NFL Free Agency 2015: Rumors and Predictions as Pro Days Begin

NFL free agency is one of the most thrilling things to circle on the calendar year in and out, if not for anything more than to guess which players will actually succeed in new homes.

Last year, a number of high-profile wideouts hit the open market.

It may not come as a shock, but DeSean Jackson didn't turn Washington around. Eric Decker didn't make Geno Smith a viable quarterback. Golden Tate wasn't the missing championship piece. Neither was Steve Smith.

This year, Demaryius Thomas and perhaps other big names attempt to reverse the trend.

That is, of course, part of the fun. There's simply too many big names this year to not keep close tabs on the situation and whether things work since major financial investments is the end game of free agency.

Below is the latest, with predictions as to where some of the biggest names may land.

The Pursuit of Jarryd Hayne 

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Funnily enough, one of the biggest names on the free-agent market has never played a down of NFL football in his life.

Jarryd Hayne, a superstar rugby player from Australia, is one of the hottest commodities now that he wants to change sports and give American football a shot.

At 27 years old with alleged 4.53 speed in the 40-yard dash and weighing in at 6'2" and 226 pounds, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, the former Parramatta Eels star has obvious upside once NFL coaches get their hands on him.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, the San Francisco 49ers are one of a few teams in the race for his services:

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Australia rugby league star Jarryd Hayne is expected to decide early next week where he will begin his possible NFL career.

Hayne does not have a standing offer from the 49ers, but agent Jack Bechta said Wednesday there is mutual interest between the sides.

"

Maiocco also notes the Detroit Lions, a team that just released running back Reggie Bush, are in the mix as well.

At this point, San Francisco makes the most sense. Hayne projects as a running back and may act as Frank Gore's replacement as the veteran heads to free agency. But either way, the backfield will still belong to Carlos Hyde.

Prediction: Hayne signs with San Francisco.

Top Offensive Lineman to Hit Open Market

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As it turns out, one of the biggest recent nuggets of information concerns the aforementioned 49ers. Should it come to fruition, it will have a major impact on Hayne's pro potential, should he sign on board.

According to Maiocco, the San Francisco front office is at a point where it is willing to allow elite offensive guard Mike Iupati to test the open market:

It's a bold move by the 49ers, as the 27-year-old guard is one of the league's best, just last year ranking as the No. 14 guard in the NFL at Pro Football Focus.

However, it is worth nothing that Iupati annually fails to post a positive grade in the pass-blocking department, although teams strictly on the hunt for a mauler of a run-blocker need look no further.

Regardless, the market for his services figures to be hot. Dianna Marie Russini of NBC Washington notes two teams are interested in stealing him from San Francisco:

Top-flight interior linemen are harder to find than most would think, so it makes sense that some of the league's most notorious spenders would have an interest.

This is bad news for the 49ers, a team that cannot really afford a bidding war. Tampa Bay most certainly can and will want to do whatever it takes to beef up the line in front of a likely No. 1 overall quarterback from this year's class, so look for the Buccaneers to win the bidding war.

Prediction: Iupati signs with Tampa Bay.

Demaryius Thomas, Franchise Player

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So it has come to this for the Denver Broncos. 

Demaryius Thomas, who has a minimum of 1,400 receiving yards and 10 scores in each of the last three seasons, is the likely franchise player in Denver ahead of Monday's deadline since the two sides are allegedly not close on a new deal.

The latest, via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

"It’s a 'safe bet' the Broncos will be applying the franchise tag to receiver Demaryius Thomas, per a source with knowledge of the situation. While the two sides are talking, a deal currently isn’t expected in the next two days."

It's an expected move for the Broncos, as general manager John Elway and Co. must continue to go all-in from a financial and talent standpoint in order to squeeze the most out of Peyton Manning's final years.

Of course, there is nothing official on the Manning front just yet, but ensuring his favorite target does not reach the open market—by any means necessary—is a good way of convincing Manning to stick around, if he needed even the slightest of nudges in that direction.

Look for the Broncos to hit Thomas with the tag, as there's no chance they would be able to retain him if he slips to the open market and triggers a bidding war.

Prediction: Denver slaps Thomas with the franchise tag.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of March 1 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.