2015 NFL Free Agents: Predicting Destinations for Top Players on Market

This year's free-agent market is stacked with top talents and players who could truly be franchise-changing signings for the organizations that land them. Come next week, the NFL is going to be absolutely buzzing as the bidding process beings.

But where will the top options end up? Which organizations will splash the cash to land the top players available? 

Below, I'll make my predictions. 

Ndamukong Suh: Indianapolis Colts

Yes, the Colts would have to get creative with their cap to sign a player like Ndamukong Suh, especially with an Andrew Luck megadeal on the horizon. But they could make the money work and seem like a major contender for Suh's services. 

Suh would give them a nasty, transformative presence on the defensive line. He would drastically improve a front seven that basically got pushed around by the New England Patriots twice last season. He would give the team a new dynamic against the pass, too, since he generates so much pressure up the middle.

But signing him would also fit the team's aggressive mentality when it comes to making roster moves. The Colts haven't been afraid to make big moves in free agency or through trades to improve this team in an effort to surround Luck with a solid supporting cast sooner rather than later. 

Suh would be the culmination of that mentality. The Colts probably aren't the front-runners to land Suh at the moment, but if Suh not only wants to get paid but also wants to win, heading to Indy would make a ton of sense.

Randall Cobb: Oakland Raiders

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Unless Randall Cobb is willing to take a major hometown discount—and he might—he isn't going to be back with the Green Bay Packers. They just don't have the cap space to make him a competitive offer on the market.

The Oakland Raiders do, however, and while Cobb would have to be willing to join a team in rebuilding mode, he would at least be a part of a squad that has the quarterback situation intact with Derek Carr. Plus, if the Raiders are fully committed to surrounding Carr with weapons for next year, they could use the No. 4 pick in the draft to select a wideout such as Amari Cooper or Kevin White.

That combination of factors will likely make it easier for Cobb to head to a team like Oakland that has a lot of holes to fill before it can compete for the postseason. Well, that and the buckets of cash he'll get for signing with the team. 

Jeremy Maclin: Philadelphia Eagles

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Jeremy Maclin isn't going anywhere. The Philadelphia Eagles have the cap space to offer him a competitive deal on the market, and Maclin simply isn't going to find an offensive scheme that better suits his talents.

It's pretty clear that both sides want to keep this relationship intact, and Maclin basically said as much.  

"I've always said I want to be here in Philadelphia, but I've also always said I understand it's a business," Maclin told Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. "Both sides have made it known that we both want each other back, so the rest of it is in God's hands. If it's supposed to happen, it'll happen. I want to be here."

He's not going anywhere, folks. Both sides will likely allow Cobb to set the market in free agency, but Maclin will be back in Philadelphia.

DeMarco Murray: Dallas Cowboys

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Another player likely to stay with his current team is DeMarco Murray. There are a number of factors that will conspire to keep Murray in Dallas.

• Murray has a pretty good thing going with the team. The Cowboys are a playoff contender and have an excellent offensive line, so staying would be appealing.
• NFL teams have really devalued running backs over the years, so Murray likely isn't going to get the huge payday he might expect, especially considering his injury history and the fact that he is coming off of a season where he accumulated a whopping 392 carries. That's a lot of wear and tear, even if Murray is still just 27.
• This is a pretty good draft for running backs, highlighted by Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley, so teams might be inclined to fill any needs at the position through the draft, not by splashing a ton of cash to secure a veteran option. 

Add it all up, and it's easy to see not only why the Cowboys have always had leverage in any Murray dealings but also why he's likely to return to the team unless one team goes a bit crazy with a contract offer the Cowboys simply can't match.

But that seems unlikely.

Devin McCourty: Philadelphia Eagles

The New York Jets are going to be major players for Devin McCourty, and the New England Patriots likely don't want to lose him either, but the Philadelphia Eagles represent the best of both worlds for McCourty.

Unlike the Jets, the Eagles aren't rebuilding and have the foundation of a playoff roster in place. Unlike the Patriots, who may need to absorb a giant cap hit to keep Darrelle Revis around, the Eagles have the sort of cap space to entice him with a big deal. And with the Eagles looking primed to rebuild the secondary through free agency, McCourty will likely be one of the team's top priorities. 

Julius Thomas: Atlanta Falcons

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The Atlanta Falcons need way more help on the defensive side of the ball, but they also had a major hole in their offense without Tony Gonzalez holding down the tight end position. Julius Thomas would address that in a major way.

Plus, Roddy White is getting older, so it's not as though the team shouldn't be considering upgrading Matt Ryan's weapons in the passing game over the coming years. And Thomas is just 26, meaning he and Julio Jones should form a dominant pair for years to come. 

The Falcons have the need, the means and likely the desire, as they don't want to waste the primes of players such as Ryan and Jones. This signing would make a lot of sense.