NFL Free Agency 2014: Latest Rumors Surrounding Top Names

Now that the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine is in the rear-view mirror, teams will start getting prepared in earnest for free agency, which kicks off on March 11. 

There are some tantalizing names on the market, too, and it will be fascinating to see where guys like Jimmy Graham, Greg Hardy and Eric Decker will land heading into the 2014 NFL season. 

As usual, there are plenty of rumors swirling about where the top players will sign. At this point in the proceedings, any information that comes out should be taken with a grain of salt, however, because teams are primarily putting up smoke screens.

That said, here's the latest buzz surrounding a few of the top players from this year's free-agency class.

Anquan Boldin Close To New Deal With San Francisco

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The San Francisco 49ers would have been lost offensively last year without the fine play of veteran receiver Anquan Boldin, who landed with the club after being traded by the Baltimore Ravens for a sixth-round pick in 2013. 

Boldin caught 85 passes for 1,178 yards and seven touchdowns last year. He was Colin Kaepernick's go-to guy all season long, and he also fit the team's defensive mentality to perfection by dominating defensive backs on running plays. 

“Really Anquan has done everything he can possibly do with the way he’s played and the kind of teammate he was last year,” Harbaugh said in a recent press conference, via Taylor Price of 49ers.com. “We’re all lockstep with how we feel about him.”

Therefore, it's not surprising that the team's brass is working hard to re-sign Boldin to a new deal before he hits the market in March. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the two sides are "closing in on a deal that will keep the veteran wide receiver in San Francisco."

With a healthy Michael Crabtree, Boldin, Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald, Quinton Patton and potentially another rookie playmaker, the 49ers will be in terrific shape to feature a dangerous passing attack in 2014. 

Carolina Debating Whether or Not To Tag Greg Hardy

Greg Hardy is one of this year's most coveted free agents, and he's a player the Carolina Panthers don't want to lose. A former sixth-round pick out of Mississippi, Hardy has gotten better every year, culminating with his 15-sack performance in the final year of his rookie contract in 2013. 

And at the age of 25, he's only going to get better in the years to come, barring injury. 

No doubt, the Panthers would prefer to sign Hardy to a long-term contract, but general manager Dave Gettleman gave a cryptic answer when asked about his star player, as noted by Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports:

Carolina already gave Charles Johnson a huge deal in 2011—a six-year contract worth $76 million, according to Spotrac.com. Should the team opt to hit Hardy with the tag, then it will essentially have him for a one-year deal worth $12.5 million. 

Regardless of whether Hardy signs a long-term deal or signs his franchise tender, Carolina will be committing a lot of money to its two pass-rushing stars. But based on the way the Panthers dominated on the defensive side of the ball last year, it will be worth it. 

Cleveland Gunning Hard for Jairus Byrd

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After a Pro Bowl appearance in 2013, Jairus Byrd's value is as high as it's ever been.

Buffalo wants to keep him, and the Bills are not afraid to use the tag to keep him, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

That said, Rapoport also reports the Browns are extremely interested in signing Byrd, which sets up a potential tag-and-trade scenario:

Mike Pettine was Byrd's defensive coordinator last year, and the Browns could be losing T.J. Ward to free agency, so this reunion makes plenty of sense. However, an argument could be made that the Browns would be better off re-signing Ward and keeping their draft picks.

The big kicker could be Byrd himself, who hasn't been happy with the way Buffalo has handled his contract situation for the past couple of seasons. 

One thing is certain: This is a sticky situation that could get even more complicated before it is resolved. 

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