2015 NFL Free Agents: Hottest Rumors Surrounding Frank Gore, CJ Spiller and More

The 2015 NFL free-agent market promises to be one of the most chaotic in recent memory, so it comes as no surprise that there are already rumors galore concerning some of the top names available.

Teams across the league will have a golden opportunity to get better due to the amount of elite talent out there for the taking. While the signing period doesn't begin until March 10, several intriguing free agents have already been linked to certain destinations.

A lot can happen between now and the start of free agency, so nothing is certain, but here are the current rumblings surrounding some of the most highly sought-after names on the radar.

Frank Gore

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Running back Frank Gore has enjoyed 10 fantastic NFL seasons as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, but as he gets set to enter free agency without a contract in place, the possibility of the 31-year-old veteran playing elsewhere in 2015 increases.

The Niners and Gore have been in negotiations to some degree, but general manager Trent Baalke made it known that progress has been slow, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

"It's at the same place it was the last time we talked," Baalke said. "We're still working on it. It's not something that's going to get done yesterday. It'll take some time to resolve. It's our intention to have Frank back."

Most running backs hit the wall past the age of 30, but Gore had another strong year in 2014 with 1,106 rushing yards and a yards-per-carry average of 4.3. At the same time, his production dropped off noticeably in other areas. His four rushing touchdowns were his least since 2010, when he played in just 11 games. Also, his 11 receptions were the least of his entire career.

With the young and explosive Carlos Hyde on San Francisco's roster, Gore could view this as an opportunity to continue his career somewhere else. If that is the case, then Bleacher Report's Matt Miller believes the Indianapolis Colts are his likeliest suitor, as seen in this video:

Per Miller, assistant Rob Chudzinski's presence in Indianapolis could be the deciding factor for Gore:

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From everyone I've talked to around the league, and this includes multiple people in these cities and a couple of people in San Francisco, they feel like the Indianapolis Colts are probably the shoo-in to get Frank Gore. When it was thought that Rob Chudzinski, 'maybe he's going to come to San Francisco to be the offensive coordinator,' they thought Frank Gore would come back. Now that Chudzinski is staying in Indianapolis, there's a need there, and it's the only situation really where Gore can come in and be the No. 1 running back and still be a starter. So I think the Colts are the team most likely for him.

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On top of that, Gore has expressed concern about the 49ers' commitment to him entering free agency, according to the NFL's official Twitter account:

It would undoubtedly be odd to see Gore wearing anything other than red and gold in 2015, but things seem to be pointing in a direction that could usher him out of San Francisco.

With Dan Herron looking like the Colts' best running back option as of right now, Gore would certainly be a nice addition, and he would likely get the type of workload he prefers despite getting up there in age.

C.J. Spiller

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Aside from Gore, there are plenty other strong running back options about to hit the market. One of them is Buffalo Bills speedster C.J. Spiller, who is coming off his worst season since his rookie campaign in 2010.

The former first-round pick was limited to nine games due to a broken collarbone, but he even struggled when he was on the field as he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and finished the season with a mere 300 rushing yards.

Buffalo has somewhat of a glut of backs on the roster with Fred Jackson, Boobie Dixon and Bryce Brown already in place, so it stands to reason that Spiller could be on the move. If the 27-year-old veteran decides to sign with another team, the New York Jets stand out as a strong possibility.

The Jets hired Chan Gailey as their offensive coordinator, and it just so happens that Spiller was at his best in Buffalo when Gailey was the head coach. Under his offensive system, Spiller set career highs with 1,244 rushing yards, six yards per carry, six rushing touchdowns, 43 receptions and 459 receiving yards in 2012.

According to Kristian Dyer of Metro New York, a league source informed him that the Jets are very much interested in pursuing Spiller:

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Spiller will be one of the players the Jets pursue. Not just kick the tires on, but pursue. Chan Gailey would like him here in New York. He's the pass catching option out of the backfield that the Jets need for this offense and he's a playmaker. The offense isn't bad, it needs a spark. Spiller? He can do that for the Jets and don't think that the Jets don't know it. They will pursue him.

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The likelihood of that pursuit very well may have grown when New York decided against picking up Chris Johnson's option, per Jeff Simmons of Sportsnet:

Spiller would seem to be a great complement to power runner Chris Ivory, and his familiarity with Gailey could make for a perfect marriage.

The Jets still need to find an answer at quarterback, but signing Spiller would undoubtedly add another dimension to the offense.

Josh McCown

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There is no question that the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation is the biggest thing preventing them from taking the next step. The combination of Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel and Connor Shaw didn't get the job done in 2014, and an upgrade is sorely needed.

With Hoyer about to hit free agency and Johnny Football dealing with some personal issues, Cleveland could very well turn to a veteran signal-caller like Josh McCown.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns have some interest in McCown and could potentially meet with him:

The 35-year-old quarterback is suddenly one of the top options available after getting released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is also in an advantageous position because he can sign before free agency opens due to the fact that he was cut.

McCown had a brutal 2014 campaign in Tampa as he threw just 11 touchdowns as opposed to 14 interceptions, but he was spectacular one year earlier with the Chicago Bears. McCown had a QBR of 85.1 in 2013, which is likely why he is generating interest.

That may prove to be an outlier in an otherwise pedestrian career, but there isn't much for teams to grasp onto as far as free-agent quarterbacks are concerned.

While noncommittal, Browns general manager Ray Farmer admitted that signing McCown is one of many possibilities, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal:

Although McCown may not be an ideal option, he could at least be a viable stopgap until the Browns find a more substantial answer.

Whatever the case, McCown has a legitimate chance to be an NFL starter in 2015, and he could very well be under center with Cleveland to open the season.

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