The Top 5 NFL Free Agents for 2012

With the NFL season upon us, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to start the rumors and speculation for the 2012 offseason. After this past summer's free agent frenzy, there is no reason to expect anything less next year and, with that in mind, the following players are the top five free agents that could be available next year.

Honorable Mentions

These players will be free agents next year and will draw significant interest and dollar amounts from teams, but didn't quite make the cut as one of the five best players available next summer: Arian Foster (Texans), Reggie Wayne (Colts), Haloti Ngata (Ravens) and Brian Urlacher (Bears).

No. 5 Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs

Dwayne Bowe quietly led the league in touchdown catches in 2010 (15), and if he has another monster 2011, his agent is going to begin drafting up the paperwork with Larry Fitzgerald’s deal as the blueprint.

Now, he will not be getting Fitzgerald money, but that’s not going to stop him from asking for it. The Chiefs organization doesn’t strike me as the type to offer an $80 million deal to a wide receiver, but I believe there are teams in the league that would.

St. Louis is an intriguing option because they need to give Sam Bradford a No. 1 option. Whatever team signs Bowe, I don’t see Kansas City bringing him back next year.

No. 4 Mario Williams, Houston Texans

In 2007 and 2008, Williams showed everyone why he was the No. 1 overall pick with 14 and 12 sacks, respectively.

However, the last two years he has failed to record double-digit sacks (9, 8.5) and will be switching defensive schemes in 2011, but I still believe he’s a Pro Bowl caliber pass rusher and will most likely get paid as such next summer.

The absolutely abysmal Houston Texans defense would be unwise to let Super Mario (26 years old) walk and I expect them to throw the kitchen sink at him with a Freeney-esque contract extension. 

No. 3 Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

He is unquestionably the best and most consistent back in the league and Chris Johnson’s recent contract extension had to be music to AP’s ears.

He’s still only 26 but after 1,200 carries (pre-2011 season) and 5,780 yards under his belt, the Vikings have to at least wonder about how much longer he can hold up. Any deal longer than four years, for any back, seems foolish in this day and age, but if you were going to give a RB a five-year deal, Peterson would be the back most deserving.

Of the top three players on this list, he is the most likely to leave his current team, but ultimately I think he re-signs with Minnesota.

No. 2 Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

He’s the best safety and one of the most exciting game changers in the NFL.

Injuries are a concern, albeit a mild one, but when he plays he makes an average defense great.

He is making $6.4 million in 2011, but I think after what happened with Asomugha this summer, Polamalu’s price tag is sure to go up.

I believe he’ll stay with the Steelers because the organization understands how important he is to their success, but there will certainly be other teams kicking at the tires.

No. 1 Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

With as many Super Bowl rings as Peyton Manning and as many yards as anyone the past three years, Drew Brees vaulted himself into elite quarterback status with the New Orleans Saints.

If he wanted, he could start a bidding war next offseason and get Manning/Brady money, but I don’t think he has the ego or desire to do that.

I would be absolutely shocked if Brees signed with anyone but the Saints, but as the best free agent available, he will certainly get the offers from other teams. He’ll get his $15 million a year from New Orleans and retire as arguably the greatest Saint of all time.