NFL Rumors: Buzz and Predictions on DeMarco Murray, Brian Orakpo and More

The NFL rang in its new league year with more fireworks than one typically sees at the beginning of a new calendar year. A flurry of trades, signings and shock retirements all went down in a matter of hours. One might think this leaves fans with plenty of time to digest all the news before the 2015 NFL draft talk dominates the league discussion again. Don't count on it.

Not everyone has swapped laundry just yet, leaving plenty for football fans to look forward to in the coming days and weeks.

The rumors surrounding some of the top players on the market won't go away until new deals are inked, and part of the fun is watching the slower storylines develop—and at the rate things seem to be going, slow could mean all of two or three days of free agency—and guessing where the best players might eventually land.

Here's a roundup of the latest buzz surrounding some of the biggest names still left on the open market, along with some predictions.

DeMarco Murray

Running backs like DeMarco Murray don't often hit the open market. Fresh off a 1,800-yard season, Murray became an unrestricted free agent Tuesday as he and the Dallas Cowboys did not come to an agreement on a new contract before the new league year began on Tuesday.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted some early teams likely to be in the mix:

Of course, just about every team in the league could use a player like Murray, so it's perhaps of no surprise that more teams are linked to the 27-year-old. According to Rapoport, via NFL.com's Marc Sessler, the Philadelphia Eagles are also interested Murray, as are the Oakland Raiders.

Sessler relayed some interesting connections between Murray and newly arrived Philly QB Sam Bradford:

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Rapoport was told that Murray took note of Tuesday's stunning trade that sent Rams quarterback Sam Bradford to the Eagles in exchange for passer Nick Foles. Murray and Bradford played together for three seasons in an Oklahoma offense that used similar up-tempo concepts to Kelly's scheme. Both players "know it extremely well," Rapoport said.

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The familiarity may be tempting for Murray, but he might not get to enjoy the friendly confines if it means he has to watch his back all the time.

It appears Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant is keen on making Murray think twice about heading to Philadelphia:

Of the teams mentioned by Rapoport, the Raiders had the toughest time running the ball in 2014.

Team	YPG	YPC	TD	F
Oakland	77.5	3.7	4	10
Arizona	81.8	3.3	6	4
Tampa Bay	85.9	3.9	7	5
Jacksonville	102.1	4.5	9	6
Philadelphia	124.5	4.2	16	10

However, third-year back Latavius Murray stepped up to provide Oakland with a solid backfield option in the latter portion of the season. He ran for 370 yards and two touchdowns over the team's final five regular-season contests—not bad, but certainly not DeMarco.

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

The Jaguars could be an intriguing team to watch, seeing as they are reportedly willing to make a big offer to bring in tight end Julius Thomas, per ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco:

"A source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Thomas continues to talk with one other team but that the money the Jaguars are offering might be too much for another team to overcome."

Murray carried the ball an astounding 392 times last season, a number that could suppress the amount of money teams are willing to offer him. If the Jaguars miss out on Thomas or sign him and show they are still willing to pony up plenty of dough, Murray could be tempted to round out that offense.

The team already features promising young receivers in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee. Murray would give the team a chance to quickly reverse their recent fortunes, although much would hinge on the play of quarterback Blake Bortles.

There is still the possibility that nothing truly exciting comes of Murray hitting the open market. The Cowboys might be positioning themselves for a trump-move offer, as Rapoport says they are "waiting if anyone shows real interest before they decide to pop in and make a final push," per Sessler.

However, the Cowboys might've slipped up irrevocably by letting Murray entertain the idea of moving to other teams. It could be tough for him to come back into the fold with the team having had so much time to hash out a deal. Don't be surprised if Murray heads to Philadelphia and helps the innovative, inscrutable Chip Kelly bend the arc of the league to his liking.

Prediction: Murray heads to Philly

Brian Orakpo

Mark E. Tenally/Associated Press

Ndamukong Suh has dominated the discussion regarding free-agent players who can pass rush up the middle, but what of those players who can sweep in and rock quarterbacks from around the edge?

Brian Orakpo is one such player. He may be ready to move on after six seasons with the Washington Redskins, and there appears to be a fair amount of interest in him.

Rapoport noted Tuesday that Washington may be willing to bring him back, but Tennessee and Arizona will be in the mix:

ESPN's John Keim reported Orakpo will visit both the Titans and Cardinals, while giving a nod to Rapoport:

Apparently, one team you may want to cross off the list early in this sweepstakes is Atlanta, per Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson:

Orakpo has racked up 40 sacks in 71 career games, but teams will be wary of his age (29) and injury history. Orakpo missed all but two games during the 2012 season and appeared in just seven games last season, while picking up just half a sack. Teams will have to be cautious regarding Orakpo; don't expect anything outside of incentive-laden contracts or one-year "prove it" deals.

Don't be surprised if Orakpo is quick to sign with one of the teams showing early interest.

Arizona reportedly has a meeting in place, but they did sign LaMarr Woodley to a one-year deal, per AZCardinals.com's Darren Urban and may not be terribly inclined to make Orakpo a long-term offer. This could leave the door open for Tennessee to make a move with a sweeter deal.

Prediction: Orakpo signs with Tennessee

C.J. Spiller 

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The Buffalo Bills' trade for fleet-footed running back LeSean McCoy spelled doom for C.J. Spiller, a tailback with a very similar east-west running style. With Shady already popping up on social media decked out in a deep Bills blue, the writing is on the wall for Spiller.

The explosive Clemson product apparently has no shortage of suitors and should be able to find a new home rather quickly, per Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin:

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Among them are the three other teams in the AFC East – the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. The Jets might be the team to beat given the familiarity Chan Gailey, their offensive coordinator, has with the running back. As head coach with the Bills, Gailey drafted Spiller in 2010.

The Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions are the other teams that have interest in Spiller, league sources said.

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Well, it should be a quick choice, unless the paradox of too many choices freezes up Spiller's ability to make a decision.

Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported on Tuesday that New England has made contact:

The Patriots should have some cash to burn after missing out on re-signing Darrelle Revis, who agreed to a massive contract with the New York Jets, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini.

Spiller could very well be an upgrade over the likes of Shane Vereen in New England, who proved to be an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield but wasn't often given handoffs (96 carries in 2014).

However, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio notes that Spiller may be looking for a featured role, something he would be highly unlikely to find in New England given Bill Belichick's propensity to cycle through backs:

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And that likely has something to do with Spiller’s desire for a bigger role — and the bigger payday that would go along with it.

That’s the lingering dilemma with Spiller.  His role will dictate the size of his contract.  If the Patriots envision him as a complement to LeGarrette Blount, Spiller’s compensation will reflect that.

Spiller continues to be patient while waiting for DeMarco Murray to sign a contract.  If Murray leaves Dallas, Spiller could be an option there.

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Assuming Spiller wants a big role on offense—or at least the opportunity to fight for one—he could narrow down that long list pretty easily. The Dolphins have Lamar Miller, who in some ways was underutilized but still rushed for 1,099 yards. Detroit boasts the bruising Joique Bell, while the Redskins have a 1,000-yard rusher of their own in Alfred Morris.

Spiller could perhaps replace Chris Johnson in New York and maybe even cut into Chris Ivory's carries. That move would also reunite him with current Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who was Spiller's head coach for three seasons in Buffalo from 2010-12.

Arizona and San Francisco could both use a jolt in the running game. Frank Gore has signed with Indianapolis, per ESPN.com, and Andre Ellington averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. The 49ers' shaky offseason might make them a less appealing destination, so look for Spiller to head to Arizona.

Prediction: Spiller signs with the Cardinals