Top 5 Free Agents That Should Have Been Retained

5. Steven Jackson   Position: RB   Former Team: St. Louis Rams   Current Team: Atlanta Falcons

After a much-improved 2012 Rams team went 7-8-1 and was able to beat the NFC Juggernaut San Francisco 49ers you would suspect that this team wouldn’t change their player dynamic all that much.  However, after losing Steven Jackson, one of the most formidable and explosive runners in the game, it would appear that this is not the case.  Combine that with the lose of Danny Amendola, who many claim is a underrated Wes Welker, and you have a Rams team that lacks any type of solidified identity.  However, there is still one ferocious running back to be added in free agency: Ahmad Bradshaw.  Not only did he rush for nearly the same amount of yards as Jackson (1,015 compared to Jackson’s 1,042) but he also managed to score more rushing touchdowns (6 compared to Jackson’s 4).  If the Rams can pick up this young and explosive running back, then they just might stand a chance of competing in the newly reinvigorated NFC West.

4. Shonn Greene    Position: RB   Former Team: New York Jets   Current Team Tennessee Titans

It looks like the Jets are in for a season of rebuilding.  Not only will the Jets lose arguably one of the best corners in the league and the crux of what held their defense together (Derelle Revis), but will also at the same time lose a key component of what kept their offense from being a complete joke.  Greene has been a consistent 1,000-yard rusher over the past two years and had a career high of 8 rushing touchdowns during the regular season.  While there are plenty of options at the running back position such as Ahmad Bradshaw, Peyton Hillis (Kansas City) or Felix Jones (Dallas Cowboys); none of these options garner the same prestige as Shonn Greene has been able to valiantly accomplish in the last two years. 

3.  Mike Wallace   Position: WR   Former Team: Pittsburgh Steelers   Current Team: Miami Dolphins

While some say the Dolphins overpaid for this prolific wide out (5 years, $60 million), all you have to do is see his overall production over the last few years to fully understand how dangerous of an offensive threat this man can be on the field.  While he admittedly had a lackluster season in terms of yardage (836 compared to 1,193 the year before) he was able to match his last season’s touchdown count with 8 individual scores throughout the regular season.  The Steelers may not be in complete turmoil as there are several efficient wide outs (Brandon Lloyd and Victor Cruz) up for grabs and have the potential to fill the void.  However, with the lose of the Steelers offensive powerhouse in running back Rashard Mendenhall, this team needs to make a decisive move before their team becomes an offensive enigma.

2. Dannell Ellerbe   Position: LB  Former Team: Baltimore Ravens  Current Team: Miami Dolphins

The Ravens defensive woes last season were nothing short of depressing.  Between injures to Terrell Suggs and future hall of famer Ray Lewis, all hope seemed to be lost in what appeared to be another disappointing season.  Until Ellerbe stepped up to the plate.  This defensive prodigy had over 69 individual tackles during the regular season combined with 4.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles that were crucial in keeping the Ravens post season hopes alive. Unfortunately, the heir to the proverbial throne that was left behind by Lewis still remains vacant.  Luckily, there are still a few solid linebackers left that have the potential and the overall experience to make this lose much more bearable.  Veterans such as Karlos Dansby (101 tackles) and Rey Maualuga (122 combined tackles) could be the efficient defensive leaders Baltimore needs at the linebacker position.

1. Wes Welker Position: WR   Former Team: New England Patriots   Current Team: Denver Broncos

Why and how the Patriots thought it was logical to release one of the best receivers in the league I’ll never understand.  In 5 out of his last 6 seasons he had over a thousand yards receiving while catching more than 5 touchdowns passes in 4 out of the last 6.  While Welker did have some critical drops at times, particularly against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game, at 31 years of age Welker had room to improve on these slight blemishes and has proved over the last several years that he is an overall reliable and quick slot receiver.  Not only is it a travesty that the Patriots lost this offensive juggernaut, but what makes this move even more palpable is the fact that he went to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos who are definitely looking to redeem themselves after a heartbreaking lose to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.  The Patriots organization will be kicking themselves when they end up playing the Broncos in the AFC Championship game and once again end up losing a close one because Wes Welker will give the Broncos the slight edge needed to pull out a decisive victory.  At that point, all anyone will have to say is “we told you so.”