, Packers
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Jenkins and his seven sacks were key for the Packers defense in 2010.
He missed a sizable chunk of the season with a leg injury, and has missed time the last three years, so there is some concern about giving him a long-term contract.
But he is a huge man than can penetrate the O-Line with the best of them. Without Jenkins, B.J. Raji isn't nearly as effective—Jenkins takes the pressure off the rookie.
Losing him would be a major hit to the Packers pass rush and would hurt the overall defense in a big way.
9. Matt Light, OL, Patriots
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The 6'4", 305 pound giant has been protecting Tom Brady since 2001 and can still play at a Pro Bowl level. One of the reasons the Pats have had continued success has been due to the consistency of the O-Line.
The unit rarely changes and the trust the unit has built up among them has made Brady's life a lot easier.
Losing Light could really disrupt the chemistry of the line and leave a sense of uncertainty in the back of Brady's head when he drops back.
8. LaMarr Woodley, LB- Steelers
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Woodley may be overshadowed by James Harrison and Troy Polamalu, but his play is just as important for the success of the Steelers defense.
He was a major contributor to the No. 1 rated run defense and has been for the last four years.
He projects to sack the QB around 10 times a year, and has recorded a sack in every playoff game he has appeared in.
That kind of production is extremely hard to replace. Teams will be lining up for his services.
7. Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers
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So let's get this straight...Jackson and the Chargers make the playoffs every year between '05-09, then miss the postseason when Jackson sits out for most of the year in 2010?
Sounds like a pretty valuable player to me.
He screwed himself and the Chargers by holding out for more money and ended up with a mere 14 catches for 248 yards and three TDs.
He is the go-to guy for QB Phillip Rivers and will more than likely be without him for the rest of his career. The Chargers offense has a great receiving tight end in Antonio Gates but lack the talent at WR to compete for a Super Bowl.
Tough pill for the 'Bolts to swallow.
6. Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals
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The odds of Benson coming back just went up big time with the firing of offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.
Benson was extremely frustrated with the play-calling in 2010 as he finished with 321 carries for 1,111 yards and seven TDs.
This comes after a 2009 season where he had over 1,200 yards and the team won the AFC North.
If the Bengals can promise Benson they will revert to the offensive philosophy of '09—Benson could return.
Without him the Bengals are left with the tiny Bernard Scott to take the bulk of the carries. That's not going to end well.
5. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers
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Williams missed 10 games this season and his team lost 14 games. He is the catalyst for an offense that has a huge void at the QB position.
Williams is the best back on the 2011 free-agent market and there will be a plethora of teams that could use his services. It was only two years ago that he ran for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns.
He has a lot left in the tank and losing him would be a devastating blow to an already anemic offense.
4. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders
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He earned a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl spot in 2010 and is the top defensive back in the 2011 free agent class.
The Raiders voided his contract and will miss him dearly.
Passing records continue to be set and a shutdown corner is an essential asset. The Raider defense was able to effectively shut down the opponent's best receiver and had become spoiled over Asomugha's tenure.
This is a huge loss that will come back to haunt the Raider Nation.
He will be expensive—but Asomugha could instantly improve any defensive unit he plays on.
3. Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos
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The best corner of the past decade is a free agent and the Broncos have to re-sign him.
In a year where Bailey was able to shut out Dwayne Bowe after he had blown up for six weeks straight—it's clear he is still a top talent. Covering the opponent's No. 1 play-maker is something Bailey has down for 12 years and counting.
The Broncos still had the worst overall defense in the NFL.
Imagine a 2011 unit without their star?
Frightening.
2. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks
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Hasselbeck completely won back the Seattle fanbase after the Seahawks' playoff win over New Orleans.
He has been a part of the franchise for 12 seasons, leading them to a Super Bowl and multiple playoff appearances.
The Seahawks will have a big decision to make about whether or not they want to bring him back.
They are paying Charlie Whitehurst a large amount of money. The 35-year old Hasselbeck is not the future of the team.
But would any Seahawk fan confidently say Whitehurst is the key to 2011?
I think not.
Keeping Hasselbeck will keep the Seahawks competitive in the NFC West.
1. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
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Ok, ok, we all know Manning is going to be a Colt for life.
But he is a free agent and the Colts would take a Cleveland Cavaliers-like turn if he were to leave. Manning is essentially the offensive coordinator for his team and knows the playbook like the back of his hand.
Reaching the playoffs every year is an incredible accomplishment. Doing it without a consistent running game since Edgerrin James left is damn near a miracle.
The work ethic of Manning is mimicked by the rest of the team and losing that would be a crushing blow for the Colts.
Without Manning, the Colts are the worst team in the NFL.
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