Five FA that will shape next season
 

4. Carl Nicks, G, New Orleans: Nicks is another Pro Bowl player who finds himself in an unsettling place. As much as he'd like to continue being a part of a Saints offensive line that has helped drive one of the league's top offenses, he also has to be realistic. The Saints have to work out a long-term deal with Brees. The team has a few other free agents to address, most notably wide receiver Marques Colston and cornerback Tracy Porter. Finally, Nicks hasn't been thrilled about the lack of communication from the front office since the end of the season. If the Saints really want to lock him up, they have a strange way of showing their commitment. The tough part here for New Orleans is that Nicks knows his value. The Saints gave fellow guard Jahri Evans a seven-year, $56.7 million deal in 2010, making him the highest paid interior lineman in football. Nicks certainly would want more than that, and the Saints might not have the luxury of putting the franchise tag on him if Brees' negotiations aren't settled quickly. Don't expect Nicks to linger if he's free to talk to other teams come March 13. He's worth every bit of the $8 million to $9 million he'd be seeking annually, and his departure would be a huge blow to the Saints' offensive line.

Chadiha: Five free agents who will shape next season - ESPN

I have no doubt we sign Brees. Nicks is who I am worried about. You will see a much bigger drop off in our offensive production than people think. We are going to need this guy to protect the highest payed guy in the NFL.

Under Sean Payton, Saints O linemen looking to cash in usually find new homes.

Brees > Nicks > Colston I'm a huge Colston fan, but the loss of Nicks would be HUGE. We might have to save money at WR to spend on Nicks.

Lucky for us, our staff does a great job finding and developing talent replacing them. If Nick leaves the year after he's tagged, I think we'll be just fine.

We may see him playing upset next year if we throw the franchise tag on him.