Drew Brees and 4 NFL Players Who Will Be Franchised Before Free Agency

A number of the NFL's top players will be free agents when the 2011 season comes to a close, but not all (if any) of them will find their way to new teams.

In the following slides, I will discuss four elite players who are unrestricted free agents in 2012, but who will receive a franchise tag or a new deal before they can hit the open market?

Drew Brees, QB (New Orleans Saints)

Contract talks between the New Orleans Saints and starting quarterback Drew Brees haven't gotten very far during the regular season.

However, that is practically meaningless.

There's little-to-no chance that the Saints will let Brees test the open market. He's the face and the heart of the team, he's one of the best (if not the best) quarterback currently playing the game and he only gets better every year.

This season, Brees is on tap to shatter Dan Marino's single-season passing yardage record. He has 4,780 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this year. Brees is leading his team to the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and it's doubtful the team could start any other quarterback and replicate the success they've had with Brees.

Teams that need serious help at quarterback might be looking at Brees' situation and hoping that the quarterback chooses to take offers from outside of New Orleans. But it's simply not going to happen.

Brees will likely be a Saint for life.

Matt Forte, RB (Chicago Bears)

The Chicago Bears and running back Matt Forte have been playing a game of contract chicken all season long, and now that Forte has been sidelined with a sprained MCL and the team is likely not going to make the playoffs, it looks like the Bears might have inadvertently won out.

Forte, who was leading the league in total all-purpose yards from scrimmage this year before getting hurt in Week 12, is one of the most elite and versatile running backs in the NFL, but it appeared all season long that Chicago wasn't willing to pay him accordingly.

The knee injury somewhat damages his bargaining ability, but if the Bears know what's good for them, they'd lock him up with a significant contract and guarantee themselves fielding at least one top playmaker for years to come.

Instead, it looks like Forte will receive the franchise tag before he can test his value in the free-agent market. The Bears need to come up with a respectable offer for Forte in 2013, because he will take his talents elsewhere. He's worthy of an expensive contract, and if the Bears let him walk, they'll be doing the team serious harm.

Dwayne Bowe, WR (Kansas City Chiefs)

The Kansas City Chiefs need all the playmakers they can get, and if they choose to let wide receiver Dwayne Bowe walk they'll be doing the team a serious disservice in 2012.

Bowe is on pace to have his second 1,000-plus-yard receiving year and will have managed to do so with three different quarterbacks throwing to him.

With newly appointed starter Kyle Orton playing well, Matt Cassel scheduled to return in the offseason and Bowe the most reliable veteran wideout on the team, they'll need to keep him around even if the team tries a major rebuild before September.

Depending on how much they're willing to spend, the Chiefs may have to use the franchise tag on Bowe. No matter what they do, Bowe should remain in Kansas City in 2012.

Marshawn Lynch, RB (Seattle Seahawks)

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch spent most of the 2011 season as an under-the-radar player, which is surprising considering how spectacular his season has been.

He's had six games with more than 100 all-purpose yards this year and has scored 12 total touchdowns. Lynch is on pace to have his best season of his career, with 1,011 rushing and 183 receiving yards to his name already.

Lynch is the most reliable player on Seattle's offense. Though the team will likely work to improve that situation this offseason, they need to retain him if they want to remain competitive in the NFC West and in the NFL.

Whether they offer him a contract extension or they use the franchise tag, there's little chance that the Seahawks will let Lynch walk once free agency starts.