NFL Free-Agency 2012

05 Mar 2012

NFL Free-Agency 2012

No Strike-Shortened Free-Agency this years. It’s set to start March 13th at 4pm.

Here is a look into Free-Agency for the 2012 offseason. It’ll include Cap Space (projected), Top Free-Agents (with projected destinations), and other NFL players news.

I’ll be sure to post a Free-Agent Tracker once the offseason officially begins, as well as continue to make NFL Draft related post leading up-to the April 26th start. Here are my thoughts and ideas before player movement actually begins. Enjoy!

*****Note: There is a Clause (Article 13, Section 6(b)(v)) under the new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) signed last offseason which allows teams to carry over 2011 unused Cap Space. The remaining money is allowed to be carried over from one year to the next by submitting written notice.

The 2012 Salary Cap per team is expected to be set between 121-125 millions. Therefore, teams would have that amount, plus the additional carry-over from the 2011 offseason. According to a story by ESPN’s John Clayton, teams exercising the option to roll over cap money for 2012 created a 301.78 millions carry over from the 2011 salary cap, thus making over 700 million combined available to be spent this offseason. Of the 32 teams, 4 are over the projected 2012 salary cap amount and will have to restructure or cut players by the March 13th date to get under the cap.

Cap Space: (ESTIMATED to be $122 Million for 2012 per team)
* Numbers do not reflect Signed, Released or Franchised Players money for 2012

Bengals – 58.9 Million (80.6 used + 17.59 carry over)
Chiefs – 50.1 Million (95.8 used + 24.01 carry over)
Denver – 48.6 Million (101.3 used + 27.9 carry over)
Tampa Bay – 48.2 Million (98.8 used + 25.02 carry over)
Jaguars – 46.3 Million (107.3 used + 31.6 carry over)
Redskins – 41.2 Million (93.5 used + 13.6 carry over)
Tennessee – 37.3 Million (94.5 used + 8.11 carry over)
49ers – 35.9 Million (102.9 used + 16.6 carry over)
Bills – 32.8 Million (108.4 used + 19.3 carry over)
Seattle – 31.5 Million (111.7 used + 21.3 carry over)
Bears – 27.8 Million (101.9 used + 7.7 carry over)
Browns – 27.2 Million (103.7 used + 8.9 carry over)
Patriots – 26.8 Million (101.8 used + 6.6 carry over)
Falcons – 22.5 Million (100.2 used + 748K carry over)
Eagles – 19.0 Million (113.9 used + 11.0 carry over)
Miami – 13.6 Million (117.4 used + 9.0 carry over)
Saints – 12.8 Million (113.3 used + 4.22 carry over)
Ravens – 12.5 Million (115.6 used + 6.1 carry over)
Chargers – 12.1 Million (111.9 used + 2.1 carry over)
Arizona – 10.26 Million (118.7 used + 7.0 carry over)
Dallas – 10.23 Million (128.9 used + 17.1 carry over)
Packers – 9.4 Million (118.0 used + 5.4 carry over)
Vikings – 7.8 Million (116.0 used + 1.95 carry over)
Colts – 7.7 Million (116.7 used + 2.5 carry over)
Texans – 6.7 Million (116.3 used + 1.08 carry over
Rams – 4.5 Million (120.9 used + 3.5 carry over)
Jets – 2.3 Million (128.0 used + 8.3 carry over)
Lions – 712K (122.7 used + 1.4 carry over)
Giants – (Minus) 1.67 Million (124.7 used + 1.06 carry over)
Panthers – (Minus) 5.1 Million (129.9 used + 2.8 carry over)
Oakland – (Minus) 15.6 Million (140.86 used + 3.24 carry over)
Steelers – (Minus) 27.3 Million (149.8 used + 506K carry over)

Top Free-Agents:
1. Drew Brees, QB (Franchised) – Saints

2. Arian Foster, RB (Re-Signed, 5 Years) – Texans

3. Peyton Manning, QB (Under Contract/Released) – Colts, Dolphins, Redskins, Jets, Arizona

4. Mike Wallace, WR (Restricted) – Steelers, Bears, Jets, Patriots, Jaguars, Redskins

5. Ray Rice, RB (Franchised) – Ravens

6. Mario Williams, DE/OLB (UFA) – Texans, Bears, Denver, Jets, Bills, Ravens

7. Carl Nicks, OG (UFA) – Saints, Redskins, Bengals, Dolphins, Chargers, Arizona

8. Cortland Finnegan, CB (UFA) – Titans, Rams, Redskins, Tampa Bay, Jaguars, Denver

9. Matt Forte, RB (Franchised) – Bears

10. DeSean Jackson, WR (Franchised) – Eagles

11. Jermichael Finley, TE (Re-Signed, 2 Years) – Packers

12. Vincent Jackson, WR (UFA) – Chargers, Bears, Redskins, Jaguars, 49ers

13. Matt Flynn, QB (UFA) – Dolphins, Redskins, Browns, Seattle, Packers

14. Calais Campbell, DE (Franchised) – Arizona

15. Ben Grubbs, OG (UFA) – Ravens, Redskins, Eagles, Arizona, Bengals, Chargers

16. Robert Mathis, DE (Re-Signed, 4 Years) – Colts

17. Dwayne Bowe, WR (Franchised) – Chiefs

18. Cliff Avril, DE (Franchised) – Lions

19. Marshawn Lynch, RB (Re-Signed, 4 Years) – Seattle

20. Curtis Lofton, LB – Falcons, Eagles,

21. Pierre Garcon, WR (UFA) – Colts, Jaguars, Denver, Seattle, Bears, Dolphins

22. Wes Welker, WR (Franchised) – Patriots

23. Stevie Johnson, WR (Re-signed, 5 Years) – Bills

24. Reggie Wayne, WR (UFA) – Colts, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets, Redskins, Arizona

25. Ladarius Webb, CB (Restricted) – Ravens

26. Marques Colston, WR
27. LaRon Landry, S
28. Stephen Tulloch, LB
29. Chris Meyers, C
30. Terrell Thomas, CB
31. Michael Bush, RB
32. Jeremy Mincey, DE
33. Brandon Carr, CB
34. Anthony Spencer, DE/OLB (Franchised) – Dallas
35. Fred Davis, TE (Franchised) – Redskins
36. Jared Gaither, OT
37. Da’Shon Golden, S (Franchised) – 49ers
38. Jarrett Johnson, DE/OLB
39. Brent Grimes, CB (Franchised) – Falcons
40. Alex Smith, QB
41. Carlos Rogers, CB
42. Paul Soliai, NT/DT
43. Michael Griffin, S (Franchised) – Tennessee
44. Laurent Robinson, WR
45. Brodrick Bunkley, DT
46. D’Qwell Jackson, LB (Re-Signed, 5 Years – Browns)
47. Mike Tolbert, RB
48. Demetrius Bell, OT
49. John Abraham, DE/OLB
50. David Hawthorne, LB
51. Tyvon Branch, S (Franchised) – Raiders
52. Cory Redding, DE/DT
53. Scott Wells, C
54. Peyton Hillis, RB
55. Ahmad Brooks, LB (Re-Signed, 6 Years – 49ers)
56. Brandon Lloyd, WR
57. Evan Mathis, OG
58. Tracy Porter, CB
59. Cedric Benson, RB
60. Jason Jones, DT/DE
61. Kyle Orton, QB
62. Nick Hardwick, C
63. Robert Meachem, WR
64. Dan Conner, LB
65. Sione Pouha, NT/DT
66. Plaxico Burress, WR
67. Jeff Saturday, C
68. Josh Scobee, K (Franchised) – Jaguars
69. Erin Henderson, LB
70. Kendall Landford, DT
71. Barrett Ruud, LB
72. Mario Manningham, WR
73. Steve Weatherford, P (Franchised) – Giants
74. Richard Marshall, CB
75. Jeremy Zuttah, OG (Re-Signed) – Tampa Bay
76. London Fletcher, LB
77. Matt Prater, K (Franchised) – Denver
78. Red Bryant, DT
79. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB
80. John Carlson, TE
81. Mat McBriar, P
82. Leroy Hill, LB
83. Jason Campbell, QB
84. Conner Barth, K (Franchised) – Tampa Bay
85. Jameel McClain, LB
86. Dan Koppen, C
87. Stanford Routt, CB (Signed, 3 Years) – Chiefs
88. Luis Castillo, DE/DT
89. Mike Brisiel, G
90. Mike Nugent, K (Franchised) – Bengals
91. William Middleton, CB
92. LeGarrett Blount, RB (Exclusive-Rights)
93. Manny Lawson, DE/OLB
94. Dwight Lowery, S/CB
95. Vince Young, QB
96. Michael Bennett, DE (Restricted)
97. Rashean Mathis, CB
98. Sammie Lee Hill, DT (Restricted)
99. Randy Moss, WR
100. Phil Dawson, K (Franchised) – Browns
101. Matt Roth, DE/OLB
102. Matt Birk, C
103. Bradie James, LB
104. Antonio Garay, DT/NT
105. Cary Williams, CB (Restricted)
106. Kraig Urbik, OG (Restricted)
107. Jeff Backus, OT
108. Albert Haynesworth, DT
109. Scott Chandler, TE
110. Samson Satele, C
111. Tim Hightower, RB
112. Chad Henne, QB
113. Thomas DeCoud, S
114. Marcel Reese, FB (Restricted)
115. Jake Scott, OG
116. Mike Adams, S
117. Anthony Collins, OT
118. Kevin Smith, RB
119. Rocky McIntosh, LB
120. William Gay, CB
121. Jacob Tamme, TE/FB
122. Braylon Edwards, WR
123. Le’Ron McClain, FB
124. Neil Rackers, K
125. Josh Johnson, QB
126. Kareem McKenzie, OT
127. Andre Carter, DE
128. Donnie Jones, P
129. Corey Graham, CB
130. Ryan Grant, RB
131. Jerome Simpson, WR
132. Brandon Keith, OT
133. Jamaal Anderson, DE
134. Kahlil Bell, RB
135. Vernon Carey OG/OT
136. Aaron Ross, CB
137. Rex Grossman, QB
138. Eddie Royal, WR
139. Derek Landri, DT
140. Jason Allen, CB
141. Michael Robinson, FB
142. Geoff Schwartz, OT/OF (Restricted)
143. Barry Richardson, OT
144. Larry Grant, LB (Restricted)
145. Letroy Guion, DT
146. Todd McClure, C
147. Mark Anderson, DE
148. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB
149. Tim Jennings, CB
150. Chase Blackburn, LB