11 2012 NFL Free Agents Most Likely To Get Tagged...And Be Pissed About It

Believe it or not, the 2011 is almost over with just two weeks left in the regular season—which means 20 teams will be packing up for the offseason and begin to start looking towards the 2012 free-agency period. 

With that being said, 2012 free agency is one that's filled with several stars and impact players—such as Drew Brees, Wes Welker and Matt Forte. 

Taking all of that into consideration, here are 11 players that will likely be franchise-tagged and be pissed about it. 

Matt Flynn

Matt Flynn is arguably the NFL's premier backup quarterback and will likely score a starting job somewhere in the league within the next two seasons. However, with Flynn's contract expiring at the end of the season, the Green Bay Packers could certainly tag him just to reserve the right to trade him away rather than losing him for nothing.

With that being said, Flynn may be a bit upset about that as he would have no say in where he'd be traded to. 

Arian Foster

I really don't see this happening but if the Houston Texans placed the franchise tag on Arian Foster, well then I'm going to guess that he's going to be pretty pissed.

Foster is arguably the best running back in the NFL today and deserves a big payday, in my opinion. 

Reggie Wayne

Depending on if Peyton Manning is ready to play next season and remains an Indianapolis Colt, I could see Reggie Wayne getting pretty upset if he's tagged and Manning is not going to play next season.

Wayne has had an awful season for the Colts in 2011, as he's caught only 59 passes and scored only three touchdowns through 14 games. 

Jermichael Finley

Jermichael Finley is one of the up-and-coming tight ends in the NFL and most would consider him to be an elite tight end at only 24 years old. 

Finley will be a free agent this offseason and the Green Bay Packers could certainly place the franchise tag on him just for one season to see if he deserves a long-term investment, considering how he missed most of 2010 and failed to play a full season in the first three years in the league. 

In Finley's eyes, he likely believes that he deserves a long-term contract with a whole lot of cash. 

Wes Welker

Let's put it this way: Wes Welker needs to get paid how he deserves as he's arguably the top possession wide receiver in the NFL today.

The New England Patriots will likely do whatever it takes to keep Welker a Patriot, as he's such an integral part to the offense and if that means tagging him, then they'll tag him.

Welker may be a bit upset at first, but if they do tag him then I have a feeling that New England will then work out a long-term deal with him. 

Drew Brees

Peyton Manning has gotten paid, Tom Brady has gotten paid and now its Drew Brees' turn to get his massive contract. If he does not, then I am pretty sure that he'll be a tad bit upset. 

Brees is arguably the top quarterback in the league right now and deserves a long-term contract with a whole lot of cash. He has done a lot for the New Orleans Saints and the Saints need to reward him in a big way. 

Plaxico Burress

Let's face it: Plaxico Burress probably does not have too many good years ahead of him as he's already 34 years old and missed two seasons as he was sentenced to jail time. With that being said, he probably wants one last decent contract that has a lot of guaranteed cash. 

If the New York Jets place the tag on Plax, then I am positive that he'll be pissed. 

Jason Campbell

One would think that Carson Palmer is the quarterback of the future for the Oakland Raiders, so why would they even place their franchise tag on Jason Campbell? Well, he'd make one decent backup and no one is positive that Palmer is the answer for the Raiders.

Campbell has yet to turn 30 years old and he still has a lot of left in the tank. I would think that Campbell wants to go elsewhere, somewhere that he actually has a chance of earning a starting job. 

Ray Rice

Ray Rice is only 24 years old and has a whole lot left in the tank, as he's one of the elite running backs in the NFL.

Rice probably believes that he deserves a long-term contract with a good chunk of dough, and quite frankly, he deserves it.

Running backs don't have long careers so this could be Rice's best chance to get a lot of guaranteed money before the injury bug starts to bite him. 

Alex Smith

All Alex Smith probably wants is a nice long-term contract in a place where he's the guaranteed quarterback of the future. Right now in San Francisco, he may be the starter but who knows if Colin Kaepernick is the quarterback of the future?

With that being said, Smith is 27 years old and is in the prime of his career. He cannot waste another season with the 49ers if he's going to be tagged and then replaced by the project quarterback. 

Matt Forte

Luckily for Matt Forte, he did not do any major damage to his knee, as he suffered only an MCL sprain—but that will likely hurt his value entering the 2012 free-agent period. 

With that being said, we all know Forte wants a big contract and no one knows for sure if the Chicago Bears will bother handing out a nice chunk of change. 

Forte is one of the NFL's most dynamic and lethal running backs and in his eyes, he probably wants a nice long-term deal with a lot of money.