2012 NFL Free Agency: CB Stanford Routt signs with Chiefs; Carr to hit the market, Bowe franchised?

Recently released cornerback Stanford Routt has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for a three-year, $20 million deal. That's both good and bad news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The good news is that this means Chiefs cornerback Brandon Carr is likely to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Carr is more talented and younger than Stanford Routt. It's hard for Kansas City to offer the talented young cornerback a new contract. with the amount of money they've invested in Routt and cornerback Brandon Flowers, as well as Javier Arenas.

The bad news: this means it's a lot more likely the Chiefs use the franchise tag on receiver Dwayne Bowe, taking another receiver off the market. The Bucs have a need for a cornerback, but they also need a real outside threat at receiver - as do many other teams. If Bowe is indeed off the market, their options there would be severely limited. Stevie Johnson and Vincent Jackson then become the most attractive receivers on the market, with players like Pierre Garcon, Robert Meachem and Mario Manningham following behind them.