2015 NFL Free Agents: Rumors, Predictions Heading Towards Championship Sunday

Ndamukong Suh, DeMarco Murray and others may hit 2015 NFL free agency, but for now the globe must settle for chatter surrounding Frank Gore and Wes Welker. 

If that sounds akin to passing up the new sports coupe at the car dealership to peep the latest minivan, that's because it is, but it's just how things work this time of year.

With championship weekend on the way, the biggest names have yet to enter the talk surrounding the market. Most teams hold intentions close to the vest, hence why the potential market always looks sexier this time of year before tags and contracts become a reality.

For now, the futures of veterans enter focus as noteworthy careers may take unexpected turns or end outright. Forget the Suh's and Murray's, sometimes the rides with more mileage deserve the spotlight.

Frank Gore's Future

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For a decade, Gore has bruised his way to elite production as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, failing just two times to breach the 1,000-yard mark.

Now the two sides may go their separate ways in what would be one of the more notable divorces of the 2015 offseason.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, Gore may look to follow former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan to Washington: "McCloughan has a high opinion of Gore as a football man. In the past, he talked about employing Gore as a scout after his playing career ended. And even after McCloughan left the 49ers, Gore often called him to act as a sounding board, according to a league source."

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Interestingly enough, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee also hears that Gore considers a fit with Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts a potential option, too.

Stick with Washington, though. Gore hits free agency March 10. If he does not put ink to paper with the 49ers by then, Jay Gruden's team has to be the top suitor. There, Gore plays a backup or rotational role with Alfred Morris and extends his career behind a back-friendly blocking scheme.

Already going on 32 years old in May, Gore continues to impress and survive the rigors of the position better than most. But one has to think that he wants to join up with a contender to close his career before the wheels inevitably fall off.

To that end, maybe Gore to Indianapolis is not so crazy after all.

Prediction: Gore signs with the Colts.

Career Decision for Wes Welker?

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Going on 34 years old, Welker confronts a serious decision. 

Welker's production fell off a cliff in 2014. Targeted just 64 times and only gaining 464 yards and two touchdowns as a result, he certainly does not sound as if a re-up with the Denver Broncos is in the cards, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post:

What does Welker want to do, though?

A decade into his career, Welker has suffered serious concussion issues to the point that friends and those around him apparently would like him to start thinking about hanging up the cleats, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe: "And Welker, like Manning, has a retirement decision. Welker, 33, has suffered several concussions over the last two seasons, and his friends and fans want him to start thinking about retirement so he doesn’t put himself at risk for significant brain damage."

John Froschauer/Associated Press

The decision is not an easy one, but at the very least feel free to eliminate the Broncos from the discussion. Not only was Welker the fourth weapon or worse in most games, the Broncos have plenty of other free agents to worry about such as Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme.

Reliable underneath receivers with loads of championship experience are quite difficult to find. A contender may look Welker's way if he continues to play the game he has devoted the last decade of his life to, but if not, nobody would blame one of the generation's most consistent wideouts.

Prediction: Welker retires after Denver shows no interest.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).