One in five of the top unrestricted free agents-to-be hail from the AFC South, according to Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com.
The division was the worst in the NFL in 2011 with a combined 26 wins, and if a lot of this talent leaves the division it won’t help things improve. (Though some could leave their team and remain in the division, a la Clint Session last year.)
Here are the players Prisco lists with my gut feeling on if they will be back.
1. Mario Williams, DE, Houston Texans
Prisco: “The Texans used him as a 3-4 rush outside linebacker last year, but I think his best spot is as a 4-3 end.”
Kuharsky: Likely gone.
12. Robert Mathis, DE, Indianapolis Colts
Prisco: “He is coming off his best season but turns 31 this month and is older than some teams would like for free agents. He has improved against the run and could easily make the transition from 4-3 end to 3-4 rush 'backer.”
Kuharsky: Likely gone
14. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Tennessee Titans
Prisco: "He just turned 28 this month and will be a hot commodity on the open market. It doesn't appear he's coming back to Tennessee. The Lions would seem to be a team that will make a push."
Kuharsky: Gone
21. Jeremy Mincey, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Prisco: "This is a try-hard player who did some good things against some good tackles last season. He isn't a speed player, but he is a solid 10-sack, good-run player. He turns 29 in December."
Kuharsky: Likely gone
22. Chris Myers. C, Houston Texans
Prisco:" He was one of the better centers in the NFL last season, a perfect player for their cutback schemes. He turns 31 in September."
Kuharsky: Likely stays
31. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Prisco: "The question with Wayne is how many more years he has left to give. He can still be good for three or so, but how do you structure the contract? He turns 34 in November."
Kuharsky: Gone
34. Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Prisco: "He caught a career-high 70 passes last season without good quarterback play. He can fly, which will make him attractive to other teams. He turns 26 in August."
Kuharsky: Likely gone
38. Jason Jones, DT-DE, Tennessee Titans
Prisco: "He has flashed at times in his four seasons with the Titans, but he should be doing more. Has played both inside and outside for the Titans. He turns 26 in May, so he has time to become a really good player."
Kuharsky: No feeling right now
40. Dwight Lowery, S, Jacksonville Jaguars
Prisco: "This former corner made a nice home at free safety for the Jaguars last season. He played above the level of expectations. The Jaguars want him back, but in a league where safety talent is at a minimum this former Jets player will get a nice deal. He just turned 26 in January.
Kuharsky: Likely stays
46. Michael Griffin, S, Tennessee Titans
Prisco: "His play has tailed off some this past season, but he's only 27. When he's at his best, he is a good, solid player. He's never been as good as his reputation."
Kuharsky: Likely gone
The division was the worst in the NFL in 2011 with a combined 26 wins, and if a lot of this talent leaves the division it won’t help things improve. (Though some could leave their team and remain in the division, a la Clint Session last year.)
Here are the players Prisco lists with my gut feeling on if they will be back.
1. Mario Williams, DE, Houston Texans
Prisco: “The Texans used him as a 3-4 rush outside linebacker last year, but I think his best spot is as a 4-3 end.”
Kuharsky: Likely gone.
12. Robert Mathis, DE, Indianapolis Colts
Prisco: “He is coming off his best season but turns 31 this month and is older than some teams would like for free agents. He has improved against the run and could easily make the transition from 4-3 end to 3-4 rush 'backer.”
Kuharsky: Likely gone
14. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Tennessee Titans
Prisco: "He just turned 28 this month and will be a hot commodity on the open market. It doesn't appear he's coming back to Tennessee. The Lions would seem to be a team that will make a push."
Kuharsky: Gone
21. Jeremy Mincey, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Prisco: "This is a try-hard player who did some good things against some good tackles last season. He isn't a speed player, but he is a solid 10-sack, good-run player. He turns 29 in December."
Kuharsky: Likely gone
22. Chris Myers. C, Houston Texans
Prisco:" He was one of the better centers in the NFL last season, a perfect player for their cutback schemes. He turns 31 in September."
Kuharsky: Likely stays
31. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Prisco: "The question with Wayne is how many more years he has left to give. He can still be good for three or so, but how do you structure the contract? He turns 34 in November."
Kuharsky: Gone
34. Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Prisco: "He caught a career-high 70 passes last season without good quarterback play. He can fly, which will make him attractive to other teams. He turns 26 in August."
Kuharsky: Likely gone
38. Jason Jones, DT-DE, Tennessee Titans
Prisco: "He has flashed at times in his four seasons with the Titans, but he should be doing more. Has played both inside and outside for the Titans. He turns 26 in May, so he has time to become a really good player."
Kuharsky: No feeling right now
40. Dwight Lowery, S, Jacksonville Jaguars
Prisco: "This former corner made a nice home at free safety for the Jaguars last season. He played above the level of expectations. The Jaguars want him back, but in a league where safety talent is at a minimum this former Jets player will get a nice deal. He just turned 26 in January.
Kuharsky: Likely stays
46. Michael Griffin, S, Tennessee Titans
Prisco: "His play has tailed off some this past season, but he's only 27. When he's at his best, he is a good, solid player. He's never been as good as his reputation."
Kuharsky: Likely gone



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