NFL Free Agent Rumors: Analyzing Buzz on DeMarco Murray, Justin Forsett and More

In one of the deepest NFL free-agent classes ever, not even a flurry of moves when teams were officially allowed to make them could end all of the suspense. While most of the marquee names found new homes, there are plenty of top-level stars still waiting to sign a contract. 

This is also a point where teams can start getting bargains. That's a strange sentiment just 24 hours after the new league year started, but that's how the NFL works. If you aren't under contract already, the outside perception becomes about what's wrong with the player. 

Sometimes it's nothing more elaborate than a slow market, while other times it can be about a player looking for leverage to get a bigger deal from a team he really wants to play with. Whatever the case may be, it's always fascinating to examine. 

Here are the hottest rumors floating around about some of the key players still looking for a deal. 

DeMarco Murray Gaming the System

If you are looking for a player who seems to be using free agency as a way to gain leverage, DeMarco Murray is becoming a great example. 

There doesn't appear to be any shortage of suitors, as ESPN's Ed Werder reported there are at least three teams in active pursuit:

Those teams certainly make sense, as the Eagles, Cowboys and Raiders all need a No. 1 running back. The Cowboys know Murray better than anyone, while the Eagles could boost their offense and hurt a division rival in the process. 

Where the story gets interesting is a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen about how Murray seemed to initiate action from the Eagles with the touch of a button:

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League-rushing champion DeMarco Murray personally reached out to Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly on Wednesday morning, expressing his desire to play in Kelly's spread offense and with former Oklahoma roommate and quarterback Sam Bradford, according to league and team sources.

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However, the question of whether Chip Kelly will play with Murray is hovering over everything. In Kelly's quest to acquire every oft-injured skill player this offseason, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Eagles signed Ryan Mathews to a three-year contract. 

Murray may relish the opportunity to play in Kelly's system, as many players would, since it's geared toward running as many plays as humanly possible. 

Yet a cynic could point out that Murray simply wants to irk the Cowboys, who saw how valuable he was to their offense last year, in an attempt to get a bigger deal. 

It doesn't sound like money is all Murray cares about, since Werder noted the Raiders were offering more than anyone else. But there has to be a floor for a 27-year-old player that perhaps the Cowboys haven't gotten to yet. 

Murray has always felt likely to return to Dallas because of how soft the running back market is, so until he signs elsewhere, every other team feels like a ploy used to get more money from Jerry Jones.

Ravens Like Justin Forsett

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Another running back coming off a breakout 2014 is Justin Forsett, who had the best yards per carry (5.4) average among players with at least 200 carries. He did that playing for the Ravens, a team that always seems to be letting key pieces go because of constantly toeing the salary cap line. 

One positive development to all of Ozzie Newsome's wheeling and dealing thus far is it has given the Ravens some money to play with. According to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, Forsett is back on the team's radar:

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Despite having money available, the Ravens are expected to take a selective approach to their spending, part of which includes trying to hammer out a contract with veteran running back Justin Forsett. The Ravens began preliminary contract discussions with Forsett on Tuesday night after spending the day accounting for a tight salary-cap situation.

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Wilson notes in his report that the Ravens have $9.8 million in cap space. It's unclear what it will take to re-sign Forsett, though he's certainly going to make them work for his services. 

During an appearance on NFL Network, Forsett said that he's proven more than capable of being a three-down player and doesn't have the usual tread on his legs that most running backs his age do:

One underrated aspect of Forsett's negotiations with the Ravens that doesn't get talked about is the departure of Gary Kubiak. There's no denying that the zone-running scheme used by the team last season helped give the veteran running back some of his numbers. 

Marc Trestman will take over as offensive coordinator this season. He's coming from Chicago, where he had Matt Forte but still seemed to be obsessed with throwing the ball—even though Jay Cutler gave him every reason to stop doing that. 

This is Forsett's one chance to cash in, as he spent the first six years of his career as a backup, so he should take every advantage possible to get paid.

The Ravens certainly have a ceiling they won't go over, but after already losing Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones and Haloti Ngata, how much more turnover can this roster take if it wants to make the postseason again in 2015?

Terrance Knighton, Wild Card

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In a thin market for interior defensive linemen, especially after Ndamukong Suh came off the board, Terrance Knighton became one of the most intriguing free agents on the market. 

There appear to be no shortage of suitors for the big defensive tackle, though Troy Renck of The Denver Post wrote March 10 that it may not be from any of the initial suspects:

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The Raiders are out. They could always circle back, given coach Jack Del Rio's affinity for Knighton, but the Raiders appear determined to spend money on a tight end or a running back.

The Broncos are out. They were never really in after the coaching changes and limited salary cap room.

In a fluid market, the Redskins, Colts, Chargers and Patriots have interest in Knighton. He will visit Washington on Wednesday. 

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ESPN's Josina Anderson tweeted early Wednesday afternoon that Knighton was on his way to the nation's capital for a meeting with Washington personnel:

At just 28 years old, it's surprising there wasn't a quick market developing for Knighton. He's been among the best defensive tackles in the league since 2013, as this stat from Pro Football Focus shows:

When you think of the money Suh got from Miami, Knighton would seem to be one of the most valuable assets on the markets that teams would want to act quickly on. That's not to say the former Broncos star is at Suh's level, but he's not a significant step down either. 

Washington should do everything it can to keep Knighton from negotiating with those other teams Renck mentioned. He's the kind of big, physical presence in the middle that Jay Gruden's defense needs, not to mention his ability to eat blockers and open up holes for pass-rushers. 

It's hard to get big money as a defensive tackle, because so much of the job involves eating blocks for other players to get the credit. Knighton has done that as well as anyone in the league for two years and has been durable, having not missed a game since 2011. 

Someone is going to get a tremendous value in Knighton whenever he decides to sign. The Patriots are always going to have an advantage because of their ability to compete for a title every year, not to mention the need with Vince Wilfork's option being declined. 

The Colts need to get more physical on defense if they hope to clear the New England-sized hurdle that's haunted them in the playoffs each of the last two years. 

Knighton will be a game-changer for whichever defense he decides to join.