2012 NFL Free Agents: Ten with the Biggest Injury Red Flags

The 2012 free agent class is going to be a very good one.  There are a lot of players like Matt Forte and Mario Williams who have their rookie contracts expiring at the end of the season.

There is also a crop of guys that signed one-year deals because of the limited time they had for free agency once the lockout ended.

Every year there are a few guys who end up signing a deal that is less than what they should be worth because teams are concerned about an injury.  Here is a list of those players in the 2012 free agent class.

Matt Forte

Matt Forte had been pretty healthy for his whole career until this past weekend when he sprained his MCL (medial collateral ligament).  It was good news for Forte that it was just a sprained MCL instead of a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).

The bad news for Forte is that the injury comes so close to when he will become a free agent.  There is a good chance he will not be able to come back in the regular season.  With the way the Bears are playing right now, that probably means he will not get to audition for teams after the injury before he hits the market.

Jermichael Finley

Jermichael Finley has been healthy and productive this year, but there are some teams that will shy away from paying him the big money because they are worried about his knee injury from last season. 

Of course, those teams are probably crazy because a healthy Finley can create match-up problems like few other people in the league.  Adding him is an instant upgrade to any offense.

Mario Williams

Mario Williams had five sacks in five games this year before tearing a pectoral muscle.  That injury put him on the injured reserve.

Williams was a widely debated number-one pick a few years ago, but the Texans look pretty smart for going with him over Reggie Bush at this point. 

It will help his value that he was playing well as an outside linebacker under Wade Phillips this year.  He can fit in any defense.

Vincent Jackson

Vincent Jackson has been healthy this year, but he has battled a lot of injuries in the last few years.

Health is not the only concern with Jackson.  He has shown over the years to have a me-first attitude.  You can bet teams will be taking that into consideration before giving him a big offer.  There has to be some concern that he will shut it down once he gets paid.

Marques Colston

Marques Colston has only played a full 16-game schedule twice in his six years in the league.  There is no doubt that Colston has the ability to be one of the better receivers in the game.  The only question with him is can he stay healthy enough to help his team for a full season.

Colston will be looking for big money, considering his first deal did not pay him that much after being a seventh-round pick.

Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis burst on the scene last year when he ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns.  This year has not been nearly as successful because he has been sidelined with a couple of different injuries.

There is also the character concern with Hillis as well.  There was the talk in Cleveland this year that he has sitting with minor injuries because he was unhappy about his contract.

Jason Campbell

Jason Campbell is a serviceable NFL quarterback.  He is not a guy that is going to walk in the door and make a team a Super Bowl contender, but he can be a stop-gap for a team that is grooming a young quarterback or a valuable back-up.

His season ended early this year because of a broken collarbone.  Teams will want to see that he is fully healed and can drive the football before signing him.

Ryan Grant

Ryan Grant was viewed as one of the best running backs in the league after he ran for 1,253 yards in 2009.  Last season, he suffered an ankle injury in the first game of the season that landed him on IR.

2011 has been tough for Grant.  He only has 316 yards on 92 carries this season and has not found the end zone.  It is going to be hard for him to convince any team that he is fully healed and can be a feature back.

Mario Manningham

Mario Manningham had a breakout year in 2010.  He finished the season with 944 yards and nine touchdowns.

Most people thought Manningham was going to take another step forward this season, but he has been slowed by injuries.  The most recent injury was a knee injury that looked like it might end his season.  

The good news is he has been back on the practice field this week.  He might have a few games to show other teams what he can do.

Barrett Ruud

Barrett Ruud took a one-year deal with the Titans hoping that it would lead to a big contract following the 2011 season.  It has not turned out that way for Ruud.  He did not play well when he was on the field, and has now missed time with a couple of injuries.

Ruud is another guy that will need to show teams that he is completely healthy before they are willing to give him a shot.