NFL Free Agency 2012: Top Target for Every NFL Team

We are in the midst of one of the most entertaining seasons in modern NFL history. You have multiple teams that continue to surprise previous skeptics, talented teams struggling to find their way and a former powerhouse slipping into the abyss of the league cellar.

Teams map out what they need done prior to the season. Front offices look at the free agent and trade markets, while keeping a keen eye on the draft. They spend endless hours in a room looking at game film and recognizing weaknesses while players are off taking shots of tequila in Hawaii or other exotic locales. 

This is how teams are built; success is created prior to the start of the season.

While free agency isn't an indicator of how a team may or may not succeed, the ability to find a star without giving up a high draft pick is paramount to the success of each franchise.

Today I am going to focus on a key free agent that each NFL team will target following the 2011 season. You will not see Drew Brees on this list for obvious reasons.

My predictions will not only be possible, but I will provide an argument for each player.

Arizona Cardinals: OT Demetrius Bell

It isn't a coincidence that Ryan Fitzpatrick started struggling a great deal once Demetrius Bell went down due to injury.

Bell, a fourth-year player, is one of the best offensive tackles in the entire game. He falls under the radar because he plays in Buffalo and wasn't a high draft pick in 2008 (seventh round). 

He is exactly what the Arizona Cardinals need right now in order to protect Kevin Kolb. The struggling signal caller has been sacked 24 times in seven games and needs protection on the blind side. 

Although it is hard to imagine the Buffalo Bills letting Bell walk, they do have other free agents to worry about in the offseason, such as Steve Johnson. 

Atlanta Falcons: OT Jared Gaither

This could be more about the Atlanta Falcons taking a chance on a talented, but injury-plagued Jared Gaither.

Just a couple offseasons ago the former Baltimore Ravens standout was one of the hottest tickets on the free agent market. If Gaither is able to come back 100 percent, he will be one of the best offseason additions a team could make. 

Sam Baker has struggled all season protecting Matt Ryan; the Falcons need to find a replacement somewhere. The Falcons gave up their first-round pick in the 2012 draft to acquire Julio Jones, so the their best opportunity at upgrading will be via free agency.

Baltimore Ravens: CB Cortland Finnegan

The Baltimore Ravens corner play has surprised me a great deal thus far in 2011, despite being without their first-round pick Jimmy Smith for the first five games of the season.

Cary Williams, who I dogged earlier this season, is playing really well and Lardarius Webb is having a Pro Bowl season. 

Still, I couldn't pass up on picking Cortland Finnegan here. He is the type of physical player that the Baltimore Ravens love to have on their defense and would create a ton of matchup problems for opposing receivers.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Ravens go after the Tennessee Titans corner and mix up personnel elsewhere. There was some who thought that Jimmy Smith made a better safety prospect coming out of college, so that is a possibility. 

The Ravens primary objective this offseason will be to retain Ben Grubbs and Ray Rice. 

Buffalo Bills: LB Curtis Lofton

Buffalo's defense has been horrible over the last month or so and they were exposed a great deal against the Dallas Cowboys last week. Their secondary isn't that bad of a unit, but I am seeing glaring holes in regards to the middle of the front seven.

Nick Barnett has played pretty darn good since coming over from the Green Bay Packers in free agency, but they could use a player like Lofton beside him. 

Lofton, who has racked up over 100 tackles in each of the last two seasons and is among the league leaders in that category this year, is a sure tackler. He would fit in perfectly opposite Barnett. 

Carolina Panthers: LB Stephen Tulloch

It is hard to imagine that the Detroit Lions would let Stephen Tulloch walk, considering he has helped solidify a weak linebacker group. That said, they may not want to dole out tens of millions for him when they will have multiple contract extensions to think about in the near future. 

Carolina hasn't been able to stop anyone in the run or pass game over the course of the 2011 season. It is obvious that they need help at all three levels on defense.

I fully expect them to look for secondary help in the draft, so they could look to add a strong presence in the front seven via free agency. 

Tulloch is one heck of a football player and would be a major upgrade over anyone they currently have at that position on their roster. 

Chicago Bears: WR Vincent Jackson

Despite recent success, the Chicago Bears are lacking true play makers on the offensive side of the ball. Jay Cutler doesn't have that "go to" receiver on the outside, as the Roy Williams experiment has been a downright disaster. 

Vincent Jackson is a enigma of sorts. He doesn't show up for every game, isn't incredibly consistent and has major character concerns. These are three reasons why I believe that the San Diego Chargers are prepared to let him walk. 

That said, he would add another dimension to the Chargers offense and give Cutler that big outside threat that he has been looking for. It would also disable the ability of defenses to stack the box against Matt Forte.

On that note, the Bears primary offseason goal will be to retain their all-everything running back. 

Cincinnati Bengals: S Dashon Goldson

I was looking for a lot of holes on the Cincinnati Bengals roster and I really couldn't find many, but this doesn't mean that they are ready to compete for a championship; it just means that they have a lot of young talent on the roster. 

Offensively, they appear set at the skill positions outside of running back. I fully expect them to spend one of their two first-round picks on either Trent Richardson or Lamar Miller to fill that hole.

On the defensive side of the ball, their front seven looks really good at this point. 

This is why I have made the decision to go with Dashon Goldson. He would move from free safety to his more natural position on the strong side and give the Bengals another thumper against the run. Goldson has regained his 2009 form and will be a well sought-after free agent in the spring. 

Now, the 49ers letting him go is an entirely different story. 

Cleveland Browns: WR Dwayne Bowe

There is no question about it: the Cleveland Browns need multiple receivers to help Colt McCoy out on the outside. They don't have any consistency there and it shows.

I do like Greg Little a lot and think he will be a valuable starting receiver in the NFL when he gains experience, but after that, the Browns have zilch. 

They will probably look at a Michael Floyd-type player in the draft, but that won't be enough. Dwayne Bowe adds a physical threat on the outside and will help McCoy out in the red zone. He has pretty sure hands, gets separation from the corner and is great over the top. 

Dallas Cowboys: CB Brandon Carr

Terence Newman has come on over the last couple of games, but he isn't getting any younger and Mike Jenkins continues to have to deal with a wide array of injury concerns.

Dallas has gotten pretty darn good play from Alan Ball as of late, but it is hard to imagine him being much more than a nickel corner in the NFL. 

Kansas City just signed Brandon Flowers to a large contract extension and may not be willing to dole out that type of money to another top corner in free agency. Dallas gets an extremely good cover corner that could slide in and become the team's No. 1 guy. 

Denver Broncos: WR Marques Colston

This Michael Crabtree look-alike is the possession receiver that many expect the former to be in the future. Many people may conclude that Colston is a product of the Saints pass happy defense, but I am not entirely ready to buy that.

He is as sure-handed as they come and runs precise routes, two things that Denver Broncos receivers are lacking right now. 

No matter who the Broncos starting quarterback is next season, he is going to need to have a capable receiver on the outside. Colston brings that dimension to the team. His decision may ultimately come down to who has the best team and the best quarterbacks, which would lead many to believe Colston will return to New Orleans.

That is far from a done deal considering multiple variables the Saints have to consider in the offseason. First, retaining Drew Brees. 

Colston to the Broncos seems like a perfect fit to me. 

Detroit Lions: LB E.J Henderson

Even if the Detroit Lions are able to retain the services of Stephen Tulloch, they are going to look to upgrade at other positions along their linebacker group. Simply put, it just isn't that good.

E.J. Henderson is extremely underrated and plays both the run and pass very well. He is an athletic freak who sheds blocks well and understands the schematic nuances of opposing offenses. 

Minnesota will try extremely hard to retain Henderson, but their financial situation (see Sidney Rice) may prevent that from happening. 

If Henderson hits the open market, I fully expect the Lions to be one of the primary players for the unheralded linebacker. 

Green Bay Packers: S Michael Griffin

The Green Bay Packers cannot bank on Nick Collins being back and healthy next season. In fact, his career may be in jeopardy at this point.

Although the Packers have successfully avoided the free agent market in recent years, Michael Griffin seems a perfect fit for their already talented secondary. 

He would start opposite Morgan Burnett at the free safety position and solidify a group that already consists of Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Burnett and Sam Shields. Green Bay might also take a look-see at T.J. McDonald and Markelle Martin towards the back end of the first round to fill this hole. 

It all depends on the long-term prognosis for Nick Collins. 

Houston Texans: WR Reggie Wayne

The Houston Texans would like nothing more than to kick their division rival, Indianapolis Colts, when they are down. Signing Reggie Wayne would do just that. 

Indianapolis is going to be in for an extremely long and tense offseason. They are going to have to decide whether Peyton Manning will be ready for the 2012 season, if Andrew Luck makes sense in the draft and which of their own free agents to retain. 

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if they let Wayne walk, even if Manning is ready to go next September. 

If so, Houston will be all over him like a hobo on wine. Andre Johnson is the best all-around receiver in the entire National Football League, but they could use a solid No. 2 option beside him. Their two leading receivers are Arian Foster and Owen Daniels; neither are wide receivers. Kevin Walter seems to fit better in the slot as well. 

Wayne would give the Texans another outside threat opposite Johnson and enable their running game to see less bodies in the box. If makes perfect sense to me. 

Indianapolis Colts: RB Peyton Hillis

Whether it is Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning under center to begin the 2012 season, one thing is for sure: the Indianapolis Colts need help at the running back position.

It is hard to imagine that either Donald Brown or Joseph Addai are the long term answers here. Delone Carter could be a nice option, but it wouldn't hurt to get a bruiser in the back field in the form of Peyton Hillis. 

It is pretty obvious that Hillis will not be returning to the Cleveland Browns next season and the contract situation may have negatively affected his stock. That means that the Colts, who don't spend in free agency, may find the former Arkansas lead-blocker in their price range. 

Indianapolis has a ton of holes to fill, however, it makes perfect sense for them to look at free agency to complement Carter in the backfield. You can bet they will look at the draft to fill the rest of their glaring holes. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Harry Douglas

I really do like what Jason Hill can bring to the football field, but he is way too inconsistent. Mike Thomas has the skill set to be a starting receiver in the NFL as well.

The larger issue in regard to Jacksonville's passing game is the inability of Blaine Gabbert to get the ball to his play makers. He is still incredibly young and has needs a lot more experience to be considered a capable starting quarterback in the NFL. 

That said, he needs to have more targets on the outside. Marcedes Lewis is a great safety valve up the middle and we all know what Maurice Jones-Drew can do. 

Harry Douglas would give them another dimension on offense and the chances that he is retained by Atlanta are minimal at best. 

The former Louisville star has already surpassed his career high in receptions and yards through nine games this season. He is going to be a very good starting receiver in the NFL and Jacksonville would love to add him to an already talented receiving corps. 

Kansas City Chiefs: G Ben Grubbs

The offensive line is an aspect of the Kansas City Chiefs that has been consistently bad so far in 2011. Matt Cassel has been sacked 22 times through nine games and pressured a lot more. This has caused the Chiefs to alter their offensive game plan a little bit, especially in regards to quicker throws and shorter drops. 

Ben Grubbs would be a major upgrade over current Kansas City left guard, Ryan Lilja. He isn't only good in blasting holes up the middle in the run game, Grubbs is extremely solid in pass protection—something that the below average Lilja isn't. 

Both Ray Rice and Grubbs are going to be free agents following the 2011 season. This means that they are going to have to choose between the two in regards to a franchise tender unless one signs an extension prior to the close of the year.

My bet is on Rice getting that tag, which means that Grubbs will be free to sign anywhere.

Additionally, the Chiefs do have money to spend and need help along the interior of their offensive line. 

Miami Dolphins: QB Alex Smith

I cannot believe I am saying this, but Alex Smith will probably be the most sought-after free agent quarterback on the market. Accordingly, there remains a strong chance that he re-signs with the San Francisco 49ers. 

In the case of Smith possibly hitting the free agent market, he will find a starting job somewhere. With two consecutive wins and the confidence to win more I find it hard to believe that the Miami Dolphins will actually be in the running for either Andrew Luck or Landry Jones. This means that they would have to look at the second-tier quarterback prospects in the draft, such as Matt Barkley and Robert Griffin III.

Short of being able to acquire Luck, the Dolphins will have to find a quarterback to keep the seat warm for the next two or three seasons. Alex Smith would be the perfect fit in this scenario. 

That said, the chances that Alex Smith leaves San Francisco are nearly as improbable as Drew Brees bolting the bayou. 

Minnesota Vikings: OT Kareem McKenzie

The Minnesota Vikings need all the help they can get at left tackle as Charlie Johnson has been a miserable performer so far in 2011. Viking quarterbacks have been sacked a total of 25 times over the course of their first nine games.

Christian Ponder has been sacked nine times in just three starts, putting him on pace for 48 sacks over the course of an entire season. 

Most of these issues can be linked to the play of Charlie Johnson. If the sacks aren't coming from the left side they are coming from the middle because of the necessity for Steve Hutchinson to give help to Johnson. Kareem McKenzie is an excellent pass-protecting offensive tackle, but he has played the right side for the duration of his impressive career.

The ideal scenario here would be for the Vikings to sign McKenzie and move Phil Loadholt to to the left side. I think it would work out to perfection in regards to protecting their franchise quarterback. 

Minnesota should also have a top five or ten pick, which would put them in the market for Matt Kalil and Jonathan Martin—two players I project to be franchise tackles in the NFL. 

New York Giants: CB Marcus Trufant

Prince Amukamara broke his leg in the preseason and it hasn't made a difference for the Giants in 2011. Additionally, Terrell Thomas has been out for the season.

Considering the injury issues, New York's secondary has played relatively well so far this year. Still, they could use a true No. 1 corner and Marcus Trufant has that ability for a couple more years. 

This would be a low-risk, high-reward signing. Trufant's best days are clearly behind him, but he was playing at an extremely high level before a season-ending injury last month. The addition of Seattle's corner would also give New York ample cover guys in the back end of a defense that dominates in the front seven. 

Note: Marcus Trufant will still be under contract with Seattle following 2011, but multiple reports suggest they are ready to release him. 

New York Jets: RB Matt Forte

This idea really isn't that improbable for a multitude of different reasons.

First, Matt Forte is extremely unhappy with the way Chicago has handled his contract negotiations. If Jerry Angelo finds a way to butcher these talks further once the season comes to an end, there is a real possibility that Forte will want out of Chicago.

Secondly, the New York Jets have the need for a premier running back. Shonn Greene really isn't the answer and Mark Sanchez cannot lead a prolific offense without a running game.

Finally, there are scenarios where the Jets and Bears could work out a trade if Forte is franchised. 

For example, I am sure Chicago wouldn't mind taking one of the Jets solid offensive linemen and a few high draft picks in a trade. Matt Forte's value is extremely high and they would get a gold bounty in return. 

That said, it is hard to imagine the Bears even giving Forte an opportunity to walk following the 2011 season. For all intents and purposes, Forte is the heart and soul of the Bears offense.

For some reason I get the feeling that him returning to Chicago is far from a certainty right now. Maybe it just has to do with my lack of confidence in an inept Bears front office.

I am sure Chicago fans can agree with me on that.

New England Patriots: LB Mario Williams

Just Imagine "Super Mario" stomping on Mark Sanchez like his namesake did flying ducks in the 1980s. New England Patriots fans would drool over this possibility. New England has gone to more of a 4-3 defense this season, which indicates that Williams would go back to his natural end position.

What I like most about this possibility is the fact that he could stand up or play in a down position depending on what scheme the Patriots utilize in a specific situation. 

For those of you who would conclude that Houston wont let Mario Williams go, let me give you some food for thought. Although Williams played well in the 3-4 defense with a small sample size, he seems to be more comfortable as a 4-3 end. Houston also has to worry about getting Arian Foster signed to a long-term extension and have two possibly solid 3-4 outside linebackers in J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed, who will come much cheaper over the next three seasons. 

I had contemplated putting DeSean Jackson here, but the Patriots need much more help on defense than they do on offense. 

New Orleans Saints: C Nick Hardwick

New Orleans made the smart decision to sign Olin Kreutz in the offseason to replace former Pro Bowl center Jonathan Goodwin, except that that signing didn't work out too well, as Kreutz retired mid-season.

While Matt Tennant might be the long-term answer at center, he just isn't completely there yet. 

While Nick Hardwick is nowhere near his Pro Bowl level of 2006, he is still a very good and intelligent football player. With uncertainty in regards to the possibility of Carl Nick leaving, the Saints need to stabilize the center position as well as look to re-sign their Pro Bowl guard. 

Oakland Raiders: CB Carlos Rogers

Stanford Routt has played some really good football thus far and Oakland has a myriad of young players at that position. Still, it would seem that they need that veteran presence to shut down one end of the field.

Right now, Carlos Rogers is playing the best football of any corner in the entire National Football League. Not only is he draping himself over opposing receivers, the former Redskin is making plays left and right.

Oakland didn't want to dole out the cash for Nnamdi Asomugha, but I don't think that Rogers would cost nearly as much. The issue with the Raiders signing him is that San Francisco will do everything in their power to retain his services.

Philadelphia Eagles: LB Manny Lawson

The Philadelphia Eagles may be the worst tackling team in the entire NFL, and it starts and ends with the linebacker position. Their experiment with Casey Matthews has failed to an extent, but I think he will end up being a good backer at some point.

Still, the Eagles need to upgrades in at least two linebacker spots. Moises Fokou has some potential, but he has missed a ton of tackles this season.

This is where Manny Lawson comes into play. He has been a better fit in Cincinnati's 4-3 defense as a strong-side backer than he was with the 49ers in their 3-4 scheme. The addition of Lawson would give Philadelphia two pretty solid outside players with Jamar Cheney. 

There seems to be a lot of talent in regards to the middle linebacker position in the draft, so I think that Philadelphia could address their weakness there or go with Matthews next year. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: G Carl Nicks

Over the course of their run, the Pittsburgh Steelers have successfully avoided being big players in the free agent market; this might have to change next offseason.

I have a hard time imagining that the Steelers will be able to find multiple upgrades along the offensive line in the draft. This means that they are going to have to go against the grain and acquire one via free agency. 

The best free agent offensive lineman will be Carl Nicks. He is already among the league's best all-around guards continuing to excel in both pass protection and run blocking. With the Saints needing to address other internal free agents such as Drew Brees and Marques Colston, there remains a strong possibility that they might have to let Nicks go. 

If so, I fully expect Pittsburgh to open up their pocket books and make a strong push for the Pro Bowl guard. 

San Diego Chargers: LB Anthony Spencer

Antwan Barnes has had a breakout season for San Diego with six sacks through nine games. However, there is a necessity for two strong pass-rushing outside linebackers in the 3-4 scheme that the Chargers run.

Travis LaBoy was signed to be a stopgap player opposite Barnes and isn't the long-term answer. 

San Diego only has 12 sacks as a team outside of Barnes and need to find a pass rusher somewhere. While they like to build their defense via the draft, it might be hard to pass up a talent like Anthony Spencer. The Dallas Cowboys linebacker has 15 sacks over the last three seasons, which isn't indicative of his ability to rush the passer. 

It seems that a change of scenery would do Spencer good and the Chargers would be a perfect fit for his skill set. 

San Francisco 49ers: WR DeSean Jackson

I had a hard time finding many holes in the armor of the 8-1 San Francisco 49ers. They seem to have veteran leadership or young up-and-coming talent at every position across the board.

Still, the west coast offense does require a deep threat and I doubt very much any 49er fans have much confidence in Ted Ginn Jr. being that man moving forward. 

San Francisco is going to be a popular destination for free agents because of the culture within the locker room, their recent success and the location of the team. They still won't be major players in the free agent market, though, as it goes against their philosophy. 

DeSean Jackson's value may have taken a little bit of a dip due to reported issues that he has had and the ongoing contract stalemate. Couple that with the fact that he played at Cal and you can see where I am going with this. 

Either way, it looks more and more like the Eagles will not give Jackson the franchise tag, which means he will probably move on from Philadelphia. If so, you can fully expect San Francisco to be the favorites to acquire his services. 

Seattle Seahawks: SS LaRon Landry

Looking over the Seahawks roster and watching games this season, I have come to one conclusion: this is a really talented young football team. I don't see a lot of holes that they are going to have to address in free agency. 

Of course, their major offseason target will be the quarterback position. I see them targeting a player like Matt Barkley or Robert Griffin III via the draft rather than going after another veteran quarterback. 

If this is the case there remains a strong possibility that LaRon Landry would catch the eye of Pete Carroll and Co. Seattle already has a stud free safety in Earl Thomas as well a few nice young corners.

The addition of Landry would make the Seahawks secondary one of the most talented in the entire NFL. 

St. Louis Rams: WR Mario Manningham

No matter your opinion of Brandon Lloyd, you have to agree that he cannot be counted on as a true No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL. He is far too inconsistent and creates some sense of separation in the locker room.

In short, there is no guarantee that the Rams retain his services beyond this season. 

Either way, they are going to have to get more talented receivers for Sam Bradford. Greg Salas looks like a real steal as a rookie and Austin Pettis has the tools to be a good wide receiver. If the Rams can add a consistent performer like Mario Manningham, their receiving corps may be set. 

This would also enable St. Louis to look at another position early in the 2012 draft, maybe even a future replacement for the 28-year-old Steven Jackson. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Brent Grimes

Brent Grimes is one player that the Atlanta Falcons cannot afford to lose in free agency following the 2011 season. He is by far their best cover corner and is still extremely young. Even if Atlanta has to cut ties with the under performing Dunta Robinson in order to make room for Grimes, it would make sense. 

That said, Grimes might have priced himself out of the Falcons market. Atlanta has nearly $300 million dollars of contract obligations set for just five players over the course of the next half decade or so. This means that it could be difficult for them to retain Grimes. 

I am sure that Tampa Bay would love to steal the Pro Bowl corner from their division rival. Ronde Barber isn't getting any younger, Aqib Talib has legal issues that may preclude him from playing next season and E.J. Biggers appears to be nothing more than a nickel corner at this point. 

Tampa Bay could easily address the corner position in the draft, but if Grimes becomes available it would make a whole lot of sense for them to go after him. 

Tennessee Titans: SS Tyvon Branch

Just because you haven't heard the name Tyvon Branch much this season, don't think that he isn't one heck of a football player. The Oakland Raiders' strong safety continues to make plays in the box, is strong against the run and capable of defending from the strong side.

Oakland is going to have a multitude of salary cap issues heading into the 2012 offseason, which means that Branch is probably gone following this year. 

Chris Hope is no longer a viable strong safety option for the Tennessee Titans, and Jordan Babineaux really isn't an above-average starter in the NFL despite playing well in 2011. 

I see this as a perfect fit for both Branch and the Titans. 

Washington Redskins: QB Matt Flynn

While Alex Smith will probably be the most sought-after veteran free agent on the market, Matt Flynn has the most upside. The former LSU Tiger has all the necessary tools to be a really good quarterback in the NFL.

Most of my impression of him comes from his college days and limited sample size during the preseason in the NFL. Still, I love what I see. 

He reads defenses well, can make every throw on the field and is strong in the pocket; three things that Washington Redskins quarterbacks have been missing since the early 1990s. 

Some may think that Washington will go the route of drafting a quarterback to groom, especially if there is a regime change in the nation's capital, but I don't see it that way. Why invest a early first-round pick on a quarterback when you have one in free agency with just as much upside?

This would also enable the Skins to go after another offensive weapon with their first pick. Trent Richardson, Lamar Miller, Michael Floyd and Justin Blackmon all come to mind. 

Oh, and they wouldn't have to invest $60 million, a Pro Bowl player and second-round pick for the unproven commodity that is Matt Flynn.

Hello, Arizona!