NFL Free Agency: 10 Biggest Boom-to-Bust Stories on the Free-Agent Market

Even though free agency won't officially get under way until the lockout ends, we are here to speculate how this year's crop will fare once the 2011 season finally does kick off.

If the lockout continues, the chances of many players changing teams will greatly diminish because it will be hard for them to learn a new system or to find the big deal they are looking for.

This isn't an especially strong free-agent class, either, especially since most of the top players were given their team's franchise tag before the start of the lockout.

With that said, here is a look at 10 players who should receive hefty contracts in free agency only to fail to live up to expectations.

1. James Jones

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: James Jones #89 of the Green Bay Packers runs for yards after the catch against James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 3

Jones was solid last season for the Packers—so solid that a team will likely overpay for his services once free agency begins. 

Last year, Jones caught 50 passes for 679 yards and five touchdowns, and he did so by playing alongside one of the league's top quarterbacks and a very good receiving corps.

Jones is a good complimentary receiver, but will he be able to step up and be a team's top receiver?

I don't believe so. Jones had some pretty good games, including the Super Bowl where he caught five balls for 50 yards, but he also had plenty of games where he was a virtual non-factor.

2. Ray Edwards

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets looks to pass in the first half against Ray Edwards #91 of the Minnesota Vikings at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 11, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by

Edwards is another player who I believe will benefit from playing with an elite group of players around him.

Edwards has been very fortunate to play on the same defensive line as Pat and Kevin Williams, as well as Jared Allen.

Edwards is a solid player who has put up good numbers during his career, including eight sacks last season, but I don't think he will be an elite pass-rusher once he leaves the Vikings, and he will likely be paid top-notch money.

3. Roman Harper

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NEW ORLEANS - NOVEMBER 21: Roman Harper #41 of the New Orleans Saints against the Seattle Seahawks at Louisiana Superdome on November 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Harper went to the Pro Bowl in 2009 and he played well for most of last season, but he was absolutely torched in the playoffs by the Seahawks, and I'm not sure that bodes well for his future.

Harper will be 29 in December, and while he should still have some good years left in the tank, I think a team will overpay for him and ultimately regret doing so down the line.

4. Cedric Benson

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 19: Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

I think the bigger question here is whether or not Benson should be considered a "boom" in the first place.

Last season, Benson was pretty much a bust, as he ran for just 3.5 yards per carry. Benson did have over 1,000 yards on the ground last season (so did 16 other runners) which is why a team could overpay for his services this year and I believe that team will definitely regret it.

In the end, the most likely landing spot is a return to the Bengals, but I don't think they should want him back.

5. Jason Babin

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NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 03: Jason Babin #93 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates after sacking quarterback Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos during the first half at LP Field on October 3, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Im

Babin will almost certainly cash in from his 2010 effort that saw him record 12.5 sacks, but should a team overpay for his career year?

I don't think he is worth big money considering the fact that he never had more than five sacks in a season before last year, but on the flip side, he never received the kind of opportunity he received last year.

Babin is a guy that could get big money and work out, or he could revert to the marginal player that he was earlier in his career.

6. Antonio Cromartie

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Pierre Garcon #85 of the Indianapolis Colts scores on a 57-yard touchdown reception in the seocnd quarter against Antonio Cromartie #31 of the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium

Notice the picture above and you will realize why Cromartie is on this list.

When searching through pictures of Cromartie, you will find that this was just one of a handful of times where he is chasing after someone.

Don't get me wrong, Cromartie is an athletic freak with the ability to create turnovers, but he also has the ability to get beaten on a too-regular basis, and that is not a good attribute to have.

7. Braylon Edwards

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Braylon Edwards #17 of the New York Jets runs for yards after the catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 24

I expect the Jets to make a big push to re-sign wide receiver Santonio Holmes, which means Edwards will likely be looking for a job elsewhere in 2011.

Edwards should have plenty of suitors and receive a good-sized paycheck, but he also comes with plenty of risk.

Edwards has been known to have suspect hands and he hasn't always been the best team player, so there is definitely some risk that comes along with the potential reward.

8. DeAngelo Williams

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 24: DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 24, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty I

Williams is now 28 years old, so theoretically, he still has a few good years left in him, and when he has been on the field, he has been a very productive player.

The problem is that he has not been on the field nearly enough as of late.

Williams has played in just a total of 19 games the past two seasons and while he could turn out to be a huge addition for a team if he stays healthy, that is a big "if."

9. Ahmad Bradshaw

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Ahmad Bradshaw #44 of the New York Giants runs against the Philadelphia Eagles during their game on December 19, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Bradshaw had a solid 2010 season and I'm quite sure that he will be back with the Giants in 2011.

But 2010 was Bradshaw's best season of his career, and when you really look at it, it wasn't that great of a season.

Bradshaw finished 13th in yards per attempt (4.5) and 12th in yards per game (77.2) while also fumbling the ball seven times.

When you consider those things, Bradshaw's season doesn't seem that impressive, but he did finish ninth in rushing yards, so he will likely get a big raise this year.

10. Nnamdi Asmougha

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders in action against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Nnamdi's inclusion on this list is due to the fact that when he leaves the Raiders, he will likely see a lot more balls thrown his way.

If Asomugha ends up going to the Eagles, who appear to be one of the front-runners to land the top corner available, then teams will have to choose between Nnamdi and Asante Samuel.

Samuel had an outstanding 2010 season, and I could definitely see teams choosing to go after Asomugha more than the Eagles' other terrific corner.

Last season, Asomugha stopped 61 percent of the pass attempts that came his way (31 targets) while Samuel stopped a whopping 78 percent of the pass attempts that came his way (36 targets).

Asmougha is a very good corner, but his calling card is the fact that teams will not test him, even though it has been proven that you can do so with success.

Expect him to be tested more if he moves on from Oakland.