2012 NFL Free Agents: Pete Prisco's Top 50

by Brandon on Feb 9, 2012 7:00 PM CST in Green Bay Packers Free Agency

Top 50 free agents: Former top pick Williams is top player on open market - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice. Following up on an earlier article on free agency and the Green Bay Packers, I came across Pete Prisco's list of the Top 50 free agents. He narrows the list by excluding obvious franchise tag candidates (Wes Welker, Drew Brees, etc.) and pushes down free agents if they're over 27.

While SB Nation had Matt Flynn at No. 1, here he's listed as the 35th best free agent and ranked below 49ers QB Alex Smith. Prisco seems to feel that Smith's awful pre-2011 track record (56 career starts!) gives him an edge. At least you know what you're getting! Not to pick on him too much, but I get the feeling that there's a lot of differing opinion on Flynn. Are those two great starts by Flynn fool's gold or a sign of better things to come?

The Packers could (should?) re-sign Jermichael Finley and Scott Wells, two players listed on this Top 50 list, but every other player on it is probably too expensive for GM Ted Thompson. However, there were a couple players who got my attention.

Seahawks DL Red Bryant. He's been a very good over the past two seasons and Prisco calls him "a perfect 3-4 end." He would be a great addition for the Packers, but the Seahawks "will make it a priority to re-sign" him.

49ers S Dashon Goldson. The 49ers only re-signed him in 2011 for depth. He ended up starting 14 games and grabbing 6 INTs. It looks like the 49ers have learned from their mistake and they'll let the guy who was supposed to start (Reggie Smith) leave in free agency and keep Goldson instead. The Packers might not need an upgrade at safety if Nick Collins can return next season.

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If the Packers signed Bryant – and that’s a big if – I’m not sure they’d be able to afford to keep Ryan Pickett. Those are two very large men, and Pickett’s a very well-paid large man already.

Bryant might be an upgrade – in that he’s younger – but he’s also had a season-ending injury already in his career, while Pickett’s been “merely” dinged up.

I dunno. It would be an interesting gamble/move, but I suspect the Seahawks are going to make an offer Ted won’t match.

by Ebongreen on Feb 9, 2012 8:07 PM CST reply actions

He has Ray Rice pretty low IMO. I’d take him over Dwayne Bowe and a few others up there.

Also, he did include Welker. He just had him way down the list at 18.

When will we learn anything about Collins?

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by Omaha Sun on Feb 10, 2012 12:58 AM CST reply actions

Sometime in March I believe. Everything that I’ve read as of late seems to indicate that he thinks he’ll be able to play again, though. But who really knows.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Feb 10, 2012 11:31 AM CST up reply actions