NFL Free Agents 2015: Rumors and Predictions for Top Veterans on Open Market

It's hard to believe some big-ticket veterans remain on the open market after two frenzied days of the 2015 NFL free-agency period. After all, at one point, it seemed like half of the league was on the move.

While the blockbuster deals of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, cornerback Darrelle Revis and others have been making headlines, rumors regarding several remaining big-ticket players continue to surface across the Web. That, of course, leads to plenty of speculation on where they are likely to call home next season.

So, who are the players currently generating this gossip, and which teams have been linked to them? Let's go ahead and answer those inquiries by taking a look at a few intriguing pieces of information from trusted sources with the inside scoop.

DeMarco Murray

Reigning NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray still finds himself without a home following two-and-a-half days of the free-agency period. That comes as a bit of a surprise considering he rushed for an impressive 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns on 392 carries last season.

Well, according to Peter Schrager of Fox Sports, the Philadelphia Eagles may end the running back's tenure on the open market:

Murray has been linked to several teams during the offseason; however, this visit speaks volumes to Philadelphia's high level of interest in the ball-carrier. Interestingly enough, Murray shares the interest, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com:

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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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So, if the Eagles do sign Murray, that leaves running back Ryan Mathews in a tricky situation. He agreed to a three-year, $11.5 million deal with the team, according to ESPN.com; however, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly tweeted out this reminder:

We can speculate Mathews would want a starting role going forward—something he won't get in Philadelphia with Murray in the fold. So, if the Eagles do sign the former Dallas Cowboy, don't expect the former San Diego Charger to complete his transaction.

Prediction: Murray signs with Eagles; Mathews returns to open market

Nick Fairley

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Defensive tackle Nick Fairley is coming off an injury-shortened season, but he's still garnering plenty of interest due to his versatile skill set and high ceiling. At first, the Detroit Lions were looking to retain Fairley—especially after losing Suh—but, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the team may be giving up hope.

"The Detroit Lions are moving on from Nick Fairley," Birkett wrote. "The Lions have told multiple people that they are no longer interested in re-signing Fairley, whose injury and weight issues have been a concern for years."

That said, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted two teams that are not only interested in the defensive tackle but have visits lined up as well:

The Cincinnati Bengals make plenty of sense for Fairley. Geno Atkins is more than a year removed from a torn ACL, and he should be expected to perform at a much higher level next season. Pairing him with Fairley could create one of the most dangerous defensive tackle duos in the NFL.

As for the St. Louis Rams, they already have Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers in the fold, making the addition of another defensive tackle puzzling. Still, if they were to add Fairley, they would have an insane rotation on the interior and further solidify what is already a strength.

Due to Cincinnati's general reluctance to participate in free agency, and considering the fact Fairley left the team's facilities without a contract, it's easy to give the Rams the upper hand here.

Prediction: Fairley signs with Rams

Terrance Knighton

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Terrance Knighton has been a gap-filling force for the Denver Broncos; however, due to the team's limited financial flexibility, he hit the open market this year. Things began quietly for the defensive tackle, but three days into the free-agency period, interest is beginning to pick up.

According to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, the Baltimore Ravens are potentially looking to bring Knighton into the fold:

This comes with little surprise, as Baltimore is currently looking to replace the recently departed Haloti Ngata, who is filling Suh's shoes in Detroit. Ngata left this message with Ravens faithful, via his Twitter account:

Although, in Wilson's report, he notes "several" teams have interest in Knighton, including the Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Wilson also expresses concern over Knighton's asking price, indicating the Ravens' budget won't allow a deal to get done at the defensive tackle's current valuation.

As of now, the Redskins and Raiders have already bolstered their defensive lines, and the remaining interested teams aren't likely to pay top dollar for Knighton's services. That leads to a rather interesting prediction for this player.

Prediction: Knighton remains on open market until he lowers his asking price; signs with Ravens down the road