NFL Rumors: Latest on Charles Johnson and More 2016 Free Agents

In just a few hours, at noon on Monday, NFL teams will be able to negotiate with players whose contracts are set to expire.

Those players won't be able to put their signatures on new contracts until Wednesday at 4 p.m. (ET), but they will be able to see the lay of the land and figure out which direction they want to go in for the 2016 season and beyond.

One of those players is defensive end Charles Johnson, whom the Carolina Panthers cut on Mar. 3. Johnson struggled last season, recording just one sack in nine games.

However, when Johnson is healthy and at his best, he is a dominant pass-rusher. He had 8.5 sacks in 2014, 11.0 in 2013 and 12.5 in 2012.

Johnson appears to be popular as free agency get underways. Johnson is scheduled to meet with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in the negotiation period, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter:

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Former Panthers' DE Charles Johnson is scheduled to visit the Giants, then the Buccaneers, per league sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2016"

Both teams should be interested in bringing Johnson into the fold. The Giants were one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL last year and need a defensive end who can turn the corner and wreak havoc.

The Bucs would love to take a key player away from a division rival, but they would have to believe that last year's lack of production was an aberration and that he can get back to top form.

While both the Giants and Bucs need a lot of help to become playoff teams after their performances in 2015, the New England Patriots are not in that position.

They were a few plays away from representing the AFC in the Super Bowl but were too one-dimensional to overcome Denver's powerful defense.

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The Pats lost running backs Dion Lewis (knee) and LeGarrette Blount (hip) to injuries last year, so they should be in the market for a running back in the offseason.

The Patriots are likely to look at running backs in the upcoming draft, but they are also looking at free-agent running backs including Matt Forte, Chris Ivory, Alfred Morris and Joique Bell, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

Forte appears to be the best and most valuable of the bunch because he is an excellent receiver as well as a top-flight running back. He is also likely to cost the most, and head coach Bill Belichick has avoided paying big money for running backs in the past.

Look for Belichick to give Forte strong consideration, although luring Ivory away from the New York Jets would also be a top-level signing.

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Linebacker James Laurinaitis had another productive season in St. Louis last year, registering 109 tackles. However, the Los Angeles Rams are not bringing Laurinaitis with them, and they parted ways on Feb. 19.

Shortly after the Rams made that decision, Laurinaitis visited the New Orleans Saints. He is set to visit the Atlanta Falcons early this week, according to Schefter:

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Former Rams' LB James Laurinaitis, who visited Saints last week, is scheduled to visit Falcons on Monday and Tuesday, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2016"

Laurinaitis should be a safe signing for any team. He has averaged more than 121 tackles per season throughout his seven-year career, and the 29-year-old appears to have plenty left in the tank.

While the Saints went after him first, he should be popular during the free-agency signing period and looks ready to have another strong season in 2016.