50 NFL Players Who Will Surely Play for Other Teams in 2012

This past offseason ended up being pretty anticlimactic following the lockout. Numerous players saw themselves priced out of the market and returned to their teams or signed with other teams on small, one-year contracts. 

That said, there still was some movement, with a lot of these players performing at relatively high levels.

Free agency isn't really used anymore to shape the roster of a team—instead it is mostly used to fill holes at needed positions and supplement the draft. 

As good as the 2011 free-agent class was, next year's class seems to be a lot better—well, until players are given the franchise tag. On that note, it seems to be a certainty that the likes of Drew Brees, Matt Forte and Ray Rice will return to their respective teams. 

This morning I am going to take a look at 50 players who are nearly certain to be calling a new city home in 2012.

You will see a combination of free agents and players under contract who will either be released or traded. Not all the players on this list will end up signing with other teams, but there are indications that they will be allowed to test the free-agent market and possibly find a new team. 

50. Shaun Hill, Detroit Lions

Shaun Hill has proven himself to be a capable starting quarterback in the NFL.

Despite not having all the necessary skills to be more than a game manager, Hill has been a solid player throughout his career.

He is 13-13 as a starter and possesses a 84.7 career quarterback rating.

Additionally, Hill has thrown 39 touchdowns compared to just 23 interceptions, while completing more than 60 percent of his passes.

The Detroit Lions have Drew Stanton as their current No. 3 quarterback. The Michigan State product has improved over his short career and appears ready to take over as the primary backup to Matthew Stafford.

A lot of teams are going away from carrying three quarterbacks, so it makes little sense for the Lions to retain Hill at this point. 

Shaun Hill could be a nice stopgap quarterback for a team that drafts one in April.

49. Aaron Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Smith has been one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the entire NFL, but he has only played 15 games over the last three seasons and is out for the remainder of 2011 due to a neck issue.

At 35, it appears that the former Pro Bowl defender has played his last game in the NFL. 

Pittsburgh would sure love to have the 2004 version of Aaron Smith starting opposite Brett Keisel for the next few seasons, but they fully understand the situation that this veteran defensive end is in right now.

I fully expect Smith to hang up his cleats following a scary neck injury, but that isn't a given.

He has been frustrated over the last couple seasons with injury and somehow finds the drive to return.

There remains a slim possibility that he looks to catch on as a rotational end in a 3-4 scheme. Logically, the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers would come to mind. 

48. Jason Snelling, Atlanta Falcons

Jason Snelling is a hybrid running back/fullback type that can run the ball down an opposing defense.

He will never be a featured back in the NFL but will make a living by contributing to a team's backfield.

I like his toughness and underrated blocking ability.

The Atlanta Falcons will probably not have much use for Snelling following the 2011 season. They drafted scat back Quizz Rodgers in April and have Michael Turner as their bell-cow.

Additionally, the Falcons has a solid fullback in the form of Ovie Mughelli. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of room for him. 

You would be looking at a team with a fast running back looking to add some power to their backfield.

Like I said before, Snelling isn't a featured back, but he can add another dimension to another team's running game. I could easily see him ending up in Philadelphia with Shady McCoy, Detroit with Jahvid Best or Baltimore with Ray Rice. 

47. Brandon Meriweather, Chicago Bears

Meriweather really is an enigma of sorts.

Oddly enough, he found a way onto the AFC Pro Bowl team in each of the last two seasons when there were more deserving candidates.

New England caught on to Meriweather's struggles in coverage and released the former first-round pick prior to the start of the 2011 season. 

Since joining Chicago, he has been in and out of the starting lineup and hasn't showed a great deal of consistency.

Still, it is hard to question his talent, and some team will pick Meriweather up simply because of that.

I just don't think the Bears have any real interest in retaining his services after this season. 

Possible landing spots would include the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. 

46. Bradie James, Dallas Cowboys

Bradie James has been one heck of a performer for the Dallas Cowboys over the course of the last five years, acquiring more than 100 tackles each season.

In fact, it could be concluded that he has been one of the most underrated linebackers in the entire league. 

The former LSU star has seen a dramatic dip in production this season and is sharing time with younger Cowboys linebackers.

At 30 years old, James still has a lot left in the tank. However, it seems that Dallas is intent on going with the youth movement at inside linebacker moving forward.

Sean Lee has been a pleasant surprise, and they will look for another young talent in the draft to play opposite him. 

If James doesn't return to Dallas, which is highly likely, a whole host of teams would be interested in his services.

Division rivals Philadelphia and New York would make a lot of sense, as would the New England Patriots. 

45. Thomas Jones, Kansas City Chiefs

Thomas Jones, in his 12th NFL season, appears to be nearing the end of an extremely productive career.

Originally labeled a bust in Arizona, his career took a turn during a three-year stint with the Chicago Bears that saw Jones rush for well over 3,000 yards.

In fact, from 2004-2010, no running back in the league was as consistent as Jones.

Right now, he appears to have lost a step and won't be needed in a crowded Kansas City backfield in 2012. They currently have Dexter McCluster and Jackie Battle splitting a majority of the carries, with Jamaal Charles set to return from an ACL injury next year.

Jones would provide veteran leadership and a third-down presence for another team moving forward. I don't think he is completely done, and he can still contribute in the short term.

44. Aubrayo Franklin, New Orleans Saints

Many people suspected that the success of the San Francisco 49ers rush defense the last couple seasons was mainly due to Franklin.

Well, that isn't the case, as they rank No. 1 in the NFL in rush defense this season. 

On that note, a majority of observers believed that Aubrayo Franklin was going to earn a nice long-term contract on the free-agent market. That didn't happen, either.

He was forced to sign a one-year contract with the Saints, who run a 4-3 defense. 

Look for Franklin to find a defensive scheme that better fits his talents and that is as a 3-4 net tackle. 

43. Jimmy Clausen, Carolina Panthers

Now that the Carolina Panthers are all-in with Cam Newton, they will most certainly entertain trade offers for the second-year quarterback.

They might not get much in return, but Clausen's future is not in Carolina.

I may be in the minority here, but I believe that he still have a chance to be a solid quarterback in the NFL.

The former Notre Dame star has all the necessary tools to be an above-average starter in the league. 

You will see teams that are looking for a young quarterback come calling for his services. Kansas City, Indianapolis, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle and even Dallas remain the most viable options at this point. 

42. Matt Flynn, Green Bay Packers

A player that not many people have heard of, Matt Flynn might be the best quarterback available in the market come the 2012 offseason.

He has all the physical tools needed to be a really good starting quarterback in the NFL.

You could see a little bit of a Kevin Kolb effect in regard to teams being apprehensive in acquiring Flynn's services, because he doesn't have much regular season experience. 

Still, the upside is tremendous.

Teams that miss out on Andrew Luck, Landry Jones, Matt Barkley and Robert Griffin III will probably come calling.

Washington is the one team that jumps out to me. Either way, he is set to be a free agent, and all reports indicate he will not return to Green Bay. 

41. Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins

Reggie Bush has played extremely well for the Miami Dolphins over the course of the last two games, combining for 262 total yards and a touchdown.

In fact, he is averaging 72 rushing yards per game over the last five. 

Still, the time has passed for him to make a statement in regard to being an every-down back in the NFL: It just isn't going to happen. 

Miami selected Daniel Thomas in the second round of April's draft, and he has the look of being a bell-cow for this team moving forward.

Bush is owed $4.5 million in 2012, which makes him a possible release candidate. Miami is rebuilding right now, so it appears they would be willing to go with Thomas as the primary back and select another one in the middle of next April's draft. 

Bush will still find a home somewhere, because he is an electric player that has the ability to take it to the house on every play.

Some team will find room for him as a complementary back in 2012. 

40. Nate Clements, Cincinnati Bengals

Nate Clements has been pretty solid for the 10th-best pass defense in the NFL.

Through eight games, he has recorded 33 tackles, seven passes defended and two forced fumbles.

One of those forced fumbles sealed the Bengals fifth consecutive victory late in the game against Tennessee on Sunday. 

At this rate, Clements is having his best season since he left the Buffalo Bills following the 2006 season. 

That said, the Cincinnati Bengals have two first-round picks coming up in a 2012 draft that is deep at the corner position. The likelihood of them passing up on a corner with one of the two picks isn't really good at this point.

Additionally, Clements may have played himself out of the market for Cincinnati. He will probably be demanding a multi-year contract upwards of $6-7 million per season. The Bengals will not match that. 

Clements is no longer a No. 1 corner in the NFL, but he will find a team that will utilize him as the No. 2 man and pay him starter salary. It just wont be the Cincinnati Bengals. 

39. Chris Snee, New York Giants

It looks like the marriage between Chris Snee and Tom Coughlin's daughter is going well.

The same cannot be said for the relationship between the two men on the football field.

Snee, who has been a solid guard for the Giants over the last decade, has struggled to an extent this season. 

He still has some tread left on those tires at 29 years old, so it isn't a forgone conclusion that the Giants will let him walk.

However, I envision a scenario in which they cut their losses and go young at that position. As it is, the Giants are going to have to upgrade that unit in the offseason, and it may start with the former Pro Bowl guard. 

38. Chad Ochocinco, New England Patriots

Chad Ochocinco may actually be released before the 2011 season is even over.

That is how bad his transition to the New England Patriots has been thus far.

He has nine receptions for just 137 yards through eight games this year.

The Patriots are not even playing Chad that much, as younger receivers are getting some play in the slot more recently. 

I am not sure what to make of the situation, to be honest. Ochocinco still has something left to give, and that is apparent in watching him practice and run routes.

It just seems that the fit with New England wasn't good to begin with. 

He is set to make $3 million next season with a cap hit of $6.1 million, which won't cut it for a receiver who is on pace to have just 18 receptions in 2011.

Look for Ochocinco to move on to another team that is willing to give him more snaps and utilize the talent that remains. 

37. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers

Donald Driver is a Green Bay Packer, and to imagine him on another team is extremely hard at this point.

After all, he has played all 13 years of his career in green and yellow.

Still, there comes a point when ties need to be cut. We have seen this with some of the greatest receivers in the history of the NFL, and Driver may be next. 

Driver is still listed as the Packers No. 2 receiver, but he is by no means their second-best wide receiver.

In fact, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb have all caught more passes than the future Hall-of-Fame wide receiver. 

I can envision a scenario in which Driver just decides to call it quits following this season. The more likely possibility is that he catches on with another contending team in need of a slot guy. 

36. Lee Evans, Baltimore Ravens

Lee Evans was already behind the 8 ball when he was traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Baltimore Ravens right before the season started.

He didn't have an offseason to learn the playbook, which is a necessity for the wide receiver position.

Then he got injured and has only played in two games thus far in 2011. 

Adding insult to injury for Evans is the fact that rookie Torrey Smith has taken over the No. 2 wide receiver role for the Ravens and will not be giving it up anytime soon. 

Baltimore did give the Bills a fourth-round pick in exchange for Evans, so there remains a strong possibility that they won't completely cut ties with him.

Still, he is owed $5 million in 2012, and the Ravens may not want to pay that for a No. 3 wide receiver.

The most likely scenario remains that Baltimore asks Evans to take a pay cut—if he doesn't, they may look to flip him for a draft pick. 

35. Le'Ron McClain, Kansas City Chiefs

Le'Ron McClain left the Baltimore Ravens this previous offseason because he wanted more carries in the backfield.

Through eight games this season, McClain has touched the ball a total of 15 times, including just eight rushes. It hasn't turned out exactly how McClain had planned. 

At 238 pounds, Jackie Battle could be in the mix to become the Chiefs full-time blocking back when Jamaal Charles returns in 2012. 

Look for McClain to find work elsewhere, as a lot of teams are looking for a hybrid fullback who can pound the ball down an opponent's neck up the middle. 

34. Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers

After a subpar 2010 season and volatile offseason with the San Francisco 49ers, Dashon Goldson has performed at an extremely high level in 2011.

There remains issues in regard to consistency, but it looks like the new 49ers coaching staff has really helped "The Hawk" reach his potential. 

The issue that I have in regard to a possible return to San Francisco is the fact that they have a young free safety in Reggie Smith, who is a much better cover man than Goldson and complements Donte Whitner well. 

Despite being in one of the best salary-cap situations in the entire NFL, the 49ers are going to have myriad different free agents following the season, including Alex Smith, Braylon Edwards, Joshua Morgan and Carlos Rogers, among others.

They will probably decide to go with Reggie Smith on the back end, while focusing their money on other positions of need. 

33. Donovan McNabb, Minnesota Vikings

Donovan McNabb's career as a starter is all but over at this point.

Moving forward, he will probably play a role similar to that of Kerry Collins toward the end of his career.

The future Hall-of-Fame quarterback can come in and win a game or two during the season, but he cannot be counted on for an entire season at this point. 

Consequently, the Minnesota Vikings will look to move on from McNabb and find another veteran presence to backup Christian Ponder, or stick with Joe Webb.

There will be a market for McNabb as a backup when the offseason begins. Teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars might take a look. 

32. Brandon Lloyd, St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams didn't give up much for Brandon Lloyd, so if they decide not to retain him following the 2011 season it really wouldn't be a big deal for the franchise.

There are a couple different situations that I can envision Lloyd not returning to the Midwest. 

First, there is a possibility that Lloyd plays himself out of the market and receives multi-year contract offers elsewhere.

In just three games with the Rams, he has caught 17 passes for more than 200 yards.

The other possibility is that Lloyd becomes a locker-room distraction for a losing Rams team, something that would force them to let him go. 

St. Louis will have a top five pick in the draft, which would enable them to draft either Justin Blackmon or Alshon Jeffrey, giving Bradford a young receiver to go to. 

Either way, you can expect Brandon Lloyd to get some play on the free-agent market. 

31. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

Earlier, I discussed the likelihood that Cincinnati will go corner with one of their two first-round picks.

Here, I am going to discuss the idea that they will look for a running back with the other first-round pick.

Andy Dalton, Jermaine Gresham and A.J. Green are a great young trio to lead this surprising Bengals offense moving forward.

Imagine adding a player at the level of Trent Richardson or Lamar Miller to the nucleus. 

Either way, Cedric Benson's days as a Bengal are numbered right now. He is once again averaging less than four yards per rush and is going to be 29 toward the end of the season. 

If the Bengals let Benson go, he will get some play as a backup running back on the free-agent market, but his days as a starter are over. 

30. Marcus Trufant, Seattle Seahawks

Marcus Trufant has spent his entire life int the Pacific northwest.

He was born in Tacoma and went to school in Pullman with the Washington State Cougars, only to be drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, spending his entire nine-year career there. 

All good things must come to an end. 

Trufant was placed on injured reserve in the beginning of October, pretty much marking the end of his Seattle Seahawks career.

They are in rebuilding mode right now and are probably looking to move forward with younger alternatives such as Richard Sherman, Walter Thurmond III and Brandon Browner. 

If he doesn't call it quits, you can expect the former Pro Bowl performer to find work as a No. 2 corner or nickel back for a contending team.

After all, cover guys like this are few and far between. Although he has regressed a great deal, Trufant can still perform at a relatively high level when healthy.  

29. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings didn't draft Kyle Rudolph in the second round of April's draft to sit behind Visanthe Shiancoe for the next couple years.

Instead, the former Notre Dame tight end was drafted to replace him. 

Shiancoe looked like he was progressing toward becoming one of the better tight ends in the NFL a couple years ago, but that momentum has ended.

His receptions and yards dropped off last season, and his pace is even worse in 2011. 

I fully expect the Vikings to let him walk, but he will get a lot of play on the free-agent market. 

28. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins

It was pretty clear that Chad Henne wasn't going to be the long-term answer in Miami at the beginning of the season.

Now it is all but a forgone conclusion. 

The Michigan product lacks the necessary skills to be more than a game manager in the NFL.

This isn't what the vast majority of teams are looking for—Miami included.

So you can expect Henne to get some play as a backup quarterback for a team with a young, unproven signal-caller. 

He will not get any play as a starter following the 2011 season. 

27. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers

Ryan Grant has been more than solid for the Green Bay Packers since they drafted him out of Notre Dame in 2007.

Prior to an injury that cost him a vast majority of the 2010 season, Grant had two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. 

That injury enabled another late-round pick, James Starks, to pick up the slack.

Following an amazing postseason performance, Starks has taken over a majority of the load for the Packers in 2011.

He has nearly doubled Grant's total yardage output and looks to be entrenched as their running back of the future. 

I still think that Grant can be a capable starting running back in the NFL, which means he will find a home somewhere. It just wont be in Green Bay following this season. 

26. Bryant McKinnie, Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens selected a highly-talented Jah Reid in the third round of April's draft.

He is their offensive tackle of the future opposite Michael Oher.

McKinnie was brought in to be a stop-gap along the offensive line—nothing more. 

Additionally, he has struggled to an extent in pass protection through the first eight games. This is probably one of the easiest picks to make from this list. 

I do expect McKinnie to be starting somewhere in the NFL next season, because he still does have the skills needed to be a good tackle in the league. 

25. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos

When you are replaced by Tim Tebow, it shows that your coaching staff and team have lost any confidence in you.

More than that, Denver didn't have a strong interest in retaining Orton's services prior to the 2011 season, which was evident by the attempted trade to the Miami. 

We still cannot discount the solid play that has defined Kyle Orton's career through the last couple seasons.

He will be starting for a marginally-winning club at some point next season. My bet is on the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins or Seattle Seahawks. 

24. Mike Tolbert, San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers did franchise Mike Tolbert during the offseason, but it was at the fullback position, not at running back.

This meant that the Chargers were able to retain his services for relatively cheap. 

I just don't see the Chargers doling out any more money for a player that isn't going to be their featured back on offense.

They have an improving Ryan Mathews right now and don't really seem to have a huge need for Tolbert's services moving forward—especially if the human bowling pin decides he wants to see more touches. 

23. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts' offseason is really up in the air due to the uncertainty surrounding Peyton Manning's status.

Will they have the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback back in order to make another run at the Super Bowl? Or are they prepared to move on? 

Those are two burning questions that need to be answered in relatively short order. I guess we will get those answers prior to April's draft. 

If Indianapolis decides to go with the youth movement, you can expect to see myriad veteran players at different locations next season.

The top of that list would be Reggie Wayne, who has regressed a great deal without Manning. 

22. Matt Light, New England Patriots

The Patriots make a point of not overpaying veteran players that they had drafted earlier.

Some may take issue with the lack of respect this shows, but it works. 

New England has two young offensive tackles, Sabastian Vollmer and Nate Solder, who are going to be their bookends for the foreseeable future.

This will leave Matt Light out in the cold. He is set to make $3.5 million and has a cap hit of $6.5 million in 2012. 

21. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks

It was a kick in the face to John Carlson when the Seattle Seahawks signed Zach Miller during the offseason.

After all, he had caught 137 passes over the previous three seasons.

Apparently, Seattle had ESP or something, because Carlson was hurt during training camp and will not play a regular season game in 2011. 

In fact, the Seahawks' playoff loss to Chicago last year was probably Carlson's final game in Seattle.

He is a starter-caliber tight end in the NFL and will get some play in regard to that following the season. The Miami Dolphins look like a logical destination. 

20. Antoine Winfield, Minnesota Vikings

At some point, we all knew that father time was going to catch up with Antoine Winfield, and it appears that has happened this season.

The Ohio State product actually had his three best seasons of a stellar career from 2008-2010, but he has regressed a great deal in 2011. 

I am not sure if there is going to be much interest in his services following the season, but one thing is for sure—he wont be back with Minnesota. 

19. Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders

Jason Campbell really got the raw end of the deal with the Carson Palmer situation in Oakland.

He had led the Raiders to an 8-8 record last season and started 4-2 in 2011 prior to the collarbone injury. 

Despite all this, the Raiders did not place Campbell on injured reserve, and he is expected back sometime in the next month or so.

There is an outside shot that Palmer continues to struggle and Campbell returns to the lineup.

However, it appears that his stay in northern California will end when he hits free agency following the 2011 season. 

18. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants

Brandon Jacobs has been somewhat of an enigma as a member of the New York Giants since taking over for Tiki Barber.

He has the talent to carry the load but is extremely volatile in regard to his personality.

This is something that Tom Coughlin will not continue to put up with. 

Besides, the Giants have Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield and will probably target another running back at some point in next April's draft.

Jacobs is also set to make $5 million in 2012 with a cap hit over nearly $7 million. 

17. John Abraham, Atlanta Falcons

All John Abraham has done since being acquired from the New York Jets following the 2005 season is compile 52 sacks and continue to terrorize opposing quarterbacks.

At 33 years old, he appears to be slowing down a bit and isn't the same threat that we have seen in previous seasons. 

The Falcons might be inclined to move on following the 2011 season with younger options they currently have on the roster or a draft pick in April.

I am not entirely sure that they are going to want to give Abraham the $5-6 million that he will demand in free agency. 

16. Terrence McGee, Buffalo Bills

Terrence McGee is one of the most underrated defensive players in the entire NFL, but injuries have caught up with the former Pro Bowl corner over the last three seasons.

Including the four games that McGee has missed in 2011, he has missed 15 since 2008. 

Additionally, his productivity has dipped a little bit during that span, mainly due to the fact that he has been unable to stay healthy. 

The Buffalo Bills have Drayton Florence, Leodis McKelvin, Justin Rogers and 2011 second-round pick Aaron Williams at the corner position.

They will probably attempt to swap McGee for a mid-round pick following the season. Either way, he will most likely be calling another city home in 2012. 

15. Steve Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

Anyone that expected Steve Smith to come to Philadelphia and perform at a high level following his devastating injury and the lack of an offseason was sadly mistaken.

Smith has five catches halfway through the 2011 season. 

The Eagles signed him to a one-year contract, so it was a win-win situation for them.

Still, I have a hard time believing that he will return to Philadelphia following this season. 

When healthy, Steve Smith can be a solid starting wide receiver in the NFL. You can expect that to happen in 2012. 

14. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

Tim Tebow is the most over-hyped player to set foot on an NFL field since Ryan Leaf was throwing darts to opposing teams with the San Diego Chargers.

It may sound a little harsh, but he is not a starter-caliber quarterback in the NFL. 

At this point, many Broncos fans might get a false sense of hope in regard to Denver's recent success, but they need to remain grounded. 

John Elway is going to do everything in his power to acquire a traditional quarterback that fits what they are trying to do with that organization.

This might be via free agency, trade or the draft. One thing is for sure—Elway is not sold on Tebow as the Broncos' quarterback of the future. 

If the Broncos can upgrade at quarterback—which shouldn't be too hard—Tim Tebow's tenure in the Mile High City will be short lived. 

13. Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts

I previously broached the subject of the Colts letting key veteran players go depending on how the Peyton Manning situation plays out.

Reggie Wayne was No. 1 on that list, but Robert Mathis is a close second.

There were a variety of reports that both were available at the right price during the trade deadline. 

Mathis has been one of the most consistent pass-rushers in the NFL, averaging about nine sacks per game over the last seven seasons.

He is set to be a free agent following the 2011 season and will probably be demanding an eight-figure annual salary.

Indianapolis wont be looking to give him a long-term extension during an offseason in which the franchise promises to be in transition. 

12. Ben Grubbs, Baltimore Ravens

The inclusion of Ben Grubbs on this list is tricky and may surprise a lot of people.

After all, he has been one of the best interior linemen in the NFL over the last few seasons.

This is precisely why he is on the list. 

The Ravens have nearly $60 million promised to three different offensive linemen and will be looking at having to extend Michael Oher in the near future.

Simply put, they cannot afford to pay Ben Grubbs top-tier guard money. Instead, they are going to refocus that money to fill other holes on the roster. 

11. Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins may look to go in a different direction following a disastrous 2011 season, no matter what happens in the second half.

Brandon Marshall continues to be a distraction off the field, and if they are going to go with a young quarterback in 2012, it makes no sense to keep him on the roster. 

Listen—Marshall is a productive receiver and has more talent in his finger than most wide receivers wish they had on their entire body.

That said, at some point it becomes apparent that a player has worn out his welcome in a city. 

This seems to be the case with Brandon Marshall in Miami.

They will probably look at trading him, but that $11 million cap figure makes that nearly impossible. Instead, the Dolphins may be forced to cut ties completely by releasing Marshall. 

10. Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns

At this point, is has become fairly obvious that Peyton Hillis will not play in Cleveland following the 2011 season.

He isn't happy with their lack of a legitimate extension offer, hasn't played over the last month and is having a down season. 

Cleveland will not make the mistake of franchising Hillis, because they are not willing to pay him top-five running back money.

If the former Arkansas star hits the free-agent market, it is almost already decided that he will not choose to return to the Browns. 

If that is the case, there will be a wide array of different teams looking to acquire his services. Hillis is a great inside power runner who will add a lot to any team that decides to sign him.

9. Brandon Carr, Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs just doled out a whopping $110 million to two key defensive players, Tamba Hali and Brandon Flowers.

They have another $13 million in cap money allocated to three more defensive stars next season.

They just don't have the financial ability to pay Brandon Carr what he is worth right now.

Even if the Chiefs decide to franchise Carr, it wouldn't even seem to fit under their 2012 cap. 

Kansas City could decide to franchise Carr with the hope of finding a trade partner, but that seems unlikely at this point.

Teams like San Francisco, Dallas, Oakland and Baltimore will look closely at him during the offseason. 

8. Mario Manningham, New York Giants

The progression of Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks at wide receiver for the Giants has made Mario Manningham expendable.

His numbers have dropped in 2011, mostly due to a lack of targets.

This doesn't mean that the Michigan product cannot be a solid starting receiver in the NFL.

In fact, I project him to have a couple 1,000-yard seasons when all is said and done. 

There will be plenty of interest in Manningham if he does indeed hit the open market. He has the ability to spread the field atop opposing defenses.

There are certain teams that will take a long look at him. For some reason, the New England Patriots keep popping into my head. 

7. Osi Umenyiora, New York Giants

By now we all understand that Osi just isn't happy with his contract and the Giants continue to play hard ball.

They were offering him up for a first-round pick during the shortened offseason—there were no takers. 

Umenyiora is an interesting character, because he isn't a traditionally consistent pass-rusher.

He has alternated double-digit sack campaigns since 2005 and seems to lose passion for playing at times.

Those are two variables that I am sure the New York Giants have taken into account when discussing his contract situation internally. 

All that said, Osi is still a premiere pass-rusher in the NFL and deserves a better contact. I just don't think it will come with the Giants.

He is set to earn just over $4 million next season and wont report if those figures are not heightened a great deal. 

I fully expect the Giants to look for a trade partner during a longer offseason following 2011. They might have to lower the first-round asking price in order to get something done. 

6. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints

Is Marques Colston a product of Drew Brees and the Saints' pass-happy offense?

There has been a lot of discussion in regard to where his value would be on the open market.

Well, we will see what happens following 2011, when the former seventh-round pick hits free agency. 

I believe that Colston will be a productive receiver in pretty much any system that has a reliable quarterback.

He runs crisp routes, has decent hands and can get over the top of the defense. 

The Saints rewarded Lance Moore with a $20 million contract in the offseason and have another $12 million dedicated to Devery Henderson, so they have the financial means to sign Colston. I guess it all depends on how the market plays out for him.

Still, I can envision a scenario in which the Redskins or another team desperate for a wide receiver sets the market way past what New Orleans is willing to offer Colston. 

You also have to take into account that the Saints are going to have to work out a long-term extension with Drew Brees, which is going to take precedence this offseason. 

5. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers

Before you attack me for having Jonathan Stewart on this list, just hear me out.

At this point, it is debatable as to whether the Carolina Panthers actually need two starter-caliber running backs behind Cam Newton.

After all, the rookie quarterback acts as another back a lot of the time.

If Carolina is going to continue running their offense to utilize the amazing talents of Newton, they are going to have to get rid of one of the backs or threaten to under-utilize them, which could lead to greater problems. 

DeAngelo Williams just signed a long-term extension in the offseason, so he is probably here for the long haul. That leaves Stewart as the proverbial odd man out. 

At only 24 years old and with less than 700 carries under his belt, Stewart's value is going to be huge in the trade market.

Teams such as the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets may come calling with a really solid offer. 

At this point, it would probably take a second-round pick and a young player to acquire the services of the ultra-talented Jonathan Stewart.

The only question that remains is the following: Will a team give that much up for a franchise back? My answer is yes!

4. Mario Williams, Houston Texans

"Super Mario" had never played outside linebacker in his career—college or pro.

So when Wade Phillips came in and switched him there in the new 3-4 system, there were a lot of questions about his ability to stand up. 

Well, a torn pectoral muscle cost Williams the final 11 games of the 2011 season, and he is set to be a free agent.

The former No. 1 overall pick did impress during a short stint in the 3-4 before the injury, compiling five sacks in as many games. 

You still have to wonder whether he wants to play outside linebacker or go back to the more traditional 4-3 defensive end position that saw him have so much success earlier.

Additionally, he will be looking at a contract with an annual salary of between $14 and $16 million. Is that too steep of a price to pay?

The Texans could easily decide to let Williams walk and move J.J. Watt to the outside position in 2012. That would free up a ton of money for them to either sign one of their running backs to a long-term contract or upgrade at other positions on the team. 

For some reason, I have the feeling that Williams will not be a member of the Houston Texans come opening day 2012. It looks like there are too many variables indicating that he is going to move on. 

Only time will tell. 

3. Asante Samuel, Philadelphia Eagles

Asante Samuel will not be back with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012.

In fact, they attempted to deal him during the trade deadline this season with no success.

The Eagles have Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha etched in stone as the starting corners for the next half of decade or so, and Samuel makes too much money to be a nickel corner.

His cap hit is at $20 million over the next two seasons. 

I fully expect him to be dealt at or around draft day. There are a multitude of teams that would love to acquire the services of this Pro Bowl corner.

The same source that indicated to me that Carlos Rogers was going to sign with the San Francisco 49ers said that they had interest in Samuel during the offseason and prior to the trade deadline.

There is a strong possibility that something could be worked out there. If not, there will not be a shortage of teams interested in Samuel. 

2. Arian Foster or Ben Tate, Houston Texans

This probably doesn't make sense to many of you, and I completely understand that.

Why tear apart the best running game in the NFL?

Ben Tate and Arian Foster are absolutely shredding it up right now for the AFC South-leading Houston Texans. Don't mess with a good thing. 

Wrong—they are now in a position of strength in regards to having two All-Pro caliber running backs.

Why not swap one for a bounty that could net you multiple early picks as well as a proven player? 

I am pretty sure that Mike Shanahan and the Washington Redskins wouldn't think twice about sending multiple draft picks to the Texans for one of these running backs.

After all, we know how much he covets running backs in his system. The simple fact that Houston doesn't need to deal either of these players indicates that they would get a lot in return. I am talking about a first, third and fourth-round pick, or something to that effect. 

If they were offered that, it would be extremely hard to turn it down. At this point, I see six or seven teams willing to give up what it takes for either Foster or Tate.

That is why I have to put them on this list. 

1. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have been masters at circumventing the salary cap, but that is probably going to come home to roost this upcoming offseason.

They just signed Michael Vick to a huge contract and are on the books for $45 million for just Michael Vick, Jason Peters, Nnamdi Asomugha and Jason Babin in 2012.

This doesn't take into account their current negotiation talks with Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy. 

Mathematically, it is impossible for the Eagles to give DeSean Jackson the top-five wide receiver money that he is demanding. Moreover, it doesn't make practical sense to do so.

He is on pace for his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, but inconsistency continues to remain an issue. The Cal product is averaging less than four receptions per game in his career. 

Philadelphia will probably franchise Jackson following the season and attempt to acquire a combination of draft picks and players for his services.

All three of the California teams seem like possible destinations at this point. As it is, I have a hard time imagining the Eagles being able to work out a situation that brings Jackson back in 2012.