NFL Free Agency 2014: Start Date, Rumors and Early Predictions

When the 2014 edition of NFL free agency kicks off on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, the excitement surrounding the biggest names to hit the open market will have fans from every corner of the world interested in where top stars will land.

With elite players like New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham and Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy possibly hitting free agency—the franchise tag and contract negotiations with their respective teams could have them re-signed before they the market—the frenzy is picking up exponentially with each passing day.

Here are the top 50 players who could hit free agency this offseason, early predictions of where they will land and rumors surrounding two of the biggest stars in the 2014 class.

Player	Team	Position	Age	Predicted Landing Spot
1. Jimmy Graham	NO	TE	28	New Orleans
2. Greg Hardy	CAR	DE	26	Carolina
3. T.J. Ward	CLE	S	27	Cleveland
4. Jairus Byrd	BUF	S	27	Buffalo
5. Brian Orakpo	WAS	OLB	28	Denver
6. Alterraun Verner	TEN	CB	25	Tennessee
7. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie	DEN	CB	29	Retired
8. Michael Bennett	SEA	DE	28	Seattle
9. Michael Johnson	CIN	DE	27	Cincinnati
10. Randy Starks	MIA	DT	30	Chicago
11. Henry Melton	CHI	DT	27	Miami
12. Eugene Monroe	BAL	OT	27	Baltimore
13. Jared Veldheer	OAK	OT	27	Pittsburgh
14. Brent Grimes	MIA	CB	31	Miami
15. Eric Decker	DEN	WR	27	Pittsburgh
16. Jason Worilds	PIT	OLB	26	Pittsburgh
17. Alex Mack	CLE	C	28	Cleveland
18. Vontae Davis	IND	CB	26	Indianapolis
19. Jason Hatcher	DAL	DT	32	Indianapolis
20. Aqib Talib	NE	CB	28	New England
21. Lamarr Houston	OAK	DE	27	Philadelphia
22. Dennis Pitta	BAL	TE	29	Kansas City
23. Captain Munnerlyn	CAR	CB	26	Carolina
24. Arthur Jones	BAL	DE	28	Baltimore
25. Knowshon Moreno	DEN	RB	27	Denver
26. Brandon Spikes	NE	ILB	26	New England
27. Golden Tate	SEA	WR	26	Seattle
28. Jordan Gross	CAR	OT	34	Carolina
29. Geoff Schwartz	KC	OG	27	Kansas City
30. Branden Albert	KC	OT	29	Kansas City
31. Paul Soliai	MIA	DT	30	Miami
32. Hakeem Nicks	NYG	WR	26	New England
33. Sam Shields	GB	CB	26	Green Bay
34. Linval Joseph	NYG	DT	25	New York
35. Zach Strief	NO	OT	30	New Orleans
36. Walter Thurmond	SEA	CB	26	Philadelphia
37. Justin Tuck	NYG	DE	31	Oakland
38. Anthony Spencer	DAL	DE/OLB	30	Dallas
39. Travelle Wharton	CAR	OG	33	Carolina
40. Julian Edelman	NE	WR	28	New Orleans
41. Ben Tate	HOU	RB	26	New England
42. Michael Vick	PHI	QB	34	Oakland
43. Tyson Jackson	KC	DE	28	Kansas City
44. Anthony Collins	CIN	OT	29	Cincinnati
45. Antonio Smith	HOU	DE	32	Houston
46. Jared Allen	MIN	DE	32	Atlanta
47. Karlos Dansby	ARI	ILB	32	Arizona
48. Clinton McDonald	SEA	DT	27	Chicago
49. Jeremy Maclin	PHI	WR	26	Kansas City
50. Donte Whitner	SF	S	29	San Francisco

Jairus Byrd, S, Buffalo Bills

Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd is one of the best defensive backs on the free-agent market. While the Bills will do whatever they can to keep him on the team, other organizations are posturing for a chance to sign him this offseason.

Pick the Draft’s Twitter account reveals the master plan:

Both teams would love to have Byrd patrolling their secondary in 2014—Buffalo team president Russ Brandon told the Associated Press (via ESPN.com) that he wants the safety back—and the Pro Bowl player should take his time making a decision to get the most money from the situation.

After a career year, Byrd has earned the right to get paid big bucks. Let the bidding war commence.

Predicted Landing Spot: Buffalo Bills

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Alex Trautwig/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Eagles never got to see what wide receiver Jeremy Maclin could do in Chip Kelly’s offense—he tore his ACL before the 2013 season began—and the player will be able to test free agency this offseason.

Former agent Joel Corry told Terez A. Taylor of The Kansas City Star about the Kansas City Chiefs' reported interest in Maclin during free agency: “I’d give him a decent one-year salary and give him upside through incentives. Andy [Reid] knows him, so he shouldn’t have a problem with the offense and that’s another potential playmaker.”

Kelly and the Eagles will do whatever it takes to keep a versatile weapon such as Maclin on the roster, but if there is any allegiance between Reid and the former Mizzou star, there is a legitimate chance he ends up in Kansas City.

Predicted Landing Spot: Kansas City Chiefs

*All stats and information via NFL.com.