NFL Free Agents 2016: Need-to-Know Information About This Year's Market

The NFL Scouting Combine is taking over the offseason radar this week, but it won't stop free agency from trucking through and filling our screens in the next few weeks.

Player agents must be licking their chops with the salary cap ballooning yet again and many teams flush with cap space. What does free agency look like from a bird's-eye view this offseason?

I'm glad you asked. Let's find out.

For Once We Have Viable Quarterbacks

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Good quarterbacks don't hit free agency. Teams tend to keep their most prized possessions at the most valuable position in sports. We occasionally get a Drew Brees situation where a team drafts its future and lets a future Hall of Famer go, but those are exceptions.

That usually leaves a dearth of starting-caliber talent on the open market. Not so in 2016, at least as of this writing.

Kirk Cousins headlines this year's free-agent crop after leading Washington to an unexpected playoff berth. Sam Bradford has been an injury-riddled disappointment thus far in the league, but he could thrive in the right situation if he can just stay healthy.

Ryan Fitzpatrick finally found a good situation with the New York Jets, nearly piloting his team to a postseason appearance before melting down in Week 17. 

Then there is Brock Osweiler, who showed enough in relief of Peyton Manning to garner serious attention from suitors, though they won't get a chance if Denver has any say in it.

Before we get ahead of ourselves here, it's important to remember that none of these guys is Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, though we may not know that until we see more from them.

The Jaguars and Raiders Will Open Up Their Checkbooks...Again

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Having a ton of cap space is a good thing. Having a lot of it in consecutive offseasons is even better.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will have nearly $80 million to play with if the salary cap hits $155 million. That's a ridiculous amount of money, and it comes on the heels of having the most space to play with last year.

That's when the Jaguars made free-agent splashes in signing tight end Julius Thomas and defensive tackle Jared Odrick. The moves didn't translate to much improvement in the win-loss column, but more is to come this offseason thanks to some savvy cap spending and a starting quarterback playing on a rookie contract.

Similar things can be said about the Oakland Raiders, who now enjoy massive amounts of cap space after operating in cap hell for years before Reggie McKenzie took over at general manager.

These two teams will have roughly one entire team's worth of salary-cap space to spend between them. Let the fireworks begin anew.

Players Most Likely to Get the Franchise Tag

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Here are the players most likely to get the franchise tag before the March 1 deadline.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears already put their eggs in one basket when they let receiver Brandon Marshall go. Alshon Jeffery had injury issues last season, but receivers like him are hard to find. With a ton of cap space to play with, the Bears should have no issues tagging him while spending big elsewhere in free agency.

Von Miller, DE, Denver Broncos

Though both sides are confident Von Miller will sign a big extension with the team, per CBS Denver, it's likely the Broncos use the franchise tag on Miller to ensure no meddlesome team willing to severely outbid them swoops in during free agency.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington

Talks have reportedly broken down between quarterback Kirk Cousins and Washington's front office, per ESPN.com's John Keim. Sure, Washington is going to let the guy who led them to a playoff berth—flawed as that logic might be—go in free agency.

Josh Norman, CB, Carolina Panthers

Injuries ravaged the cornerback corps in Carolina around Josh Norman, yet he was still able to lock down one side of the field and give his defense a chance.

Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets

With Sheldon Richardson dealing with off-field issues, the New York Jets need to figure out a way to keep Muhammad Wilkerson.

There Are Quality Running Backs Available

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Running back is one position that could see plenty of action when free agency opens up.

There are several quality backs slated for unrestricted free agency, and they could all feasibly hit the open market. Unlike some other positions, teams haven't ponied up to keep their own at running back in recent years.

Just ask DeMarco Murray, 2014's rushing champion who defected from the Dallas Cowboys to the rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Lamar Miller, Doug Martin and Matt Forte are all set to hit free agency. While Forte has been excellent for years—particularly in the passing game—Miller and Martin showed out in contract years.

Behind that triumvirate are quality backs like Chris Ivory, Alfred Morris C.J. Anderson—if we are allowed to count him as a restricted free agent—and even Chris Johnson if he returns to surprising form.

None of those options are feature backs, but they will be solid contributors on relatively cheap contracts.

Wide Receiver Might Be the Worst Positional Class in Free Agency

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Outside of fullback, long snapper and kickers of any variety, the wide receiver class might be the worst in free agency this offseason.

A year ago we were all salivating at the possibilities. Dez Bryant, Randall Cobb and Demaryius Thomas headlined a strong crop of wideouts set to hit the market. 

Those three and others ultimately stayed put, but at least it was fun to dream. This year, those dreams might actually be nightmares.

Alshon Jeffery is the only elite-level receiver set to hit free agency in 2016, and he isn't exactly a sure thing. Jeffery had weight concerns coming out of college and injury concerns after missing half the 2015 season.

He is still worth big money given his potential, and that's why he likely won't be leaving Chicago.

Behind him is a laundry list of No. 2 receivers—at best—none of which might make a big impact with their teams in the future.

Marvin Jones is arguably the best of the rest, and he has merely flashed potential with the Cincinnati Bengals given his injury history. There are a slew of receivers with issues—be them age, health, inexperience or just plain talent—hitting free agency this offseason.

Defensive Line Is the Deepest Position

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If your team needs help in the trenches, there's good news coming in free agency. That is, of course, if enough players actually hit the market.

Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller and Malik Jackson teamed up to help form the top defensive line in the league last season. Miller won't be going anywhere, but Jackson should be tempted by the heaps of cash thrown his way in free agency.

The New York Giants are liable to lose two pass-rushers in Jason Pierre-Paul and Robert Ayers. The former is a big name with a bit of a handicap, while the latter is a quality pass-rusher without the volume statistics.

Olivier Vernon might be the best defensive lineman to actually see the open waters of free agency—he was the highest-rated pass-rusher last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Dolphins likely won't be able to hang on to him without the franchise tag, which they might not be able to afford.

Damon Harrison has quietly become one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league, a rock at nose tackle for the New York Jets in recent years. Muhammad Wilkerson has been outstanding next to him since coming into the league.

If a few of these guys get to the open market, we are going to see a feeding frenzy from teams trying to shore up the trenches.

Biggest Bargain and Bust in Free Agency

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Every year we see a handful of free agents sign big contracts and subsequently fail to live up to them. On the flip side, many a bargain have been found in free agency.

From last season alone we saw cornerback Byron Maxwell, tight end Charles Clay and running back DeMarco Murray severely underperform for their respective teams after signing big deals. Meanwhile, running back Dion Lewis was one of the best in the league before getting hurt.

So which free agent is most likely to bust? What about the underrated gem of the class?

Kirk Cousins seems like the easiest candidate to dismay fans, right? For starters, he plays in Washington, and he will likely keep playing there whether by way of the franchise tag or a long-term deal. 

Cursed franchise aside, Cousins is far from a sure thing. He threw for multiple touchdowns in just five games last season despite a softer schedule than most. Yet he is going to command a rather large salary because he showed enough to be a starter.

As for an underrated commodity, Rishard Matthews might be one of the best bargains available come March. Though he certainly has fans—Pro Football Focus has touted him as one of the best receivers available—Matthews is probably not going to net a huge contract.

However, he showed he could be a valuable contributor to any offense last season, stepping up for the Miami Dolphins after being scorned in the offseason by the additions of rookie DeVante Parker and free agent Greg Jennings.

Nobody Knows Anything

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Unless you are a reporter from the four-letter mothership or an established news-breaker like Fox's Jay Glazer or NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, chances are you don't have a source who has any insider knowledge.

Aside from the occasional small-time radio host breaking actual news, much of what we hear in free agency is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Rumors are going to swirl.

It's all fun and games until someone's feelings get hurt. What if you find out Von Miller is going to sign with your favorite team even though everything we know points to a franchise tag and long-term extension with the Denver Broncos?

You wouldn't want to cry over spilled beans, would you?

Cap numbers and free-agency information courtesy of OverTheCap.com.