Free agency, trades will dominate NFL's 'down' time

The price tag Asante Samuel likely will put on his services for next year could pave his way out of New England this offseason. Jim Rogash/Getty Images

The Super Bowl fallout has all but settled, and the start of the scouting combine in Indianapolis is less than two weeks away. As the NFL offseason cranks to life, here are a dozen burning questions that serve to start the debate in 2008:

1. Who will hit the biggest jackpot in free agency?

New England cornerback Asante Samuel was franchise-tagged by the Patriots last year, but unless there's an unlikely meeting of the minds in Foxboro, he'll be the most coveted name in free agency this year. Samuel has had back-to-back standout seasons and someone likely will give him $11 million a year, topping the eight-year, $80 million contract (including $22 million guaranteed) that last year's No. 1 free agent -- cornerback Nate Clements -- received from San Francisco. Samuel is a superior playmaker compared to Clements, and one of his most likely suitors remains Eric Mangini and the Jets.

2. Which team will land free-agent running back Michael Turner?

Known for rarely taking the field, LaDainian Tomlinson's backup is going to get plenty of play in this year's market. He's the best running back available, and there are a handful of teams -- Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and Oakland come to mind -- that figure to be in search of a lead rusher. The Bears make the most sense to successfully woo Turner. They've got an estimated $20 million of cap room, and Turner is a Chicago native who starred at Northern Illinois, along with current Bears running back Garrett Wolfe. Turner's 5.5-yards per rush career average is intriguing, as is his 4.4 speed and the relative lack of wear and tear he's accumulated in his four NFL seasons.

3. Can Chad Johnson talk his way out of Cincinnati?

It's not likely because of the impact that losing Johnson would have on the Bengals' salary cap. If Cincinnati either trades or releases their talkative receiver, it will have to absorb a 2008 cap hit of slightly more than $8 million. While the salary cap rises another $7 million this season to $116 million, that's still a sizable chunk of dead money that would ensue from Johnson's departure.

That's probably the No. 1 reason Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has come out and shot down any notion Johnson will be on the trading block this offseason. Still, Johnson clearly hopes to follow in the recent footsteps of No. 1 receivers such as Terrell Owens and Randy Moss in prompting a trade, but odds are his uneasy marriage with the Bengals will continue this year unless complete insubordination is his exit strategy.

4. Do the Donovan McNabb-to-Baltimore trade rumors ring true?

We think not. Eagles president Joe Banner and head coach Andy Reid have repeatedly said McNabb will be their guy again in '08 -- No. 5's 10th season in Philly -- and with his strong finish to last season, we're convinced that they're not just spouting the company line. Would the Eagles listen if somebody decides to pick up the phone and inquire as to what it would take? Why not?

But Baltimore, even having hired longtime Eagles assistant John Harbaugh as head coach, seems unlikely to be in position to make Philadelphia an overwhelming offer. For one, the Ravens are thought to be just $5 to $6 million under the salary cap and already face a major expenditure if they hope to retain linebacker Terrell Suggs. McNabb would probably want a new contract as part of any deal. Secondly, Baltimore is thought much more willing to draft a young passer with its No. 8 pick, rather than sending it (and more) to Philly in trade just to upgrade from a 35-year-old quarterback in Steve McNair to a 31-year-old in McNabb.

5. Which team might have the biggest franchise-tag mess on its hands?

The Chiefs obviously must apply their franchise tag to league sacks leader Jared Allen (15½) if they can't strike a long-term deal with him before the Feb. 29 start of free agency. But that could be a very short-sighted proposition, because Allen has made noise about never signing a long-term contract with Kansas City if one doesn't happen this offseason.

Franchising Allen will cost the Chiefs just under $9 million this year, but potentially losing the ability to wrap him up for the foreseeable future would be devastating to the rebuilding program that is just now getting underway in earnest in Kansas City. Allen is one of the game's premier pass rushers and he's the cornerstone of a Chiefs defense that has a chance to be pretty good in the coming years.

6. Who else appears to be headed for a franchise tag in the next two weeks?

Besides Allen, the names you hear most around the league include Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs, Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant, Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby, Carolina offensive tackle Jordan Gross, Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark and, if the Patriots can't make a deal work any other way, you can add receiver Randy Moss to that list. On Thursday, the first day clubs could franchise players, the Eagles slapped their tag on tight end L.J. Smith, assuring him of at least a one-year contract worth $4.52 million in '08.

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