2015 NFL Free Agents: Rumors, Predictions and Analysis for Top Stars

The combine numbers are in, the pro day schedules are set and draft talk is all the rage in NFL circles these days.

However, for those anxious football fans who aren't sustained by talk of what may or may not come to pass during the draft, there is nothing to fear as the looming free-agency period is primed to provide observers with plenty of rumors, numbers crunching and interesting player movement in March.

With much of the buildup to March 10 focusing on contract talks and potential franchise tags, the salary-cap numbers are now just as much in focus as the overall picture of team needs. The draft brings cheaper options to the table, but sure production is worth the extra cash in some cases. Striking the right balance between proven and potential is the key.

Let's take a look at the latest buzz surrounding three high-profile impending free agents.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

Demaryius Thomas finds himself, alongside the likes of Green Bay's Randall Cobb and Dallas' Dez Bryant, at the top of a potentially large wideout free-agent class. The Denver Broncos have big decisions to make on Thomas, tight end Julius Thomas, Wes Welker and Rahim Moore, among others, this offseason.

With a robust $26 million in cap space, the Broncos can afford to keep a big-ticket player or two, but there will undoubtedly be a few cap casualties this summer as the team looks to make good on the Super Bowl-potential of the Peyton Manning era.

It appears the team is doing its due diligence in holding together the major pieces from the absurdly productive offense over the past two seasons. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the Broncos appear likely to franchise tag the 27-year-old Thomas:

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It’s a 'safe bet' the Broncos will be applying the franchise tag to receiver Demaryius Thomas, per a source with knowledge of the situation. While the two sides are talking, a deal currently isn’t expected in the next two days.

While the magnitude of the parties’ positions isn’t known, Thomas stands to earn $13 million fully guaranteed in 2015, if the tag is applied and if he signs the franchise tender. After the tag is applied, the Broncos and Thomas will have until July 15 to strike a long-term deal.

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Sure, it's a buyer's market for wideouts, and the Broncos could find cheaper options elsewhere, but it makes no sense to let Thomas test the market with the tag available and focus money on the aging and oft-injured Welker.

Manning turns 39 in March; letting his top target walk would be a football sin.

While this scenario sets up the tight end Thomas to hit free agency, Florio points out a scenario in which he could stay in Denver:

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If/when Demaryius Thomas gets the tag, the stage will be set for tight end Julius Thomas to hit the market.  While many believe Julius is destined to no longer wear orange (yeah, I said it), quarterback Peyton Manning’s willingness to restructure possibly comes with a specific request to keep both Thomases around for 2015.

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In what could be a shaky year for Manning, look for Thomas to prove his worth to Denver under the tag and sign a long-term contract with the team at some point in the upcoming season or by next spring.

Prediction: Broncos keep Thomas

Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, took eventual Super Bowl runners-up Seattle Seahawks to the brink in the 2015 playoffs and have an estimated $30.8 million in cap space this offseason to use. For a team predicated on passing the ball and outgunning opponents, could the Packers really not be ready to re-sign star wideout Randall Cobb?

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora suggested Wednesday that Cobb would hit the open market as the team was more focused on signing impending free agents like right tackle Bryan Bulaga:

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The Packers know that Cobb's market is likely to get out of hand and have focused on keeping other free agents. They continue to discuss a new deal with the agent for tackle Bryan Bulaga, sources said, and I bet they get their man in the end. Same with nose tackle Letroy Guion...

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However, ESPNWisconsin.com's Jason Wilde reported Thursday that the Packers were still engaged in talks with Cobb:

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According to two NFL sources familiar with the Packers plans, the team hasn’t in any way given up on its efforts to re-sign Cobb, who caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014, his fourth NFL season. Set to turn 25 in August, Cobb is viewed as a core player that the Packers definitely want to keep.

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Cobb has been an absolute stud when healthy over the past four seasons for Green Bay, although Jordy Nelson may have emerged as the No. 1 receiver in Wisconsin due to his consistency and superlative performances over the past four years. If so, Cobb is definitely 1-A, and some, like former Green Bay wideout Donald Driver, don't take kindly to the notion that Cobb isn't always considered a No. 1 overall wide receiver:

Packers general manager Ted Thompson also noted Cobb's consistency and value from Day 1 with the team.

"Randall is Randall. He's the same guy all the time," Thompson said, per PackersNews.com's Ryan Wood. "He missed some time in the year before with an injury, but he's been a pretty good player since the day he showed up."

However, the luxury that Cobb experiences playing with Rodgers might also be the very thing that allows the team to let him walk, per Bleacher Report's Ty Schalter:

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Cobb is primarily a slot receiver, but he's a huge home run threat. Here's the problem for Cobb: Aaron Rodgers can throw it to just about anybody, and rookie Davante Adams emerged as a serious threat over the course of 2014.

It's not that Cobb doesn't deserve to get paid, or that the Packers can't pay him. Teams trying to win championships, though, don't cut massive checks on sentiment or inertia—and if the Packers brass think they can score just as many points with or without Cobb, they'll spend that money elsewhere.

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Indeed, the Packers offense chugged right along without Cobb in 2013, when he missed 10 games due to injury. Green Bay finished sixth in the NFL in passing yards that year and eighth in points scored. Jarrett Boykin helped fill the void by reeling in 49 catches for 681 yards and three scores.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

However, there are still factors working in Cobb's favor here.

Rodgers played in just three games without Cobb in 2013 due to his own injury issues. While he did throw five touchdowns against zero interceptions in those games, it's no guarantee of future success without Cobb.

James Jones played a pivotal role at wideout in 2013, but he's in Oakland now—which also happens to be a great potential landing spot for Cobb due to Oakland's massive amounts of cap room and obvious need at wide receiver. Boykin played in 13 games in 2014—and had just three catches.

With the proliferation of the passing game in recent years, the ability to make plays out of the slot could be considered just as valuable as being a traditional No. 1 target lining up on the outside. This is similar to the way nickel/slot cornerbacks are becoming increasingly coveted—the San Diego Chargers' drafting of diminutive, versatile cornerback Jason Verrett in the first round last year being one such example.

Wood also notes that Thompson has an affinity for holding onto homegrown players; Cobb certainly fits that bill, as does Bulaga.

While the team might save money by opting for a cheaper wideout to line up alongside or down the line from Nelson, retaining the 24-year-old Cobb will give Rodgers an explosive option for years to come, the type of wide receiver who can help him sustain production as he ages.

Prediction: Cobb stays in Green Bay

Mike Iupati, G, San Francisco 49ers

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Mike Iupati, should he hit the open market, would appear to be the top available guard in free agency this year. He's a three-time Pro Bowler, has missed only five regular-season games in his five-year career—all five coming in the last two years, it should be noted—and has been a starter at left guard since his rookie season with the 49ers.

However, the 49ers are tight on cap space this offseason and have decisions to make on pending free agents in Iupati, Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore, among others. Iupati could end up a casualty of the running game, as CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco reported the team will let him test free agency:

NBC 4's Dianna Russini noted the Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as two teams with potential interest:

Considering the dearth of available talent at guard, Iupati might actually be the high-profile free agent most worth keeping in San Francisco. The 49ers would appear to have options at wide receiver both in free agency and in the upcoming draft class. Gore is 31 years old and the team already has potential replacements in Carlos Hyde and Kendall Hunter.  

Gore didn't get enough of a chance to prove himself as the offense moved away from him as a focal point last season, but his price and the wear and tear on his body might be too strong of deterrents.

Of course, if the 49ers are moving more toward a passing game centered around the scrambling Colin Kaepernick, they might want a guard more inclined to pass protection than Iupati, who does his best work in the run game.

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Mark Bullock of The Washington Post noted how Iupati would fit in in the nation's capital:

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It’s believed that Jay Gruden wants to incorporate more power-blocking run plays, similar to what he ran in Cincinnati. Having a guard with Iupati’s size who can pull and block like he did in the play above would certainly make for a nice addition. But Gruden also likes to have the flexibility to run zone when he needs to. Many people of Iupati’s size wouldn’t be able to run zone plays effectively, but he has the ability to work to the second level and latch on to linebackers and safeties too, something zone-blocking guards must be able to do.

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Tampa Bay has plenty of cap space to burn—an estimated $27 million—and multiple holes to fill. If the Buccaneers take care of the passing game by drafting Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota and holding onto Vincent Jackson, an upgrade at guard might be the best way to boost the offense. Tampa Bay finished 29th in the league last season with 85.9 rushing yards per game.

However, Tampa Bay might be more inclined to spend that money on an offensive tackle who can protect the likes of Mike Glennon or the as-of-yet-undrafted franchise quarterback of the future—although the tackle market could be weak as well with San Diego re-signing King Dunlap and the Packers apparently focusing on keeping Bulaga.

While other money-flush teams in need of interior line help such as the New York Jets, Oakland and San Diego might also come calling, don't be surprised if the 'Skins comes in with a killer offer over the other suitors and make Iupati the engine of a new offensive scheme.

Prediction: Redskins sign Iupati

Salary cap numbers courtesy of Spotrac unless otherwise noted.