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

All right, so college basketball did its thing where it slapped 68 teams on a bracket—time to turn the attention back to the wild world of NFL free agency. 

The hits just keep coming. Want to talk about madness? How's this—the Cincinnati Bengals allowed defensive end Michael Johnson to hit free agency last offseason, where he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay didn't like the arrangement and cut Johnson loose, who just turned around and sparked a reunion with the Bengals, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The knockout punch? Cincinnati still receives a third-round compensatory selection this year for Johnson's departure—even though he's back on the roster (and still costing Tampa Bay cash).

Free agency is wild, to say the least.

Let's take a look at the latest rumblings to prepare for more crazy developments.

Patrick Robinson's Market

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Free agency is at the stage where aging veterans and players with interesting upside receive most of the attention.

Former New Orleans Saints corner Patrick Robinson manages to hit both of those check marks on the list.

Robinson, 27, spent the last five years with the Saints before hitting the open market. He'd be an afterthought on this year's market were it not for a career-best season last year in which he ranked as the No. 40 corner in the league at Pro Football Focus.

As a result, many teams figure to have an interest, although it sounds like the Pittsburgh Steelers are the first to strike, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

The shoe fits—Pittsburgh ranked 27th against the pass last year and is in a bit of a rebuild on the defensive side of things.

Robinson doesn't lack for options though, as ESPN's Josina Anderson points out:

Look for Robinson to take his time. He's perhaps the best corner left on the market and can play the teams against one another.

In the end, Pittsburgh seems to make the most sense. The team has plenty to offer in the playing-time department, and the initiative to get to Robinson first puts the Steelers in a potential position to counter any offer Robinson receives elsewhere.

Prediction: Robinson signs with the Steelers. 

Cecil Shorts Making the Rounds 

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It's a tad surprising that former Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Cecil Shorts is still on the market. 

Shorts is a four-year veteran who is 27 years old and figures to come at a low cost. He's a low-risk, high-reward addition for any team willing to take the gamble that his body holds up.

Despite the obvious question mark, his production over the years in a miserable situation oozes potential:

SEASON	REC	TGTS	YDS	TD
2011	2	12	30	1
2012	55	106	979	7
2013	66	125	777	3
2014	53	110	557	1

It seems Shorts' market is beginning to pick up, though. Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego reports the San Diego Chargers may have an interest in the Mount Union product:

Call it the perfect marriage for both parties.

Shorts has never been fortunate enough to play with a quarterback as talented as Philip Rivers. On the flip side, 33-year-old Malcom Floyd was the Chargers' leading receiver last year with 856 yards and six scores.

The Chargers cannot afford to continue to lean on aging tight end Antonio Gates and need to find a quality No. 2 opposite Keenan Allen.

Shorts can be the guy, so look for both parties to iron something out.

Prediction: Shorts signs with the Chargers.

Stevie Johnson, Too

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As the above note by Gehlken displays, the market for 28-year-old wideout Stevie Johnson is beginning to come alive, too.

Johnson wasted away as a member of the San Francisco 49ers last season, receiving just 50 targets and scoring three times—the first time he saw less than 100 targets in a season since 2009.

Over the course of a wow-worthy four-year stretch, (he didn't see the field much his first two years in the league) with the Buffalo Bills, though, Johnson put on a show:

SEASON	GP	REC	TGTS	YDS	TD
2010	16	82	143	1,073	10
2011	16	76	135	1,004	7
2012	16	79	148	1,046	6
2013	12	52	100	597	3

One AFC East team understands this well—the New England Patriots.

According to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4, Johnson will visit Foxborough Monday:

Let's cut right to it—Johnson is a chess piece. He's the one guy who gave Darrelle Revis fit after fit over the years during his time in the division.

NFL Network's Albert Breer puts it best:

With that in mind, the Patriots won't let Johnson leave without a contract. 

Why would he want to anyway? Money from the defending champs, perhaps a large role and a chance to play with Tom Brady? He would be coming a long way from his Ryan Fitzpatrick days with the Bills.

Prediction: Johnson signs with the Patriots.  

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of March 15. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.