NFL Free Agents 2015: Surveying the Biggest Playmakers on the Market

The 2015 NFL free-agent class has some huge names. That's if they actually become free agents.

This list will make you salivate, and it will ultimately be a giant tease when most of these players re-sign with their current teams. Anything could happen, however, and there are some tantalizing players that have a chance to change uniforms.

These are the guys who make headlines with their big-play or game-changing ability, the ones we crave on our fantasy teams. With apologies to the guys in the trenches, these are the players you tend to see on SportsCenter.

Based on their athletic gifts, past production and future potential, let's take a look at the biggest playmakers who could hit free agency. 

Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

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The Dallas Cowboys were down late against the Green Bay Packers with a trip to the NFC Championship Game at stake when Dez Bryant happened. The talented receiver went up and snatched a pass on fourth down that had his team at the 1-yard line, poised to take the lead with just a few minutes remaining.

Alas, the football gods giveth, and they taketh away. Bryant's catch was overturned in controversial fashion, and the Cowboys lost just a week after the officials seemed to give them a clear path to victory against the Detroit Lions.

Whatever the case may be, Bryant clearly made a fantastic play, showing off his playmaking ability yet again. He is vital to the offense and is one of the best wide receivers in the game. The fifth-year Oklahoma State product led the league with 16 receiving touchdowns and had 1,200 receiving yards for the third year in a row.

Bryant will almost assuredly return to Dallas—owner Jerry Jones said as much last month, per Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News—but the thought of the big wideout terrorizing opposing cornerbacks should have many fanbases dreaming big. 

DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys

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Dez Bryant's teammate likely has the best chance of any marquee playmaker to actually hit free agency.

Running back DeMarco Murray finds himself in free-agency waters after winning the rushing title handily and helping his Dallas Cowboys come within a replay controversy and a yard from the NFC Championship Game.

Unfortunately for him, the running back market is going to be flooded, and the rookie class is loaded at the position. The Cowboys don't have all the cap space in the world, and re-signing Bryant and other free agents are going to be priorities.

That is bad for Murray's bottom line, but that doesn't mean he won't cash in somehow. If the Cowboys can't afford to bring him back, he will make some team very happy, so long as the near-500 touches he got this season or his injury history from years past don't come back to haunt him and his new squad.

Murray was arguably the best running back in the league, numbers notwithstanding. He is a true three-down back with only one real flaw in his game—fumbles. But who cares about a half-dozen giveaways among all those touches when he is moving the ball and scoring points so often?

Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs

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Defenders can be big playmakers, too.

This year's likely Defensive Player of the Year runner-up is currently slated to hit free agency. Let the feeding frenzy begin!

Well, the Kansas City Chiefs are surely going to make every effort to keep the league's sack leader—up to and including the franchise tag, if necessary—but he would certainly make for one of the best playmakers on the market should he get there.

That is why the Chiefs can't let him get away, and ESPN.com's Adam Teicher knows it:

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No matter the expense, the Chiefs should re-sign Houston. Even for a franchise with an impressive pass-rush lineage, Houston stands out. 

He will turn 26 in January, so he should have several productive seasons left. The Chiefs need to make certain those seasons are played in Kansas City. 

'It hasn’t hit me yet,' Houston said. 'It will mean a lot one day but today I’m more disappointed we’re going home next week instead of playing [in the playoffs].'

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Houston nearly broke Michael Strahan's single-season record with a four-sack performance against the San Diego Chargers in Week 17. He did break Chiefs legend Derrick Thomas' franchise record with 22 sacks.

More importantly, Houston is a well-rounded playmaker who was easily the top outside linebacker in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). If the Chiefs don't tag or re-sign him on a discount, Houston is going to score quite the contract.

Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos

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Which came first, the elite quarterback or the playmaking tight end? 

That will be the question for Julius Thomas, the talented Denver Broncos tight end who might not have future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning throwing him the ball anymore if he comes back. 

Thomas wasn't exactly a world-beater when Manning was having physical issues during the second half of the season. If his offense falls apart around him, will he turn into just another guy?

The good news is that Thomas possesses plenty of talent and athleticism, so his ascent into the tight end stratosphere wasn't entirely on Manning. The 6'5", 250-pound former basketball star is a tough cover, and he would be a major upgrade for many teams if the Broncos turn off their fax machine.

Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers

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Ted Thompson can be a fickle man when it comes to free agents, but the Green Bay Packers general manager should have no qualms about re-signing Randall Cobb. He would regret letting the dynamic receiver get away, at any rate.

Cobb is the most versatile player set to hit free agency, able to line up everywhere from the backfield to outside to punt returner. His explosiveness has made him a difference-maker in that offense.

The problem has been injuries. The 2014 season was the first full slate he was able to play, and it was the first time he cracked 1,000 receiving yards, too. When healthy, Cobb is clearly one of the best playmakers in this year's free-agent class.

Cobb averaged 14.1 yards per reception in 2014, and he was Pro Football Focus' (subscription required) ninth-highest-rated receiver of the year.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants

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It seems like ages ago when Jason Pierre-Paul was going to be the most dominant defensive player in the league. Then J.J. Watt stole his mojo and the injury bug hit.

A smattering of maladies has struck the New York Giants defensive end since his 16.5-sack sophomore season, short-circuiting what promised to be a swift rise to the top. He was only able to muster 8.5 sacks in the following two seasons as injuries have taken their toll.

When healthy, Pierre-Paul is still quite the pass-rusher. He was able to play a full 16-game slate this season—some of it through injury, still—and managed 12.5 sacks. 

He might not be Justin Houston, but Pierre-Paul has the ability to be one of the great pass-rushers if he can stay on the field. Even better, he just turned 26. Even if his breakout came four seasons ago, he still has plenty of youth to burn.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

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The shakeup has begun in Denver, as the Broncos have parted ways with head coach John Fox. Is quarterback Peyton Manning going to follow him out the door?

Manning would be leaving $38 million on the table, so we might want to hold our horses on that call. Still, the landscape could be drastically different in Denver come the fall.

Whoever is under center in 2015 will surely appreciate having a player of Demaryius Thomas' caliber. Earlier this season, Thomas told Dan Hellie of NFL Network's NFL Total Access that he would give the Broncos a hometown discount, per NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, but that might change a bit considering his reasoning:

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Of course, why not? Peyton is one of the best in the game, and I've been blessed to have him as my quarterback. I learned so much from him. Denver, of course I gotta take my hats off to them, because they took a chance of drafting me in the first round.

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If Manning does retire, perhaps it will persuade Thomas to take his game-breaking talents elsewhere.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

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A year ago, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin's future with the Philadelphia Eagles was in doubt thanks to a torn ACL that came in a contract year. His contract situation in general was difficult—how many teams were going to sign an injured player to a big contract?

Instead of testing the free-agent waters, Maclin decided to take a one-year "prove it" deal with the Eagles. He did just that, catching 85 passes for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns from the likes of regressing Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez this season.

Now he gets to test free agency for real, likely garnering a better contract than he would have a year ago to boot.

Maclin may not be in the upper echelon of wide receivers like Demaryius Thomas or Dez Bryant, but he is still a playmaker worthy of serious interest around the league. 

Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns

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This is a bit of a stretch when compared to some of the other offensive weapons slated to become free agents, but there is no denying Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron has considerable talent. The question is whether he can stay healthy.

Cameron suffered multiple concussions over the past year, causing him to miss six games and stay out of the offensive flow. He has also battled through quarterback issues, but that hasn't stopped him from putting up some big games with the likes of Brandon Weeden or Brian Hoyer.

If he lands with the right team and stays upright, Cameron is going to be a huge asset for whoever picks him up. The former basketball star has the upside to be great in the right situation.

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions

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There is no denying Ndamukong Suh's talent. It's the rest of the package that might give a bit of pause to potential suitors.

Of course, that pause will probably be a microsecond—who would seriously refuse what Suh brings to the table?—so the next question will be how much he is worth.

Suh could be looking to sign the richest defensive contract in NFL history, per USA Today's Carlos Monarrez. That probably eliminates the majority of teams that might be looking to add a defensive tackle.

Is he worth more-than-likely Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt? Probably not, even if he is the second-most dominant defender in the league.

Contracts keep growing in the NFL, however, and Suh is going to be a force for whoever signs him. If the Detroit Lions let him go, that stout defensive line is going to be exposed next season.

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