2012 NFL Free Agency: Identifying the 5 More Irrelevant Free Agents

NFL's offseason will produce key free agents who can alter a team's chances at making a Super Bowl run.

These players do not fall into that team-changing category.

The guys on this list are merely hopeful of a job on an NFL roster for the 2012 regular season. They're either washed up or unable to produce as a starter for most teams.

However, they will likely be picked up as role players or occasional contributors.

Here are the Mr. Irrelevants of the 2012 NFL free-agent class. 

Donovan McNabb

The end is near for the former Philadelphia Eagles star Donovan McNabb.

McNabb struggled once again in 2011, going 1-5 as a starter and putting the Minnesota Vikings in a deep hole in the standings.

As a result, he was benched for rookie Christian Ponder. Now, McNabb must look elsewhere for another team to acquire his services.

Much to his chagrin, it will likely be as a backup. After seeing his 6-13 record as a starter in Minnesota and Washington D.C., no team will be eager to insert him at No.1 on the depth chart.

Expect McNabb to be signed on name value alone. But, do not expect much on the field from the former Pro Bowl signal caller.  

LaDainian Tomlinson

One of the greatest running backs in NFL history has hit the twilight of his career.

LaDainian Tomlinson continues to lose carries to starter Shonn Greene in New York and will be a free agent at season's end. 

The former San Diego star has put up an embarrassing 224 yards on the ground in 2011 on just 64 rushes.

In 13 games. Ouch.

Tomlinson is still an effective pass-catcher and protector for teams looking for a vanilla third-down back.

That is best-case scenario for No. 21 over the offseason as Tomlinson nears the end of a Hall of Fame career. 

Kyle Orton

Quarterback Kyle Orton has a lot to prove in Week 17 versus the Denver Broncos in the Kansas City Chiefs' final tilt of the season.

He wants show up the Denver Broncos fans who shoved him out in favor of media darling Tim Tebow.

More importantly, he wants to audition for a job in 2012.

Orton completed 60.5 percent of his throws with nine touchdowns in limited action this season. His stock falls due to his 2-5 record as a starter in 2011 to go with a 3-10 record during the 2010 campaign.

Like McNabb, Orton's role will be as a backup going into the 2012 regular season.  

Steve Smith

Remember when New York Giants fans were up in arms about Steve Smith bolting for division-rival Philadelphia?

Maybe that was a slight overreaction.

Smith completely disappeared in Philadelphia. The fifth-year player out of USC has a grand total of 11 catches for 124 yards in 2011. He's lost in the shuffle of a team loaded with game-breaking stars on offense.

Smith will be a free agent at season's end and will probably land with a team that could better use Smith's talents as a No. 3 receiver.

 

Thomas Jones

When Jamaal Charles went down with a season-ending knee injury, many expected Thomas Jones to step in and produce one final hurrah in the backfield for the Chiefs.

That didn't exactly come to fruition as Jones rushed for a mere 436 yards on 138 attempts. That is his lowest total since 2001, his second year in the league.

At 33, Jones is extremely outdated at the running back position. He lacks any elusiveness he once had with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears during the prime of his career.

I half expect Jones to retire at the end of the season. If he does not, he will be buried in the depth chart of any NFL roster he joins.