Free Agent Fits

With the start of Free Agency just around the corner there are a lot of top level players that could be switching teams. Here is a look at 10 players that are the most likely to move teams and where those players fit the best.

1. QB Peyton Manning
Old Team: Indianapolis Colts
Fit: Kansas City Chiefs
Analysis: It's fairly clear that Manning won't be back in Indy for next year. And after video of his workouts surfaced online it looks like Manning has the desire to play this upcoming year. So where will he go? My money is on Miami, Seattle or Kansas City to be the favorites. However Kansas City seems like the most logical. Kansas City's new Head Coach is Romeo Crennel who speciality is defense and his new OC is Brian Daboll who will be an OC for the first time. This might appeal to Manning because he'll have more freedom in the offense. He's known for calling a lot of the plays and under an inexperienced OC he'll have the ability.

2. QB Matt Flynn
Old Team: Green Bay Packers
Fit: Miami Dolphins
Analysis: In his limited playing time Flynn has shown he has the skill set to be a potential starting QB in this league. Add that to the importance of the QB position now, he'll be in hot demand. Seattle, Washington, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Miami will all be after him. Seattle could be a good fit because of their West Coast Offense, but Miami is the best fit. The reason? New Dolphins HC Joe Philbin. Philbin comes from the Green Bay Packers as their offensive coordinator. He'll have some familiarity with Flynn and with Flynn's young age will have a QB for the foreseeable future.

3. WR Mike Wallace
Old Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Fit: New England Patriots
Analysis: Under normal circumstances the Steelers would already have Wallace locked up. However because they are so far over the cap, the Steelers could very well loose the primer deep threat in the NFL. Now Wallace is a restricted free agent and the Steelers will more than likely put a 1st and 3rd tender on him, but that shouldn't stop a team like New England who has 2 picks in each of the first three rounds. They can afford to part with those picks and fill their biggest hole on offense. Can you imagine Tom Brady having Wallace stretching the field? What would that do for their TEs and Welker? Scary!

4. WR Vincent Jackson
Old Team: San Diego Chargers
Fit: Chicago Bears
Analysis: It doesn't look like the Chargers will be franchising Jackson, so he'll likely test the market. He'll have plenty of teams after him, but the one that best fits him would be the Bears. The Bears haven't had a legitimate #1 receiver in a long time. Newly hired GM Phil Emery has made it known that he wants to upgrade the position. If Jackson is available, look for the Bears to go all out. They have the cap room to do so. Jackson would give QB Jay Cutler a big receiver who is an excellent deep threat somebody quality to throw to. This would also allow Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox and others to fit into more complementary roles that better suit their skills.

5. G Carl Nicks
Old Team: New Orleans Saints
Fit: Dallas Cowboys
Analysis: To be honest, there are a lot of NFL teams that Carl Nicks would be a perfect fit on. He's arguably the best guard in the NFL and if the Saints hadn't put the franchise tag on Drew Brees (they should have) they more than likely would have used it on Nicks. However Nicks will hit the market and attract a lot of attention. The place that could be the best fit might be the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have a huge need at guard and have shown the desire to upgrade. But a real factor here is new Dallas OC Bill Callahan. It was Callahan who recruited Nicks from JUCO to come to Nebraska. A reunion could be in the works.

6. DE Mario Williams
Old Team: Houston Texans
Fit: Buffalo Bills
Analysis: It's crazy to think that Houston could let Mario walk, but with money needed in a variety of other spots, Williams could be the odd man out. Especially since the defense kept up at a high level after his injury. Williams would have a ton of suitors but look for him to go to a team with a 4-3 defense where he is better suited. That place might just be the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo management has expressed their desire to get some help rushing the passer and Williams could answer a lot of those issues. Buffalo may not feel they are in the best position to get one of the top defensive ends in the draft and could instead go after one of the primer free agents.

7. NT Paul Soliai
Old Team: Miami Dolphins
Fit: Indianapolis Colts
Analysis: Soliai isn't a household name, but he is one of the better 3-4 NTs in the league. And with Miami moving to the 4-3 they won't need him anymore. So Soliai will be looking for a new home. A great fit might be another team who is switching defenses. The Indianapolis Colts. New HC Chuck Pagano will transition this team from a 4-3 Tampa 2 to a 3-4 defense like he had while in Baltimore. A big need for this change will be some space eating defensive lineman. Soliai could be used at NT or even at DE like Haloti Ngata was used. Either way the Colts would fill a huge (pun intended) hole.

8. LB Jarrett Johnson
Old Team: Baltimore Ravens
Fit: Indianapolis Colts
Analysis: Jarrett Johnson has quietly been one of the key parts to the Ravens defensive success. However he doesn't offer much of a pass rushing presence so the Ravens could let him walk if the money gets too high. That could happen because a team like Indianapolis could use somebody like Johnson. Johnson would follow his former DC Chuck Pagano to Indy and help transition the defense to the 3-4. Johnson is a strong run defender and would help the Colts who have long struggled in that category.

9. Cortland Finnegan
Old Team: Tennessee Titans
Fit: St. Louis Rams
Analysis: Finnegan is a prime example of a love him or hate him player. Guys on his team love him and opponents hate playing against him. Finnegan isn't considered a lock down corner but has a knack for getting top receivers off their game. With him available in free agency look for a team like St. Louis and Detroit to go after him hard. But the Rams could be the favorite. Finnegan would be reunited with HC Jeff Fisher and with DC Gregg Williams. Finnegan is a perfect corner for Williams aggressive system and with the lack of depth/talent he would be a big upgrade.

10. Michael Griffin
Old Team: Tennessee Titans
Fit: New England Patriots
Analysis: It would be hard for the Titans to lose two members of their secondary this off season, but it could very well happen. Griffin has been good, but not great. And the Titans might not want to pay the money that Griffin might command in free agency. A place where Griffin would be welcomed would be New England. The Patriots secondary (especially at safety) has gone a big transformation and are in need of a major upgrade. Griffin would bring some versatility in that he can play both safety spots and even some corner. And if we know anything about HC Bill Bilicheck we know he loves versatile players.