Predicting Where Top Remaining NFL Free Agents Will Sign

It's hard to believe it's been three months since the new league year arrived and free agents were free to move about the country.

We've since endured every wave of free agency along with the draft and organized team activities. And now, with training camps just a couple of weeks out, we're left with scraps on the open market. Most of those scraps will have to wait for training camp or preseason developments for their chance, while others will never find their next football home.

Here are predictions regarding the fate of 10 particularly notable lingering free agents.  

James Jones: Jacksonville Jaguars

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Released by the Oakland Raiders in May, starting-caliber receiver James Jones mentioned the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks as potential fits, and it just so happens that Josina Anderson of ESPN has linked him to the Chiefs, Giants and Seahawks. 

The Giants, though, are coy and may want to wait on the statuses of Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz. And Seattle and Kansas City have already brought in big-name pass-catchers this offseason, so we're leaning toward the Jags. After all, Jacksonville has been in heavy pursuit of top-flight receivers all spring, and let's not forget that Jones played for new Jaguars offensive coordinator Greg Olson last season. 

The 31-year-old caught a career-high 73 passes under Olson in 2014 and could have a chance to be the top gun in a budding offense, so this makes sense for both sides. 

Michael Vick: Buffalo Bills

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I'd love to see Michael Vick back up Cam Newton in Carolina or Marcus Mariota in Tennessee or Robert Griffin III in Washington, and you can't rule out the possibility that he winds up with a chance at a starting spot down the line in Cleveland, Houston or Washington, D.C., but Buffalo makes too much sense. 

The Bills know they lack a franchise quarterback, and that's all the team lacks. With a deep backfield, a strong supporting cast elsewhere on offense and one of the league's top defenses, Buffalo has a Super Bowl roster save for the most important position on the field. 

The Bills might already know that EJ Manuel isn't the answer and appear to be realizing that Matt Cassel isn't either. It's only a matter of time before it dawns on them that Tyrod Taylor was a sixth-round pick and a backup in Baltimore for a reason. And when that happens, look for a desperate Rex Ryan to gamble on his quarterback from New York circa 2014.

Considering what new Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman did with Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco, it probably couldn't hurt. 

Chris Johnson: Dallas Cowboys

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The Dallas Cowboys lost the NFL's top rusher to free agency, but right now even they don't appear to be interested in former All-Pro Chris Johnson. That's what happens when you're a running back at or around the age of 30. 

Ironically, Johnson would be well suited to return to the Tennessee Titans, with whom he spent the first six seasons of his career, but it's possible he'd rather retire than return to a team he bashed about a year ago. 

It's possible he will be done regardless, at least when you consider that in March he was shot...like, with a gun. Right in the shoulder. But the 29-year-old was working out again in April, and he actually performed quite well at times with the New York Jets last season. 

Johnson averaged 4.3 yards per carry on the year and actually hit the 5.0 mark while accumulating 213 yards during a particularly strong three-game stretch in December. So someone will surely come knocking, and our bet remains the Cowboys. 

With former coach Rex Ryan and former offensive coordinator Chris Palmer on the staff, the Buffalo Bills are an interesting contender. But Johnson struggled under Palmer in Tennessee and the Bills are loaded in the backfield. Right now, Dallas just makes a lot more sense. 

The Cowboys want to see what they have in Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar, Ryan Williams and intriguing recent addition Lache Seastrunk, which is fair, but the moment that injuries start piling up or that inexperienced running game hits a wall, you know exactly what Jerry Jones is going to do. 

Jake Long: New York Giants

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While it's become apparent that Jake Long wasn't merely just a cap casualty in March and that, indeed, teams have lost faith in the 30-year-old's ability to hold it down as a consistent starter at left tackle, he has the talent and pedigree to step in and hold it together for a team in trouble. 

The conservative New York Giants are facing some potential trouble in that exact spot, but they'll likely wait to confirm that injured left tackle Will Beatty will indeed be out to start the season before agreeing to pay Long, who may see more potential suitors emerge as training camps get underway. 

Even when healthy last season, Long wasn't very good. But the Giants know how badly Eli Manning needs help in pass protection, and head coach Tom Coughlin won't be willing to start rookie Ereck Flowers (or anyone else on the depth chart) on Manning's blind side Week 1. 

Jermaine Gresham: New Orleans Saints

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The only reason Jermaine Gresham—who caught five touchdown passes in 2014 and has gone over 400 yards in all five of his NFL seasons—has yet to be signed is because, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, he was dealing with a back injury right when free agency was getting underway.

That may still be lingering, which is why he remains on the open market as training camps approach. Yahoo's Charles Robinson links him to the Arizona Cardinals, and we can't totally count out a return to the Cincinnati Bengals; However, the Saints are looking for potential replacements for Jimmy Graham, and head coach Sean Payton has confirmed interest in Gresham, per ESPN's Mike Triplett. 

A summertime injury could change things, but expect the 27-year-old to sign with New Orleans as soon as the team feels comfortable he's healthy. And once that happens, expect him to compete with Ben Watson for starting reps. 

Anthony Collins: Minnesota Vikings

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There was word in April that the Cincinnati Bengals might bring back Anthony Collins after the draft, but then Cincinnati selected offensive tackles in the first two rounds, so that theory went flying out the window. 

Now the 29-year-old swing tackle is lingering on the open market after a horrendous solo season under a large contract in Tampa, but folks haven't forgotten the job he did as a spot starter with the Bengals in 2013. That year, he was one of only three players in football to surrender zero sacks on 500-plus snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Eventually, somebody is going to get hurt somewhere this summer, and when that happens Collins will almost certainly get a call. We're not predicting injuries, but the Minnesota Vikings have a right tackle, Phil Loadholt, who is coming off a torn pectoral. They gave up 51 sacks last year and didn't do much to improve the tackle positions in the offseason, so if anyone goes down look, for Collins and coach Mike Zimmer to reunite. 

Red Bryant: Atlanta Falcons

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I'm a bit baffled that Red Bryant remains unsigned. The 31-year-old was released by a bad Jaguars team, but that couldn't have been play-related. We're talking about a stout run defender whom Pro Football Focus ranked third in that category among all 4-3 defensive ends in 2014. 

Bryant isn't a sack artist or playmaker, but a team desperate for run help and/or depth at defensive end is bound to give him a shot once injuries start factoring in this summer. That team could be the Atlanta Falcons, who are coached by Bryant's former defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn. 

Atlanta has addressed a mediocre defensive line this offseason, but adding Adrian Clayborn and Justin Durant doesn't constitute a makeover for a front seven that ranked 21st against the run in 2014. 

Chris Myers: Houston Texans

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We had to send someone back to his original team. This is all business.

The Houston Texans released Chris Myers in March because he would have cost them $8 million against the salary cap. Right now, the 33-year-old center is presumably realizing that he can't fetch a lot of guaranteed money on the open market, primarily because he's approaching football dinosaur status with his 34th birthday looming in September. 

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans—who don't exactly have any proven players waiting in the wings at that position—have reached out to Myers about a potential return. And barring an injury elsewhere that would shift the supply and demand on the market, look for him to take a fair contract in order to remain home in Houston. 

John Abraham: Nowhere

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Virtually every NFL roster adds at least five rookies each year, which means there's no space remaining for at least 160 veterans. Most of the guys left on the outside looking in as a result are no-names coming off proverbial cups of coffee, but several washed-up vets are also included. 

Count John Abraham as one of those dudes. 

He is only 18 months removed from an 11.5-sack Pro Bowl campaign with the Arizona Cardinals, but he just turned 37 and is coming off a season completely derailed by concussions issues. 

Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports reports Abraham is still dealing with those concussion issues. With 133.5 career sacks, the 15-year vet ranks 10th all-time in that category, but—despite the fact he wants to play one more year—we're betting he never has a chance to get to 134. 

Brandon Spikes: Nowhere

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On the surface, Brandon Spikes looks attractive. He's a 27-year-old former second-round pick who stands out in a major way as a run defender. But he has two problems. 

1. On the field, he's a one-dimensional player who lingered on the free-agent market for nearly two months before signing with the New England Patriots in May. 
2. Off the field, he's in trouble after pleading guilty last week to leaving the scene of an accident, which is why he is no longer on the New England roster. 

If it took Spikes that long to find work as role player in New England, it's safe to conclude that he has completely fallen off the NFL radar for the time being.

The five-year veteran was graded by Pro Football Focus as the best run-stopping inside linebacker in football in 2013, and he pierced the top 10 in that area again last season, but with virtually no pass-rushing or coverage prowess and with legal issues plaguing him, Spikes carries almost no value right now.