2015 NFL Free Agents: Stock Up, Stock Down After 2015 NFL Postseason

The Super Bowl has come and gone, and that means the NFL's business season is right around the corner. Starting with the opening of free agency on March 10, each of the 32 franchises will once again be tasked with constructing a roster capable of raising the Lombardi Trophy next February.

And every year, we see players use the postseason as a platform to raise their price tag. Performing well under the bright lights of the playoffs is a surefire way to earn some extra money when it's time to talk contracts, and this postseason was no exception.

Each of the players on the list played in the tournament, and their efforts—or lack thereof—will not be forgotten as the calendar turns to March.

It's time to analyze whether these soon-to-be free agents' stock went either up or down in the 2015 NFL postseason.

Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray: Stock UP

Mark Tenally/Associated Press

Now that's how you perform in a contract year.

After a regular season in which he led the NFL in rushing with 1,845 yards, Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray proceeded to dominate in two postseason games, toting the rock 44 times for 198 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and two touchdowns (one each versus Detroit and at Green Bay). He wore down opposing defenses with a relentless, physical rushing style that harkens back to the days of Earl Campbell.

While Bleacher Report's Clarence Hill believes the Cowboys must do everything in their power to keep Murray, 26, in the fold, it should prove difficult for owner Jerry Jones to retain both Murray and stud receiver Dez Bryant, who is also slated to hit free agency.

But wherever Murray ends up, one thing is certain: He used the postseason as a platform to raise his price tag, cementing his status as one of the league's top backs.

Ravens RB Justin Forsett: Stock UP

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

After a journeyman career mired in mediocrity, Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett burst onto the scene in 2014, rumbling for 1,266 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and eight rushing touchdowns to help the Ravens claim an AFC Wild Card berth.

And once the Ravens advanced to January, Forsett ratcheted up his game, carrying the ball 40 times for 169 yards and hauling in three receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown catch in two playoff games (at Pittsburgh and at New England).

It would have been one thing for the 29-year-old Forsett to dazzle in the regular season, but it was another entirely for him to sparkle in the postseason. His performance against eventual Super Bowl champion New England in the divisional round (24 carries for 129 yards) helped stake the Ravens out to a lead and nearly helped them pull off a massive upset.

Forsett will be a fascinating case study once the free-agent market opens. He's coming off the best season of his career, but will turn 30 next October. Will a team lavish him with greenbacks to be its leading rusher? That remains to be seen, but Forsett certainly showed enough in the postseason to prove he's more than a flash in the pan.

Patriots RB Shane Vereen: Stock UP

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Out of all the names on this list, New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen has been the one that's received the smallest amount of fanfare.

But after a sterling performance in Super Bowl XLIX, there can be no doubting the versatility and playmaking ability of the 25-year-old Vereen.

In the biggest game of his life against the NFL's top-ranked defense (Seattle), Vereen hauled in 11 (11!) receptions for 64 yards, helping to move the chains (five first downs) and provide a security blanket for quarterback Tom Brady. In three postseason games, Vereen rushed six times for 21 yards and caught 18 passes for 144 yards.

His Super Bowl performance impressed Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears, who told Anthony Gulizia of the Boston Globe, "Shane, this is his kind of game. If they’re going to let you throw it to Shane underneath, he’s going to hurt you a little bit.”

Vereen will never be a bell cow-type back, but his effort in the postseason—specifically Super Bowl XLIX—surely earned him a few more dollars in his new contract.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant: Stock NEUTRAL

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

In order for Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant's free-agent stock to go down in the postseason, he probably would have had to cost his own team a victory followed by pulling off his jersey to reveal that of the other team, professional wrestling style.

That's how good Bryant was throughout 2014. He caught a preposterous 16 touchdown passes in the regular season, and while his postseason numbers weren't nearly as gaudy (six catches for 86 yards and no touchdowns in two games), that shouldn't affect his (sure-to-be) exorbitant price tag.

Of course, Bryant was the victim of some truly mind-boggling officiating, as what looked to be a no-doubt-about-it catch in the waning moments of Dallas' eventual divisional-round loss to Green Bay was overruled and called incomplete. If Bryant had made that catch and the Cowboys had won and moved onto the NFC Championship Game, it's feasible that he would have only added to his eventual purse in a significant way.

But as it stands, Bryant's touchdown-less postseason shouldn't hurt his wallet at all. He's still going to break the bank in a major way.

Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas: Stock DOWN

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Denver Broncos star receiver Demaryius Thomas should have found himself in the same boat as Dallas' Dez Bryant, probably needing to sabotage his own team in the postseason to watch his free-agent price tag go down.

While Thomas obviously didn't engage in any nWo-esque chicanery, he didn't exactly turn in a masterful performance, catching only five passes for 59 yards and a touchdown reception in Denver's stunning divisional-round loss to Indianapolis.

But much more troubling than Thomas' on-field performance (which, truth be told, was better than what most of his teammates mustered up in the 24-13 loss to the Colts) was his attitude before the game.

Speaking to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio (via PFT's Mike Wilkening) at radio row in Arizona during Super Bowl week, Thomas revealed that he and some teammates had looked past Indianapolis toward a potential showdown with the Patriots, saying, "I think one thing was, I feel like guys kind of looked over the Colts. You had guys always talking the night before the game, you had, ‘Oh, I don’t want to go to New England and play New England.’ And I think that was one of the big things.”

That's not exactly what you want to hear from your stud receiver.

While we project Thomas' stock falling for the aforementioned reasons, it would be foolish to suggest the talented 27-year-old won't receive a big-money payday; he will. But that quote about looking past the Colts—along with the fact that his best seasons came in a Peyton Manning-led offense—could cause his eventual windfall to dip.

Packers WR Randall Cobb: Stock UP

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Quick! Pop quiz: How old is Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb?

Cobb, who just completed his fourth NFL season, is only 24 years old—a staggering fact that should only add to what's sure to be a big-money payday in this year's free-agent period.

Cobb followed up a sterling regular season with a magnificent playoff effort, hauling in 15 receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown catch in two games (versus Dallas and at Seattle). He was quarterback Aaron Rodgers' primary target, and caught the game-clinching pass in the divisional round against the Cowboys.

All Cobb did was use the postseason as a way to earn even more cash. General managers will surely remember Cobb's clutch efforts as they pull out their checkbooks in synchronized fashion come this March.

Ravens WR Torrey Smith: Stock UP

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith started the season slow, as he failed to catch a touchdown pass through the first three weeks of the season.

But he made up for it in a major way with his performance over the rest of the campaign, as he finished the year with 11 touchdown receptions—and then continued that over to the postseason, where he hauled in five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown grab in two games (at Pittsburgh and at New England).

This past Tuesday, CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora tweeted that the Ravens offered Smith a five-year, $35 million contract with $19 million guaranteed prior to the season, which Smith (presumably) turned down. La Canfora went on to call the offer "very fair."

But given that he finished the season strong and reached paydirt in the Wild Card Round against Pittsburgh, it's possible—and perhaps even probable—that Smith could have earned himself more money than he would have received back in August.

Broncos TE Julius Thomas: Stock NEUTRAL

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas proved to be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses in the regular season, scoring 12 touchdowns on only 43 receptions.

And while his team went one-and-done in the postseason—with Thomas catching six passes for 53 yards in the divisional-round defeat to Indianapolis—it shouldn't have much of a bearing on his impending free-agent status.

While questions will surely persist about his ability to succeed in an offense not led by Peyton Manning, the 26-year-old Thomas showcased his physical prowess throughout the year and should be a hot target once free agency opens. If his price tag does dip, it will be because his production in the regular season slowed thanks to an ankle injury that kept him out of three games and limited his effectiveness in another three.

But Arnie Stapleton of The Associated Press writes that Thomas will cash in once the market opens—so Thomas' postseason performance should have little to no bearing on that fact.

Cowboys LB Rolando McClain: Stock DOWN

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain was one of the NFL's best stories in 2014, rising like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes to make a significant impact.

McClain, who was out of football entirely in 2013, was one of the linchpins of Dallas' surprising defensive effort, and one of the main reasons why the Cowboys were able to exceed expectations with a 12-4 record.

But unfortunately for McClain, he couldn't carry over the positive regular-season vibes to the postseason, as he ended up leaving both the Wild Card Round (versus Detroit) and the divisional round (at Green Bay) with concussion-like symptoms.

McClain still did enough during the regular season to earn a nice contract in free agency, but there's no doubt that a memorable postseason performance would only have helped matters. Instead, McClain will have to settle for an excellent regular-season campaign that landed him squarely back on the NFL map.

Patriots CB Darrelle Revis: Stock UP

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Throughout his eight-year career, New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis has proved time and time again to be all about the Benjamins, baby.

Revis—who signed a one-year, $12 million deal with New England last offseason—will hit the free-agent market, provided the Patriots don't exercise a $20 million club option for 2016. While it's possible that coach Bill Belichick will bring Revis back at that number, the more likely scenario sees the Patriots declining that option and opting to try to bring Revis back on a more team-friendly deal.

Helping Revis' cause is his terrific postseason performance, as he helped New England to its fourth Super Bowl championship (and first in a decade). While he might have allowed a touchdown in the Super Bowl to Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin, he ran into a referee while attempting to play defense, so it's hard to disparage Revis for that.

Revis compiled a sack and an interception in three postseason games, and was good enough that on Super Bowl Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter released a report saying that the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills will be in hot pursuit of the soon-to-be 30-year-old cornerback. And that was before Revis helped lead the Patriots to a world championship.

Winning the Lombardi Trophy can help correlate to a free-agent windfall, and in the case of Revis, that's exactly what will transpire.