NFL Free Agents 2015: Latest Rumors and Predictions for Market's Top Names

The NFL laughs in the face of anyone who turned away to gander at college basketball or any other non-football activities.

In a short period of time, one of the league's best running backs and one of its legendary modern receivers found new homes via trade. The Philadelphia Eagles shipped LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and then the Chicago Bears sent Brandon Marshall packing to the New York Jets, again per Schefter.

The salvos fired from the trade avenue are surely far from over, but free agency now steps into the majority of the spotlight—and will attempt to pick up the pieces of the two major transactions.

With the market about to open and the landscape ever changing, below rest the biggest nuggets to know.

Justin Forsett's Market 

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

It's understandable if fans forgot that Justin Forsett is headed to the market.

The veteran journeyman is not exactly a household name, and it doesn't help matters that he's about to enter the same free-agent market as DeMarco Murray, C.J. Spiller, Ryan Mathews, Mark Ingram, Frank Gore, Reggie Bush and more.

Forsett might be the best value out of every name listed, though.

Now 29 years old, Forsett personifies the value teams can milk out of the position. As NFL Network's Ian Rapoport points out, two of the more needy teams have eyes on him for this very reason:

Last year, Baltimore was Forsett's fourth team in six seasons, but he received a career-high 235 carries and turned them into 1,266 yards and eight scores on a 5.4 yards-per-carry average.

It has always been a matter of health and opportunity for the former seventh-round pick. Teams seem to understand that Forsett can be a productive workhorse if permitted—and an every-down one, at that, after 44 catches for 263 yards last season.

New Orleans makes a lot of sense considering that the team would love his versatility and might lose the aforementioned Ingram.

At the end of the day, though, it's hard to see Forsett leaving Baltimore. The team gave him the chance in a difficult situation, he responded and they figure to reward him as a result—not to mention bank on his continued productivity.

Prediction: Forsett re-signs with the Ravens.

San Francisco and Michael Crabtree

Michael Thomas/Getty Images

What, you forgot that Michael Crabtree will hit the market, too? 

Again, this is understandable. Even after Dez Bryant's and Demaryius Thomas' removal from the market via tags, Crabtree takes a backseat behind Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith and likely Percy Harvin (who is expected to be released after the Marshall trade, per Rapoport).

Crabtree is difficult to figure out, which is part of the reason why his future is still unclear. His erratic participation and numbers since he entered the league tell a lot of the story:

SEASON	GP	REC	TGTS	YDS	TD
2009	11	48	86	625	2
2010	16	55	101	741	6
2011	15	72	114	874	4
2012	16	85	126	1,105	9
2013	5	19	33	284	1
2014	16	68	108	698	4

Still 27 years old, the 49ers seem to have a ballpark figure in place that they may not deviate from in order to retain Crabtree, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reports:

"

The 49ers are interested in re-signing Crabtree, a source told CSNBayArea.com. But it remains to be seen how much interest Crabtree will receive on the open market when he is allowed to begin negotiating with other teams on March 7.

One AFC executive at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis two weeks ago told CSNBayArea.com that his team has Crabtree rated in the $4 million-to-$5 million annual range. He admitted that other teams might have Crabtree valued higher.

"

As much as the 49ers may want to have Crabtree back in the fold, the recent addition of Jerome Simpson, per ESPN's Field Yates, may be an admission that other teams on the market can offer enough to steal him away.

Instead, look for a team with a need at wideout and a willingness to spend cash to step up and grab Crabtree. The Indianapolis Colts come to mind, especially now that the team openly admits it won't be bringing back Reggie Wayne.

An Andrew Luck-Crabtree connection has a nice ring to it.

Prediction: Crabtree signs with the Colts.

The Surprise Julius Thomas Suitor 

Denver has made its choice: Tight end Julius Thomas heads to free agency. 

It was the obvious one, given the circumstances the franchise faces, which all but means that Thomas is as good as gone once other teams are able to bid on his services.

This is especially the case if a note by ProFootballTalk comes to fruition:

Rapoport echoed these sentiments after the Seattle Seahawks parted ways with veteran Zach Miller, via Around The NFL:

Thomas is only 26 years old and over the course of the past two seasons has shown what a matchup nightmare he can be for opposing defenses, catching 12 touchdowns apiece in each campaign.

Not just a one-trick player, Thomas is effective all over the field and opens things up for others around him. There's a reason why two of the major apparent bidders—the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders—are teams that tout impressionable young receivers who need as much help as possible.

While noteworthy, it's hard to imagine that Thomas will want to go from an annual contender to helping along second-year quarterbacks mired in rebuilds. Instead, look for him to sign with the Seahawks on a long-term deal.

Prediction: Thomas signs with the Seahawks.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of March 6 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.