2015 NFL Free Agents: Rumors and Predictions After AFC, NFC Championships

Former free agents stole the show on Championship Game Weekend.

In the NFC Championship Game, Jermaine Kearse, who joined the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2012, caught the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to send his team to the Super Bowl.

On the AFC side of things, LeGarrette Blount, who signed on with the New England Patriots midseason, rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-7 triumph. For the Indianapolis Colts, Daniel "Boom" Herron stole the starting gig one year removed from joining the team and ran for 51 yards on just 10 opportunities. D'Qwell Jackson, who joined the team last offseason, even intercepted Tom Brady.

Suffice it to say, free agency is a critical element of building a championship-caliber roster.

While the market is not set to open the floodgates just yet, there is no time like the present to catch up on some buzz surrounding some of the biggest potential names. 

The Jets-Bills Pipeline Remains Open for Business

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

C.J. Spiller, one of the most explosive runners the league has to offer, just needs proper usage.

Spiller exploded in 2012 with 1,703 total yards and eight touchdowns, then fell off the face of the Earth the year after with 1,118 total yards and two scores before hobbling through an injury-riddled campaign this past season.

Paul Connors/Associated Press

The difference? Chan Gailey, who coached the Bills in 2012 and now serves as the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets.

About those Jets. According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, "The Jets are expected to release Johnson, who is due $4 million in 2015, to clear a path for a game changer to team with Chris Ivory."

Now, the man formerly known as CJ2K is an interesting player in his own right if he hits the market after a season in which he rushed for just 663 yards and a score.

But the focus should remain on Spiller, who has plenty of options in the AFC East and beyond. As NFL.com's Chris Trapasso notes, even horrible usage by recent staffs and injuries do not prevent the Clemson product from being one of the most productive backs in the league:

For his part, Spiller is well aware of what a reunion with Gailey could mean for his career, per Mehta: “So that would be a perfect match. Who knows what can happen, but I’d be foolish not to have those guys on my list. I had my best years in the league with Chan. So it’d be dumb not to give it serious thought.”

Again, Spiller has options, though. Per Mike Jurecki of FoxSports910.com, the Arizona Cardinals were also hot for his services at the trade deadline this past season:

For now, it sounds as if Spiller likes the idea of jumping across the division. Then again, staying with the Bills and new coach Rex Ryan, a lover of the ground-and-pound offensive style, may make sense as well.

With the way things have gone in the AFC East as of late, Spiller jumping to New York makes sense. The coach who helped him the most is there, as is a strong complementary piece in Chris Ivory.

Prediction: Spiller signs with the New York Jets.

The Mark Ingram Question

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Each year, the New Orleans Saints seem to have the deepest rotation of backs in the league. 

That will change in 2015 if the front office does not jump to action.

According to Nick Underhill of The Advocate, the Saints have yet to make any headway in retaining top back Mark Ingram: "But that vote of confidence has not yet led to the Saints making an effort to retain the free-agent running back, according to a league source, who indicates the team has not had any conversations with Ingram about a potential return."

Just 25 years old, Ingram was a nice surprise in 2014 thanks to his 964 yards and nine touchdowns on a 4.3 per-carry average. For a three-week stretch in which he recorded a minimum of 100 yards and scored three total touchdowns, the Alabama product looked like one of the best players in the league.

Ingram's price tag is hard to gauge for the Saints or any other team thanks to the possibility that names such as DeMarco Murray make it to market. National Football Post's Joel Corry offers an idea of what the Saints would pay:

The issue with Ingram for any prospective buyers is twofold. In four years, he has played in just one 16-game season and at the same time has not been asked to produce outside of a committee or without Drew Brees keeping the attention of the defense.

Still, there is major value with Ingram, who runs hard and has experience at the professional level. A team with deeper pockets than the Saints will come calling and look to put Ingram in somewhat of a featured role.

This, of course, has to be something Ingram and any other back desires. Look for a team such as the Miami Dolphins, which needs a lead back to take the onus of production away from Lamar Miller, to throw cash Ingram's way this offseason.

Prediction: Ingram signs with the Miami Dolphins.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.