NFL Free Agency 2015: Rumors, Predictions for Stars Expected to Hit Open Market

Let the salary-cap games begin. 

The NFL announced on Monday that the cap for the 2015 season would bet set at $143.28 million, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport:

With that huge figure in place, GMs around the league and fans playing along at home will be taking a look at how much money their teams can spend and where they most need to allocate the funds.

With free agency set to begin on March 10, the rumors are flying as behind-closed-doors discussions take place and plans are laid out for the spring frenzy. Some of the top players in the league could be set to benefit from the big cap number and grab a nice slice of the ever-expanding financial pie.

Let's take a look at the buzz surrounding a few of the biggest names likely to hit the open market.

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions

Of all the free-agency sagas ready to be committed to history, Ndamukong Suh's could be the most intriguing.

The polarizing defensive tackle appears set to test the market, and after posting 53 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 2014 while anchoring one of the league's better defenses, Suh should be able to command a top-dollar deal.

USA Today's Jarrett Bell believes he could ink the biggest contract the NFL has ever seen:

"

Timing is worth a lot about now for Ndamukong Suh.

In a matter of days, Suh will hit the free agent market and command the richest contract for a defensive player in NFL history.

The record $100 million deal that wondrous Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt signed in September? That's so last year.

"

That kind of talk might deter a handful of franchises, but there's another group with fistfuls of money ready to throw in Suh's direction, per NBC 4's Dianna Russini:

Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports that the Giants could be lining up a bid for Suh, although cap space could be an issue:

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As improbable as it seems on the surface, several NFL sources believe the Giants are considering a run at the NFL’s top free agent when the start of free agency begins this Saturday. It would be an expensive move and difficult, since the Giants currently project to have only about $13 million of room under the NFL’s $143.28 million salary cap. But the possibility is enticing, since with the addition of the NFL’s best defensive tackle the Giants would immediately have one of the NFL’s best defensive lines.

"

So who has the most cash for a potentially historic splash?

Well, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders have the most projected cap space of the teams mentioned by Russini, per Spotrac.

The Raiders are surely desperate at this point to escape from their (approximately) decade-long struggle in the NFL abyss. With promising young players in place like quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker Khalil Mack, Raiders fans can at least entertain faint hopes of a bright future in the Black Hole. Adding a player of Suh's caliber might the be the kind of move that lures other quality free agents to town—assuming they have enough cash left over.

The Lions are better situated for the near future than the Raiders, Jaguars, Redskins or Bucs, but they may not be as willing to pony up the cash for Suh when they can just hold on to Nick Fairley and try to replace Suh through the draft.

If Suh really wants to be top dog, New York might be the most appealing destination. There's nothing like leading a team in the Big Apple, and New York could actually have a fairly explosive offense with Odell Beckham Jr. and a healthy Victor Cruz next year. Adding Suh on defense could very well put them back in the playoff hunt.

There could be a much longer list of suitors here, it should be noted, as the likes of the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears have needs along the defensive front.

However, expect Suh to assert himself not by glitzy locale but by the size of his contract. This could come down to a dead heat between New York (because of the appeal), J'Ville and Oakland, but the Raiders have the swagger and money to be an appealing landing spot for Suh.

Prediction: Suh signs with Oakland.

Darrelle Revis, CB, New England Patriots

Fresh off a Super Bowl-winning season with the New England Patriots, star cornerback Darrelle Revis could do something he's done quite a bit lately: swap teams.

In 2012, he was on the New York Jets. Tampa Bay had him for 2013. Last season it was New England. 

Should the Patriots decline his $20 million option, per Spotrac, Revis will become an unrestricted free agent. As one of the league's most brilliant defenders, Revis should garner plenty of attention on the open market. One such team that could be in for his services is a former employer, the New York Jets, per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News:

"The Daily News has learned that Johnson has been involved in serious internal discussions with Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan to make a push for perennial All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis if/when he becomes a free agent next week."

While the Jets were about as dreadful as the Patriots were excellent in 2014, they might still be able to entice Revis. Money won't be an issue, as the Jets are fourth in the league in open cap space, per Spotrac. As mentioned earlier, New York as a city is always an appealing free-agent destination, in any sport.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Mehta also notes the Jets will desperately need better-caliber corners in defensive coordinator Todd Bowles' aggressive schemes:

"Bowles, who blitzed an NFL-high 47 percent of the time the past two seasons with the Cardinals, won’t thrive with the cornerbacks at Ryan’s disposal last year. Revis is an Aston Martin. The Jets cornerbacks a year ago were a bunch of Flintstone mobiles."

While all that might add up to a feverish sales pitch from the Jets, Revis could still opt for the stability and success that comes with playing for the Pats. Ben Volin of The Boston Globe notes there is still plenty of time—and incentive—for the Patriots to hammer out a new deal:

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With Revis, there’s still a whole week to work something out. Revis’s option kicks in on the first day of the new league year, which is March 10 at 4 p.m. A week is plenty of time for the Patriots and Revis to pound out a new deal.

And there really is no Plan B if Revis moves on. The top free agent cornerbacks are Byron Maxwell, Brandon Flowers, Tramon Williams, and Antonio Cromartie — no one close to Revis’s skill level. If the Patriots are serious about winning a fifth championship next year, Revis will be back.

"

With Revis turning 30 in July, stability and another chance at a Super Bowl run may be more appealing than starting a new project with an old team. He even said shortly after the Super Bowl that he "would love to" stay in New England, per NESN.com's Ricky Doyle, although that may have just been the euphoria speaking.

If he hits the open market, the chase for Revis' signature certainly won't be between just New York and New England—Philadelphia has plenty of cap room and could really use a cornerback or two—but it likely won't matter in the end.

Look for the Patriots to sell their unparalleled success and re-sign Revis to a long-term contract befitting a perennial Pro Bowler.

Prediction: Revis stays in New England

Brian Orakpo, OLB, Washington Redskins

If Brian Orakpo could've just stayed healthy, he might've been the talk of the league heading into this year's free-agency period. 

Orakpo burst onto the NFL scene with the Washington Redskins, recording 28.5 sacks in his first three seasons in the league. After missing nearly all of 2012 with a pectoral injury, Orakpo put up 10 sacks in a comeback campaign the following year.

Alas, 2014 was unkind to the former Texas Longhorn, as he recorded just a half-sack and appeared in just seven games.

It may be time for Orakpo to try his luck elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent, although ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio reports that the Redskins and Atlanta Falcons are the apparent leaders for his services:

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Washington, despite having a new G.M., would like to extend its relationship with pass-rusher Brian Orakpo. Unlike last year, however, Scot McCloughan will have competition when it comes to keeping Orakpo around.

Per a league source, at least four teams are interested in Orakpo.  For now, the leaders are believed to be Washington and the Falcons.

"

According to Russini, the Jags could be one of those mystery teams:

In terms of pure need, the Falcons top both the Jags and Redskins. Atlanta finished with just 22 sacks as a team in 2014, Jacksonville recorded a robust 45 quarterback takedowns and Washington got opposing signal-callers to eat grass 36 times.

Michael Perez/Associated Press

In a potentially weak pass-rushing market, Atlanta and Jacksonville could turn the Orakpo sweepstakes into a true bidding war, should the Redskins choose to let him hit free agency. Howver, the Falcons don't have nearly as much dough to spend as the Jags, and Orakpo could be more inclined to sign with whichever team ponies up more guaranteed money. 

The Jaguars don't have much to lose after a 3-13 season and may be willing to take some chances with all of that extra money laying around. Plus, their low status in the league might cause them to miss out on some elite free agents, leaving them to pick up the scraps and take their chances with Orakpo.

Prediction: Orakpo signs with Jacksonville