CB Nnamdi Asomugha Will Command Big Bucks In Free Agency

According to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, if and when the NFL lockout ends and free agency begins, Asomugha could be pocketing a contract worth upwards of $19 million per year.

That is simply incredible. That type of per-year-average is generally reserved for the NFL’s best quarterbacks, a premium position. While cornerback is certainly a critical aspect of a team’s defense, it’s not as important as quarterback which is why I’m continually surprise when people talk about the money that will be necessary to sign Asomugha.

So whoever is looking to sign him, will need to be deep in the pockets. The going rate could be as high as a whopping $18 million per year. That seems like a lot -- and it is -- but it’s the right price for the first or second best cornerback in the NFL.

And then there’s the Texans. Houston seems to make a ton of sense considering the fact that they’re on the verge of making the playoffs, their offense is top tier and what hurt them the most in 2010 was pass coverage issues.

Unfortunately for Texans fans who want Asomugha, Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle writes the feeling may not be mutual.

Justice hits on the one thing that usually matters the most in free agency -- money. If the Texans are willing to pay more than everyone else then I would venture to guess that Asomugha could be enticed into coming. Let’s wait until we start seeing some offers before we dismiss the idea of Asomugha heading to the Texans.

I’m not sure where some of these rumors come from but I agree with King. The Packers are already an elite team having won the 2011 Super Bowl and the prospects of adding a player who could command one of the richest contracts in the league doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Someone out there will pay Asomugha whenever free agency hits -- it’s just not expected to be the Packers.

As one of the best corners in the game, Asomugha will be desired by every single team. Unfortunately, every single team can’t afford his market value so only a few teams will realistically have a shot at him. Last week, Peter King of SI.compredicted the Eagles would be one of those teams.

The Eagles would be pretty special at that point. Any team really would be significantly upgraded with Asomugha in the fold.

First, it’s important to note that every team in the league would like to have Asomugha. He’s arguably the best cornerback in football so it’s not as if teams won’t want him.

Second, it’s also important to note that not many teams will make a serious run at him because he will become (or remain) one of the highest paid players in the game.

So it seems that Nnamdi Asomugha’s pending and unexpected free agency has shocked and dismayed Raiders fans.

Our Silver and Black Nation captures the despair at the free agency — and hope that Asomugha chooses to stay in Oakland — in an open letter to Asomugha:

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Asomugha’s contract was voided after a 2010 season that saw him fail to meet certain incentives.

The voiding of his contract means that Asomugha will be a free agent in the upcoming offseason, because of language that also stipulates that the Raiders cannot place a franchise tag on him. He instantly becomes one of the most coveted players available, and will likely be hotly pursued by any number of teams looking for a shutdown corner.