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2012 Free Agency: Star rating is out of five. Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2012.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
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Jared Gaither, OT, Chargers. Age: 26. 
Re-signed with Chargers (4 years)
Jared Gaither was amazing down the stretch in relief of Marcus McNeill. If Gaither is completely over his back issues – a big if – then he’ll be one of the best tackles in football going forward. Having said that, he’ll be a risky signing for any team because his back could flare up without warning.
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Eric Winston, OT, Texans. Age: 28.
Signed with Chiefs
Eric Winston is a talented right tackle who would be a great fit for any team running a zone-blocking system. He surrendered seven sacks in 2011, but four came when T.J. Yates was inserted into the lineup, so that number is inflated. Winston’s best trait is his reliability; he hasn’t missed a start since 2006.
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Marcus McNeill, OT, Chargers. Age: 28.
Marcus McNeill is a top-tier tackle if healthy. The problem is that he’s missed 12 games in the past two seasons. In addition to two knee surgeries, McNeill had a serious neck injury that knocked him out for the year in 2011. McNeill will be a high-risk, high-reward signing.
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Demetress Bell, OT, Bills. Age: 28.
Signed with Eagles (5 years, $35 million)
Demetress (formerly Demetrius) Bell, base-born in Philadelphia, surrendered just one sack in six starts last year. Bell has had knee issues throughout his career, so while the Bills should re-sign him, they should also be careful.
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Levi Brown, OT, Cardinals. Age: 28.
Re-signed with Cardinals (5 years)
Levi Brown has played poorly throughout most of his Cardinal career, though he did perform better toward the end of the 2011 season, perhaps knowing that he’d be a free agent this spring.
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Jeff Backus, OT, Lions. Age: 34.
Re-signed with Lions (2 years)
Jeff Backus is a good at run blocking, but he was guilty of 11 penalties and seven sacks this past season. He turns 35 in September, so he obviously doesn’t have much left in the tank.
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Kareem McKenzie, OT, Giants. Age: 33.
Kareem McKenzie has been a very good right tackle for a long time, but he just had a miserable season. Whether that’s because of eroding talent or a troublesome knee is unclear.
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Geoff Schwartz (RFA), OT/G, Panthers. Age: 26.
Signed with Vikings (1 year)
Geoff Schwartz played well in 2010 at both right tackle and right guard, but he missed all of 2011 with a hip injury.
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Anthony Collins, OT, Bengals. Age: 26.
Re-signed with Bengals
Anthony Collins has always played well when called upon in relief the past couple of years. He could start on some teams.
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Max Starks, OT, Steelers. Age: 30.
Max Starks did a solid job protecting Ben Roethlisberger’s blind side in 2011, but suffered a torn ACL against the Broncos. Recovering from that at his age and weight (340 pounds) will be quite a challenge.
- Barry Richardson, OT, Chiefs. Age: 26. — Signed with Rams
- Brandon Keith, OT, Cardinals. Age: 27.
- Breno Giacomini, OT, Seahawks. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Seahawks (2 years, $6 million; $1.5 million signing bonus)
- King Dunlap, OT, Eagles. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Eagles
- Khalif Barnes, OT, Raiders. Age: 30. — Re-signed with Raiders
- Guy Whimper, OT, Jaguars. Age: 29. — Re-signed with Jaguars (2 years, $5 million)
- Chad Clifton, OT, Packers. Age: 36.
- Tony Pashos, OT, Browns. Age: 32.
- Pat McQuistan, OT, Saints. Age: 29. — Signed with Cowboys
- Stephon Heyer, OT, Jets. Age: 28.
- Artis Hicks, OT, Browns. Age: 33. — Signed with Dolphins (1 year, $2 million)
- James Lee, OT, Buccaneers. Age: 27. — Signed with Redskins
- Corey Hilliard (RFA), OT, Lions. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Lions (1 year, $1.26 million)
- Oniel Cousins, OT, Browns. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Browns
- Trai Essex, OT, Steelers. Age: 29. — Re-signed with Steelers
- Tony Ugoh, OT, Giants. Age: 28. — Signed with Chiefs
- Mike Otto, OT, Titans. Age: 29. — Re-signed with Titans (2 years)
- Dennis Roland, OT, Bengals. Age: 29. — Re-signed with Bengals
- Brandyn Dombrowski (RFA), OT, Chargers. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Chargers (1 year, $1.26 million)
- Lydon Murtha (RFA), OT, Dolphins. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Dolphins (1 year, $1.927 million)
- Tony Moll, OT, Chargers. Age: 29. — Signed with Redskins
- D’Anthony Batiste, OT, Cardinals. Age: 30. — Re-signed with Cardinals
- Kirk Chambers, OT, Falcons. Age: 33.
2012 NFL Free Agent Positions:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | FA Grades | FA Mock
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