NFL Free Agents 2015: Rumors and Predictions on Brian Orakpo, Bryan Bulaga

NFL free agency doesn't officially begin until 4 p.m. ET on March 10, with the start of the new league year. But that hasn't stopped teams from aggressively pursuing players since the NFL's "legal tampering" window opened on Saturday March 7.

Teams are prohibited from actually entering into agreements with players until Tuesday, as a 2013 memo from the league office makes clear: "Clubs are further advised that prior to the beginning of the new League Year it is impermissible for a club to enter into an agreement of any kind..."

However, there's been plenty of line-toeing during this three-day window. Cornerback Byron Maxwell told ESPN's Josina Anderson (via ESPN.com) on Sunday that he's planning to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles also landed former San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore, per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan. 

While the cash will start to fly when free agency officially opens on Tuesday, there are plenty more negotiations happening during this window. Let's break down some rumors concerning three more prominent free agents. 

Bryan Bulaga

The Green Bay Packers got their guy in wide receiver Randall Cobb, whom they signed to a four-year, $10 million deal on Saturday as Schefter reported.  

But life is all about balance, and in this case that may mean the Packers have to let starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga walk. 

A source told Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the "Packers were deadset against paying $7 million per year for Bulaga and were prepared to let him walk if that occurred."

The deal Bulaga is reportedly seeking—in the range of $7 million-$8 million per year, per Silverstein—could make him the league's highest-paid right tackle. 

Gosder Cherilus of the Indianapolis Colts was the league's highest-paid right tackle in 2014, with a deal averaging $7 million per season, per OverTheCap.com. 

One reason Bulaga could draw the kind of money he's seeking is that, per Silverstein, some teams believe he could start at left tackle as well. He was set to do just that for the Packers ahead of the 2013 season before tearing his ACL during an offseason scrimmage.

Returning for Green Bay in 2014, Bulaga graded out as the fourth-best right tackle in the league and the 16th-best overall tackle, per Pro Football Focus. 

Per Silverstein, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins all reportedly have interest in Bulaga. Tampa Bay signed away another Packers free-agent offensive lineman—center Evan Dietrich-Smith—last offseason. 

Prediction: Bulaga leaves Green Bay 

Brian Orakpo

The Arizona Cardinals had the league's second-worst pass rush in 2014, per Pro Football Focus grades, so it's no wonder the team is looking to add an outside linebacker in free agency. 

With an estimated $21 million in cap space, via Spotrac.com, the Cardinals are reportedly interested in veteran pass-rusher Brian Orakpo, per Fox Sports radio host Mike Jurecki:

Player	Team	Total Value	Avg./Year	Total Guaranteed
Gosder Cherilus	IND	$35,000,000	$7,000,000	$15,500,000
King Dunlap	SD	$28,000,000	$7,000,000	$8,500,000
Anthony Davis	SF	$33,200,000	$6,640,000	$8,380,000
Phil Loadholt	MIN	$25,000,000	$6,250,000	$7,000,000
Marcus Gilbert	PIT	$30,000,000	$6,000,000	$7,650,000

Orakpo's age (29) and injury history could give some teams pause in free agency, but perhaps that's exactly why Arizona is considering him. His one-year, fully guaranteed $11.455 million franchise-tag salary in 2014 was a blow to Washington's cap, but a team willing to sign him to a multiyear deal could do it without breaking the bank. 

The last time Orakpo played a full season was in 2011, when he had 34 total tackles, nine sacks and five passes defended. But his 2013 season, in which he missed one game, was even better: Orakpo had 10 sacks, his highest since his rookie season in 2009 and his first career interception, which he returned for a touchdown. 

Orakpo said on NFL Network's NFL AM on March 6 that talks between Washington and himself were "very minimal right now" and that it all comes down to the numbers, via NFL.com's Kevin Patra. 

After tearing his pectoral muscle a third time during a franchise-tag season, it seems unlikely Washington will be offering up a big contract to their veteran. Meanwhile, this would mark the first time in his career that Orakpo would hit the open market, so he might be interested to see what teams will offer. 

The Cardinals could certainly use an upgrade at outside linebacker to help out Alex Okafor, and until they develop their own young talent, Orakpo could fit. Playing in a division with Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick, Arizona needs to upgrade its pass rush now, not later. 

Prediction: Cardinals land Orakpo