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After reaching a five-year deal with restricted free agent running back Arian Foster on Monday, the Houston Texans declined to use their franchise tag on Mario Williams due to the prohibitive price -- roughly $22 million. While Williams played only five games last season because of a torn pectoral muscle, he remains one of the top pass-rushers in the league, with 53 career sacks. What's more, he'll play the entire 2012 season at 27 years old and should have a lot of good football left.
Now he'll also likely land on the open market soon. Considering his skill set, teams in need of pass-rush help and the systems he could land in, let's look at the five potential leading spots for one of the biggest free-agent prizes.
1. New England Patriots
The Patriots have been looking for an impact pass-rusher since they traded Richard Seymour to Oakland, even as they've patched together a rush for years, and the missing link in this defense is a guy who can be disruptive off the edge. New England plays a combination of 3-4 and 4-3 fronts, and Bill Belichick could tailor his schemes to fit Williams. New England is a good football team, has some cap space and will be elite every year as long as the quarterback situation holds to form. It's also a solid locker room. Though the Patriots don't typically make a big splash in free agency, all those things should appeal to a high-character guy like Williams. It's not the Patriots' typical move, but it's one that could work for both sides.
2. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have been looking for an edge rusher to complement outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware for years, and Williams could be a serious impact player in their base 3-4 defense and their 4-3 sub packages. The back end of this defense isn't very good in coverage, and we know that a good pass rush can mask some of these deficiencies. Jerry Jones is always a player in free agency, and he would love to sign the best defensive free agent, not to mention steal him from his in-state neighbor. Even though Anthony Spencer got the franchise tag, a couple of NFL personnel people I talked to think that he is only an insurance plan in case Dallas doesn't land Williams. It makes sense, given that the franchise tag seems like a lot of money to pay Spencer for his mediocre production.
3. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks may be a dark horse in this race, but they are a team to keep an eye on. They are young and on the rise with some exciting defensive players, but Williams could be that complete veteran who brings everything together. It looks like the Seahawks may be willing to spend in free agency, and Williams may see Seattle as an improving team in a desirable city that competes in a weak NFC West. We also know that Pete Carroll knows how to recruit players in both college and the NFL, and given his talent as a defensive coordinator, he might be able to sell Williams on a system tailored to his skills. The Seahawks would likely adjust their entire defensive package to fit Williams.
4. Tennessee Titans
The Titans were 31st in the NFL in sacks in 2011, and the tape says that stat is no fluke. They desperately need an impact player to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Although spending big bucks in free agency usually isn't their style, this is a position that would be worth the money because guys like Williams are almost impossible to find. Tennessee seems to be going in the right direction, and Williams could flourish in their 4-3. However, they aren't a true title contender yet, so if Williams wound up here, it might be just about the money.
5. Houston Texans
The Texans couldn't afford to franchise Williams with a price tag over $22 million, so he's now free to test the market. We know that he has great skills, and he actually looked pretty comfortable transitioning to Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense as a pass-rusher (before he got hurt). However, the fact that the Texans got an unexpected level of production from OLBs Brooks Reed and Connor Barwin in 2011 may make it easier to part ways with such a great player. Williams knows that the Texans are very close to being a special team, one that he helped build. Could that lead to any type of a hometown discount?