As the free agency period approaches on an uncapped 2010 season, a lot of 
questions still surround some impact players across the league. With no salary cap set in place this year, there is potential to see some teams go on a spending spree and try to make the jump from pretender to contender in just one year. Let’s take a look at some of the big questions around the league.
1. Where Will Julius Peppers Go?
This is probably the hottest unrestricted free agent on today’s market, and he’s looking to get paid that way. With him being the top defensive player available, this 5 time Pro-Bowler is looking to get a similar contract to what All Pro Defensive Lineman Albert Haynesworth got last year from the Redskins. Peppers’s agent, Carl Carey, is stating that he is looking for something higher than his franchise tender of 2009, which netted Peppers $16 million last year.
Julius Peppers said he would like to go to a team running a 3-4 defensive scheme, and would like to convert to Outside Linebacker. While he would prefer to work with a new defensive alignment, ultimately it will land on who can offer Peppers the closest to the type of contract he’s looking for.
With his immediate impact on any defense, look for such teams as the Chicago, Tampa Bay, New England, and even Philadelphia to be in the running for this impact lineman when Free Agency starts.
2. Who will take top bidding for Karlos Dansby?
Another top impact defensive player, Karlos Dansby was franchised for the past 2 years by the Cardinals, in hopes of being able to work out a contract to keep the Pro Bowler in the desert. With the Cardinals unable to afford to keep him with the franchise tag for a 3rd consecutive year, he will be suiting up in a different city by the start of the 2010 season.
An impact Outside Linebacker, Dansby is going to be coveted by multiple teams. Talk around the league has linked him to Miami, New York Giants, Washington, and New England as well. The addition of him to any team will solidify an LB core and give these teams some true pass rushing ability from the second level of their defense. Watch for this to be another big move when the Free Agency period starts. Dansby, like Peppers, won’t be on the market long.
3. Who will be throwing for Philadelphia?
Probably the deepest QB depth chart in all of football, Philadelphia is faced with some looming decisions. You have Donovan McNabb, one of the best QB’s for the past decade and arguably the best QB to ever play the position for the Eagles, coming up on his final years of his contract.
Behind him, the 2007 2nd round draft pick and QB for the future, Kevin Kolb is waiting in the wings and showed some flashes of being ready to take the step behind center. Then to make matters even more complicated, you have Michael Vick, who will be due 5.1 million next year if the Eagles take the option for the 2nd year of his contract.
Two Pro Bowlers and the QB you brought in to lead the Eagles for the future, 
something will have to give in this situation. Different sources have linked Michael Vick trade talk with various teams around the league, St. Louis Rams being included in this group.
However, with Kurt Warner’s retirement after the 2009 season, don’t be surprised for the Cardinals to talk trades with the Eagles, but moreso with McNabb. Another pending retirement, Brett Favre, up in Minnesota, could also force the Vikings into talks about trying to get one of these talented QB’s.
If Brett finally takes a bow this season, I would almost expect to see Arizona and Minnesota jumping on the phone immediately for McNabb or Vick. Both teams being contenders the past couple seasons, I don’t think that will stop if they can afford to do so.
4. Who will be the top receivers moved during Free Agency?
Now Josh McDaniels has come out and said that he expects to have Brandon 
Marshall in Denver for the upcoming season. However, reports prior to all this have stated that offers would be heard for one of the best WR’s in the past 3 years.
The 2 time Pro Bowler, this receiver would have an impact on any receiving core in the league without questions. Averaging over 100 catches and 1,200 yards during the past 3 years, he can turn an offense around by just showing up and will give any QB in the league a true deep threat.
Brandon does not come without some reservations, however. He does fit the “Diva” receiver to the textbook definition. He is a bit of a high maintenance receiver, but has some very strong upside in the on-field performance category. Ultimately, a strong coaching staff can make this a definite win situation.
Along with Brandon, you also have another great receiver in Anquan Boldin. He has stated he will not be asking for a trade, but with the Cardinals being stacked in depth at the receiver position, Boldin has become a little more valuable in the trade area than on the field.
With teams like Miami, New York Giants, Baltimore, and New England (Especially if Randy Moss doesn’t last in Foxboro like he’s expecting) all reportedly involved in the mix, someone will put an offer in for him. He is a tough-as-nails receiver with great hands and even better strength. He can bring a contending team even higher in the mix into next year’s playoff situation.
Boldin is going to want to go to a team that has a quality chance to hit the playoffs and further, so it wouldn’t surprise anyone if its one of last year’s playoff teams that ends up with him.
5. What teams are going to make the biggest splash in the uncapped year?
With the NFL and Players’ Association still at the meeting table with no resolution in any immediate sight, this is going to make for a very interesting 2010 season. With no actual standardized spending limit for teams, the sky is the limit on how far they want to go in terms of free agency spending.
Some teams have made it a point to publically say they will be setting their own “salary cap”, in the event that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached with a new budget for teams to adhere to. Lets look at 3 of the teams that we believe can really make a big jump this offseason:
The Washington Redskins – One of the top 3 most valuable franchises, an owner with an open checkbook and a penchant for spending on big name players (I.E. – See “Albert Haynesworth” for iron-clad proof of this), a whole new coaching structure, and competing in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL.
This spells out a recipe for big time spending here.
If you were Dan Snyder, why wouldn’t you? Your team has been selling out games consistently for the past few decades, you have one of the most loyal and largest fanbases in the nation, and you have not really had a chance to make your team a contender since the early to mid 90’s. Its not as if they are leaps and bounds away from becoming a contender.
They finished last year with a top 10 ranked defense. They just hired a two time Super Bowl winning coach known for creating dynamic offenses. There are big name players out there who would make Washington a dangerous team to play against, and they have the leadership to get the gears rolling together. Its been a while since the boys in ‘DC were someone dangerous to face. With all the drastic offseason moves so far, I can’t see them being that far away from getting back to those days again.
The Chicago Bears – This is a team decorated with history. The “Monsters of the Midwest” have definitely lost their teeth since the Super Bowl run in 2006. Since that point, they have been riddled by injuries and inconsistent play. They brought in Jay Cutler last year, hoping that he would be the spark to turn that anemic offense around.
Instead the offensive line made Cutler look rather inconsistent and carefree with his TD to INT ratio. Now with an uncapped year (not to mention Lovie Smith’s seat getting warmer by the second), the Bears need to make some moves and make them quick.
With giving up so many draft picks for Cutler last year, their biggest chance to really turn things around in a year is going to be in the Free Agency market. They took arguably the best kick/punt returner in the game, if not history, and converted him to a WR. This didn’t really pan out too well, as they lost the dynamic impact he had on field position and extra TD’s he would get, plus he still needs more work on becoming a good route runner.
The arrival of Mike Martz to help boost this offense will be a plus, but they need a true #1 receiver, someone to pull two defenders most every play and make them pay if they don’t. The defense that once was a brick wall has become more of a sponge. With this being a more defensively-rich free agency, watch for Chicago to try and make leaps and bounds. If not, watch for them to be another name in the following year’s coaching carousel.
The Miami Dolphins – This team has been quiet, but giving signs that they look to be involved alot this offseason. They’ve been linked to talking to multiple teams about picking up all sorts of impact players around various positions.
Random reports have linked them chasing after a few Cardinals, including LB Karlos 
Dansby, WR Anquan Boldin, and possibly Antrel Rolle if the Cardinals cut him, as expected. They have the modern day football czar, Bill Parcells, at the helm looking around the league. If someone can shape up a franchise given some relaxed financial boundaries, Parcells is the man. Miami is in need of some true impact players, guys who can set the tone for the upcoming season.
Offensively, they’ve been good, but never show stopping. Their run game is great thanks to the implementation of the Wildcat formation, but their passing game has been “so-so”. Their defense could definitely use some pep, finishing 22nd in the league in total defense. They still have a full deck of draft picks to play with, but believe that you will see a couple big names suiting up in Green and Orange when the 2010 season kicks off.
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