NFL Free Agency 2016: Rumors and Predictions for Top Players on the Market

The free-agent frenzy will soon begin in the NFL.

All 32 teams will be able to start negotiating with free agents Monday, March 7, and two days later at 4 p.m. (ET), teams will be allowed to sign players to contracts for 2016 and beyond.

While this is an NFL annual event, the best early signings usually bring a wave of enthusiasm to the teams that lock up their new players.

That's because the most valuable players usually attract early attention. The ones that come through with quick and decisive offers are regularly the most successful.

The Los Angeles Rams recently announced they are not bringing back veteran linebacker James Laurinaitis, who has regularly been one of their most productive tacklers and a key player.

The move may seem surprising on the surface because Laurinaitis is coming off another impressive season, and he is very smart on the field. Laurinaitis had 109 tackles in 2015.

The New Orleans Saints reportedly have an interest in Laurinaitis, according to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter:

"

Former Rams' LB James Laurinaitis is scheduled to fly to New Orleans tonight to visit with Saints on Tuesday, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 29, 2016"

That move makes a lot of sense because the Saints were one of the league's worst defensive teams in 2015, ranking 31st in yards allowed. Having a smart and instinctive linebacker would be one of the first steps to that unit showing some improvement.

While the Saints may face quite a bit of competition for him, they would be wise not to let him get away.

Prediction: Laurinaitis will listen to several offers and sign with New Orleans.

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The New England Patriots were basically a one-dimensional team at the end of the regular season and throughout their two playoff games. While they had two productive running backs in LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis during the early part of the year, both were injured and unavailable throughout the home stretch.

The Patriots spent much of their time at the NFL Scouting Combine looking at running backs, according to Boston Globe lead football writer Ben Volin.

They are also likely to get involved with a running back or two during free agency. Volin mentioned former Chicago Bear Matt Forte as well as Chris Ivory, Alfred Morris and Joique Bell as backs who could meet their needs.

It seems Forte might be the best fit for the Patriots, although he would also likely be the most expensive since he is a good receiver as well as runner. Perhaps Forte might be willing to eschew a few dollars if he perceives the Patriots are a likely Super Bowl team. However, don't look for Forte to sign at a bargain rate.

Prediction: The Patriots don't like to spend big money on running backs, but the combination of Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Forte could be unstoppable. Look for the Patriots to entice Forte into signing with them.

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The Carolina Panthers made headlines earlier in the week when they cut defensive end Charles Johnson. The Panthers will save $11 million in cap space as a result of the move, according ESPN.com's David Newton, and it seems to make sense because Johnson had just 1.0 sack in nine regular-season games last year.

The Panthers have shown interest in former Jets and Dolphins defensive end Quinton Coples—a 2012 first-round draft choice by New York. According to Schefter, the Panthers brought Coples in for a physical.

Coples split time with New York and Miami last season, but he did not record a sack. He registered a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2014

Prediction: The Panthers are looking at Coples, but they won't sign him unless they are looking at him clearly as a depth player. Head coach Ron Rivera needs to find a much more productive defensive end for his team's front four.