4. QB Peyton Manning

Top 50 NFL Free Agents

Any other year, Manning would have been at the top of this list. But after four surgeries on his neck and sitting out the entire 2011 season, he now comes with serious injury risk. There is a chance Manning never plays a game, or even stronger possibility that he doesn't make it through another full season. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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Best Available P... By Jordan Raanan
Xfinity Sports

There's more to the 2012 free-agent class than just Peyton Manning. In fact, Manning isn't even the top player on the market with age and injury history taken heavily into account. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Jordan Raanan has covered the NFL since 2005. Follow him on Twitter at @JordanRaanan or email him at jraanan@hotmail.com.

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1. DE Mario Will... The Texans are allowing a 27-year-old premier pass rusher to hit the open market. There will be plenty of suitors. The torn pectoral muscle that ruined his 2011 season shouldn't be a long-term concern. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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2. OG Carl Nicks Nicks is one of the league's best guards. He will be paid as such. His landing spot depends on who is willing to invest such a large sum of money in that position. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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3. WR Vincent Ja... Jackson is a physical freak (6-5, 230) who can do it all. Waiting on this payday for years, he's going to be costly after 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games last season. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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4. QB Peyton Man... Any other year, Manning would have been at the top of this list. But after four surgeries on his neck and sitting out the entire 2011 season, he now comes with serious injury risk. There is a chance Manning never plays a game, or even stronger possibility that he doesn't make it through another full season. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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5. QB Matt Flynn Even before Flynn's 480-yard, 6-TD performance, there were believers. That game against Detroit only solidified their opinion. Flynn will be coveted by teams (Miami, Seattle or Cleveland) that run a certain system and believe he's a franchise quarterback. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

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6. CB Cortland F... Finnegan's the only No. 1 cornerback on the market. He's physical and feisty, capable of being locked 1-on-1 with some of the league's best receivers. There will be a long line of teams (beginning with Detroit, New England, Dallas?) trying to sign him. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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7. OG Ben Grubbs A Pro Bowl guard in 2011, Grubbs would be a solid addition to any offensive line. He's solid in the run and pass game, has good size and feet. Baltimore would like to re-sign him but may not be able to afford his asking price after paying Marshall Yanda last offseason. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

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8. DE John Abrah... Abraham can still get after the quarterback at 33 years old, recording 22.5 sacks in his last 28 games. The veteran defensive end would be a very good addition off the edge for a couple years. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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9. LB Stephen Tu... Tulloch didn't get the deal he wanted last season and settled for a one-year contract with the Lions. This time, he should get paid. The 27-year-old middle linebacker is coming off his best year yet, showing he can stop the run and be effective in pass coverage. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the second-best inside linebacker in coverage last season. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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10. DT Paul Soli... There's a reason nobody could run on the Dolphins the past few years. Soliai is an immovable force in the middle of a 3-4 defense. While he's somewhat limited as a pass rusher, the massive nose tackle is one of the best in the league at occupying blockers. With Miami switching to a 4-3 defense, Soliai will not be returning one year after being kept with the franchise tag. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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11. CB Carlos Ro... The 30-year-old cornerback had his best season as a pro last year in San Francisco. While Rogers is sure to draw interest, his best bet would be to stay in San Francisco, where his physical style of play fits perfectly. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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12. WR Marques C... Colston has five 1,000-yard receiving seasons in six years. He has 48 touchdown receptions. Surprisingly, though, he spends most of his time in the slot. Leaving New Orleans — and Drew Brees — for a big payday might not be the best career move. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

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13. CB Brandon C... He may not be a true No. 1 corner, but Carr can start on any team in the league. He's excellent in coverage and despite a mediocre year in 2011, there is a strong demand for starting NFL cornerbacks. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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14. DT Red Bryan... There was talk about the Seahawks using their franchise tag on him. That didn't happen. No doubt, however, Seattle will try to bring Bryant back. There aren't many 6-4, 323 pound linemen who can thrive as a defensive end. Teams running a 3-4 or 4-3 defense would jump at the opportunity to acquire his services. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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15. RB Peyton Hi... A lot has been said about Hillis over the past year. Very little has to do with his talent. Hillis has the size and speed to be a perennial Pro Bowler. In a new environment and with a clean slate, he should thrive. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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16. LB David Haw... Hawthorne's a solid inside linebacker coming off a strong 2011 season where he had 115 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3 interceptions. Only 26, he's led the Seahawks in tackles each of the past three seasons. Hawthorne's entering the prime of his career and should command a long-term deal. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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17. LaRon Landry Landry can hit. The question now is can he cover at his current weight. Some teams may be scared off by his size. Still, in a weak free agent market for safeties, Landry should do well. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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18. RB Michael B... Bush finally got to carry a bigger workload and showed he's capable of being an NFL starter. He runs with power and has good hands for a running back of his size (245 pounds). While he's not a franchise back, he would be a nice 1a or 1b. Strapped by the cap, Oakland is unlikely to re-sign him with so much money invested in Darren McFadden. (AP Photo)

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19. DT Sione Pou... Pouha's free agency comes at the right time. He's coming off his best season as a pro as the anchor of the Jets run defense. The problem is that it's hard to give a long-term deal to a 33-year-old nose tackle. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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20. LB Curtis Lo... Lofa Tatupu's signing in Atlanta likely signals the end of Lofton's run as its middle linebacker. Still just 25, Lofton would be a good addition for any team (Bucs or Eagles) looking to shore up its run defense. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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21. OT Jared Gai... Gaither, who resurrected his career late last season as an emergency fill-in for the Chargers, is the beneficiary of an offensive tackle free-agent class thinner than DeSean Jackson. Despite a history of back injuries and attitude problems, he offers the potential of a starting left tackle — if healthy. Of course, that's a big "if." (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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22. WR Reggie Wa... There's no doubt Wayne's not the same player he once was as he enters his 12th NFL season. Still, there's a place for him in the league (likely right next to Peyton Manning). At 33, and with his precision route running, Wayne can be a nice complimentary possession receiver for a playoff team. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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23. LB Erin Hend... The younger (25) of the Henderson brothers in Minnesota, Erin had a breakout season in 2011 as the Vikings' weakside linebacker. If Minnesota can't re-sign him, he will attract interest. Always around the ball, Henderson's a major asset against the run. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

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24. DT Brodrick ... Bunkley is a powerful defensive tackle who pushes the pocket and stuffs the run. While not much of a pass rusher, he's a very useful cog in any 4-3 defense. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

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25. WR Brandon L... Admittedly, I'm not as big a fan of Lloyd as most. On the wrong side of 30 and with one 1,000-yard season on his resume, Lloyd is unlikely to ever come close to his 2010 output (1,448 yards) again. He could, however, be a solid No. 2 receiver on a good team. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

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26. DT Jason Jon... Jones spent last season miscast in Tennessee's defense as a defensive end. A return to a wide-nine or any 4-3 scheme where he can provide some interior rush as a defensive tackle would benefit Jones. There is always a market for interior pass rushers. (AP Photo/John Russell)

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27. RB Ryan Gran... The veteran running back is coming off a down year where he split time with James Starks. But now almost two years removed from a broken leg and with relatively low mileage on his odometer, he can be a solid option for a team that decides to split its carries. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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28. RB BenJarvus... 'The Law Firm' might not be a 300-carry back, but he runs hard and is exceptional in the red zone. And scoring touchdowns is a useful skill in a game where you win by scoring points. Still just 26 and with just over 500 career carries under his belt, Green-Ellis has some good years left. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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29. WR Pierre Ga... Garcon drops too many passes and lacks consistency. His ability to get downfield and break tackles, however, makes him a potential big play threat that teams covet. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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30. OT Demetrius... Six solid games as a starter at left tackle at the end of 2011 will be enough for some team to make him their blindside protector. It's not like there is much else out there at that position in free agency. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

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31. C Scott Well... The Packers haven't been able to come to an agreement with their center. Wells should get some lucrative offers (for a center, at least) given his excellent ability to pass block in a pass-happy league. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

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32. LB Leroy Hil... The Seahawks' strongside linebacker would likely be higher on the list if not for his off-the-field troubles. Three arrests in three years will do that. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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33. OG Evan Math... In just his second full season as a starter, Mathis graded out as one of the NFL's best guards. Just how much will teams pay for one season of this type of productivity? Drew Rosenhaus will test it out. (AP Photo/ Zone Athletic Performance, LLC)

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34. C Chris Myer... Myers is one of the NFL's best run-blocking centers. Problem is that if he leaves Houston, the rest of the league seems to be running pass-first offenses. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

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35. LB E.J. Hend... The older of the Henderson brothers is getting towards the tail end of a nice career. He'll be 32 years old when the season begins and his ability to defend the pass has slowly deteriorated. Still, E.J. can be a force against the run. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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36. CB Tracy Por... Porter, 25, is a starting-caliber corner. He will get a job despite a down year this past season in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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37. LB Gary Brac... Brackett should have a few good years left as one of the better coverage linebackers in the middle, even if he's coming off an injury and will be 32 when the season begins. Fortunately, it was his shoulder and not his legs that limited him to one game last season. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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38. RB Brandon J... Jacobs is on the right side of 30 for a few more months and has relatively low mileage after spending the past couple seasons as a backup. With a little motivation, he could be a solid addition for a couple seasons. (AP Photo)

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39. QB Kyle Orto... He's not good enough to be a long-term starter. That much is certain after stints in Chicago, Denver and Kansas City. But Orton could be one of the league's best backups, capable of filling in sufficiently for two and three-game stretches if necessary. That's a valuable commodity in today's NFL. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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40. NT Aubrayo F... Franklin didn't fit as a defensive tackle in New Orleans. Given the right system and role, he can be a run-stuffing force in the middle for a 3-4 team. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

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41. LB London Fl... At some point, age is going to catch up with Fletcher. So far, that hasn't happened. It might not happen when he's 37, either. Fletcher was one of the league's better middle linebackers last season, both against the run and pass. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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42. LB Jarret Jo... There aren't many linebackers that can set the edge like Johnson. The only downside with the run-stuffer is that he's on the wrong side of 30 and might deteriorate quickly with his physical style of play. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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43. OG Jake Scot... Scott is one of the most reliable players in the league, having started 120 straight games. Plenty of teams could use a top pass-blocking guard who doesn't miss games. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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44. QB Alex Smit... With the right pieces around him — like he had last season in San Francisco — Smith can be a competent NFL quarterback. Nothing more though. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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45. DE Kendall L... Langford's young, athletic and chiseled. There should be more than a few teams interested in a young, proven defensive end in a 3-4 system. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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46. DE Andre Car... Carter was 46th on my list of top free agents last year. One year older (33) and a leg injury later, he's in the exact same spot after thriving in 2011 as the Patriots' top pass rusher. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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47. TE Dallas Cl... Injuries and dropped passes have plagued Clark the past few years. But in a weak tight end class, he's worth taking a flier as a pass-catching option for a few seasons. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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48. QB Jason Cam... Campbell looked like a low-end starter before breaking his collarbone last season. At the very least, he can serve as a top-notch insurance policy. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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49. OG Steve Hut... Hutchinson's not an All-Pro guard anymore. When healthy, though, he can still be more than serviceable. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

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50. WR/KR Ted Gi... Special teams are important. Just ask the 49ers. It cost them a spot in the Super Bowl. Ginn returns punts and kickoffs well — finishing third in KO returns (27.6) and fourth in punts (12.3) — and didn't lose a fumble last season. He's also serviceable as a wide receiver. Still, Ginn's value is as one of the league's best and most reliable returners. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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