NFL Free Agency Speculation: 11 Best Skill Position Players Available

There has been a lot of speculation as of late that both sides may be inching closer to a deal to end the lockout in the near future, and hopefully we will see free agency starting sometime within the next month.

There are plenty of players waiting to re-sign with their current team, or to go off and find a new place to call home. Some of the biggest names in the NFL will be free agents this offseason, players like Michael Vick and Peyton Manning.

This is a list of the best skill offensive skill position players in the league who will be free agents, however I did not include Vick or Manning on this list, because let's face it, they are both returning to their current teams no matter what. Matt Hasselbeck is the only other free agent quarterback of note and he is borderline when it comes to cracking this list.

That means that this list is essentially the best running backs and receivers on the market this offseason, as we look at where the top 11 guys could potentially end up.

This list is in no particular order.

1. DeAngelo Williams

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 03: DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Carolina Panthers in action during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Williams missed the final 10 games of the 2010 season due to injury and while he is 28-years-old, you have to think that he still has at least one strong season left in the tank.

Williams ran for at least five yards per carry in each of his three seasons prior to 2010 and I believe he is still capable of being very effective if he can find the right backfield situation.

Williams needs to go to a team that is similar to Carolina in that they use a platoon system and while I don't see him returning to the Panthers, there are a number of teams who should be interested in his services (with the Broncos as one of the teams at the top of the list due to the John Fox connection).

2. James Jones

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: James Jones #89 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after missing a catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

James Jones has been overvalued by some after helping the Packers win the Super Bowl last season. While I believe Jones will be a good No. 3 receiver for any team in the NFL, I'm not sure he can be a true No. 1 or even No. 2 for a team.

Jones caught 50 passes for 679 yards and five touchdowns last year and while those numbers could improve if he is given more of an opportunity, he also often disappeared in some games last season.

I think Jones would be perfect for a team like Kansas City who could use a slot receiver to go along with Bowe and Baldwin (McCluster is a great weapon, but he's not that guy).

3. Mike Tolbert

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Running back Mike Tolbert #35 of the San Diego Chargers rushes with the ball as cornerback Shawntae Spencer #36 of the San Francisco 49ers trys to tackle him at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California.

Tolbert is never going to be an elite running back in the league but I would think literally every team in the NFL would be happy to have him.

Tolbert is a load to bring down at 5'9", 243 lbs., and even though he does not possess breakaway speed, he has the ability to shoulder plenty of carries for a team.

The 25-year-old reached the end zone 11 times on the ground last season and I could see him being an effective runner in the red zone once again this year.

4. Malcolm Floyd

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 22: Wide receiver Malcolm Floyd #80 of the San Diego Chargers after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium on November 22, 2010 in San Diego, California. Chargers defeated the Broncos, 35-14. (Photo by K

The biggest issue with Floyd is that he will turn 30 at the start of the season and he may not have a lot of room for improvement in the future, but if last season was any indication, he is a very capable big play receiver.

Floyd caught 37 passes for 717 yards (19.4 ypc) last year and six touchdowns.

The former Wyoming Cowboy would be a nice addition to any team that is looking to add a 6'5" receiver to their roster.

5. Michael Bush

Tim Umphrey/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 02: Running back Michael Bush #29 of the Oakland Raiders runs down field in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tim Umphrey/Getty Images)

Michael Bush would be my first choice of NFL running backs with the last name Bush, and I'm not even that high on the Raiders running back.

Bush is an all-around solid back, and while he is not going to necessarily take a game over and win your team the game, he will most likely not lose it either (just three fumbles in his career).

Bush's longest run last season came against the Seahawks in Week 8 when he went 30 yards on carry, so while he is obviously not a big play threat, he is very capable of churning out yards and punishing opposing defenses.

6. Brad Smith

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Brad Smith #16 of the New York Jets runs with the ball against William Gay #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won

Smith would be a great addition to any team that is looking to add some versatility to their roster as he is one of the most dynamic players in the league.

The former Mizzou quarterback can do it all; last season he completed two of his three pass attempts, ran for 299 yards on 38 carries, caught four passes for 44 yards, and returned two kicks for touchdowns while averaging 28.6 yards per return.

Smith is a tremendous fit for a team that likes to use the Wildcat package and he would be a valuable returner for a team looking to upgrade their special teams.

7. Vincent Jackson

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Vincent Jackson #83 of the San Diego Chargers celebrates scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Do

Jackson was a major headache for the Chargers last season after holding out for the first nine weeks of the year, but there is no question that he is also a major talent, the kind of talent that all NFL teams covet.

Jackson caught 14 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns last season.

I expect him to be back with the Chargers this year, and they will need their No. 1 target back on the roster if they are to try and regain their spot at the top in the AFC West.

8. Ahmad Bradshaw

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants hands the ball off to Ahmad Bradshaw #44 against the Philadelphia Eagles at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty

Bradshaw had a breakout season last year as he went over the 1,000 yard mark for the first time in his career; rushing for 1,235 yards and eight touchdowns on 276 attempts.

The Giants do have one of the best offensive lines in the league and Bradshaw's 4.5 yards per carry was good, but not great, so you have to wonder how he would fare on another team's roster.

The 25-year-old also had a problem holding onto the football last season, fumbling seven times. I think he will be back with the Giants when all is said and done, but I wouldn't expect anything better then what he did last season.

9. Steve Smith

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 27: Steve Smith #12 of the New York Giants runs against the Carolina Panthers at Giants Stadium on December 27, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Steve Smith had a disappointing 2010 season as he missed seven games and caught just 48 passes for 529 yards and three touchdowns.

I don't believe he has No. 1 ability and he would be best served going to a team in need of a slot receiver such as the Chiefs.

10. Santonio Holmes

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets celebrates after he scored a third quarter touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani

Holmes really played well in his first season for the Jets, especially considering he missed the first four games of the season due to suspension.

The former Pittsburgh receiver caught 52 passes for 746 yards and sic touchdowns last year as the team's second option behind Braylon Edwards.

I have seen some people speculating that he could return to the Steelers, but I don't see that happening and I believe he will return to the Jets after they make a strong push for him.

11. Sidney Rice

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings congratulates wide receiver Sidney Rice #18 on his 45 yard touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphr

Rice will likely be a restricted free agent once the lockout ends and that means that any team outside of Minnesota will have to be a hefty price for the No. 1 receiver.

The 24-year-old is coming off of a season in which he played just six games due to an injury, but he was on the fast track to becoming an elite receiver in 2009 when he caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards.

Many teams would like to have Rice's pass-catching ability and size (he's 6'4") on their roster and while I think he will attempt to test the free agent market, I believe he will ultimately end up back in Minnesota this season.