2012 NFL Season Predictions – Top 5 Most Important Free Agent Signings: Free agency has had a major impact on the NFL since being enacted in the early 1990s. Players used to spend a majority of their careers with one franchise, but it isn’t uncommon in today’s game to see one player change teams every couple of years. With salary cap restrictions also in play, star-caliber players even change homes during free agency. This is allows teams that struggled one year but have cap room to load up and rebuild in a single offseason. Every year, there are several big names that change teams and have big impacts. Here is a list of the top free agent signings of this past offseason that will have a major effect on the success of their new teams during the 2012 NFL season.
2012 NFL Predictions: Top 5 Most Important Free Agent Signings
1. Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Denver Broncos
When Peyton Manning was under center, the Indianapolis Colts won 10-12 games every year, usually won their division, and were always capable of reaching and winning the Super Bowl. Without him, they finished with the worst record in the NFL last year. It is rare that a franchise gets to add a future Hall of Famer and one of the best players ever at the quarterback position via free agency, but that is exactly what the Broncos did. Even if Manning isn’t quite 100 percent following a few neck surgeries, he is still going to be a major upgrade under center. With solid offensive weapons in place and a young, improving defense, Manning and company should have little trouble winning a very mediocre AFC West.
2. Mario Williams, Defensive End, Buffalo Bills
Last year, the Buffalo Bills finished with just 29.0 sacks. For the record, that total was tied for the third fewest in the NFL, and the Philadelphia Eagles’ two starting defensive ends amassed the same total by themselves. Enter Williams, who averaged 11.0 sacks from 2007 to 2010 and had five sacks in five games last year prior before tearing a pectoral muscle. He still has the same freakish combination of size, speed and strength that made him the No. 1 overall pick, and he is going to get to do what he does best in Buffalo and rush the passer on almost every down. The Bills retooled their offensive line in the offseason, making it one of the most talented groups in the NFL. Williams is going to be the biggest playmaker of the bunch, and he will provide a drastic boost Buffalo’s pass rush.
3. Carl Nicks, Offensive Guard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nicks has quietly been one of the best interior offensive linemen in the game for the last few seasons. With New Orleans last season, he helped make Drew Brees one of the best protected quarterbacks in the NFL despite more than 600 pass attempts and played a big part in the Saints having the sixth-best rushing attack. Nicks will take his skills to Tampa Bay this season where he will help protect young QB Josh Freeman and open some running lanes for rookie running back Doug Martin. Nicks is an excellent pass blocker and run blocker, and don’t be surprised if the Buccaneers’ offense takes a big step forward in 2012. Freeman, Martin and others will make the highlight reels, but Nicks will be doing the dirty work in the trenches.
4. Cortland Finnegan, Cornerback, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis’ defense got overwhelmed physically repeatedly last season, and missed tackles were a regular occurrence. Not to mention that the unit lacked a big playmaker, and the Rams were one of just two teams to allow opponents to rush for more than 150 yards per game. Fortunately, adding Finnegan to the secondary should go a long way to creating a change in the culture and attitude of the St. Louis defense. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and the hard-hitting corner is one of the best tacklers at his position. More importantly, he is a vocal leader, and Finnegan isn’t afraid to get nasty and play the role of enforcer. He is exactly the type of presence a young Rams’ team needs, and new coach Jeff Fisher knew what Finnegan could bring to the table form their time together in Tennessee, which is why he went out and signed him.
5. Brandon Lloyd, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots
As unstoppable as the Patriots’ offense looked last year, quarterback Tom Brady didn’t have a weapon to stretch the field. There were a few rare occasions that very physical corners and linebackers were able to bog down New England’s high-powered passing attack. Adding Lloyd changes all that. He is the deep threat this offense has been missing, and he has the athleticism to make spectacular plays in traffic. Last year, he finished just shy of 1,000 yards despite playing with Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford as his QBs. The year before, he had nearly 1,500 yards with Kyle Orton as his QB. It clearly doesn’t take much for Lloyd to put up his numbers, and now he will be working with Brady. It probably won’t be the record-setting season Brady and Randy Moss had together in 2007, but Lloyd should thrive as the Patriots’ top deep threat.
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