NFL Rumors: Latest on Adrian Peterson and More 2017 Free Agents

The NFL has a funny way of hijacking the American sports news cycle away from other leagues.

March Madness is around the corner, and yet sports fans are dissecting NFL free agency rumors. The NBA and NHL playoffs, the beginning of the MLB regular season and the Masters will occur in April, but most fans will be discussing the NFL draft.

The NFL truly is a 365-day news cycle.

This week, NFL free agency begins on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, but we've already heard plenty of rumors in recent days.

Here are three of the latest from around the league.

Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles

Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson led the NFL in rushing just two seasons ago. Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles gained 1,980 yards from scrimmage along with 19 touchdowns just four years ago.

Today, they are out of work and looking for jobs, and apparently, teams aren't showing much interest. Here's more from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk:

"

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the biggest name of the bunch, isn’t generating significant dollars via the wink-nod this-conversation-never-happened conversations.

[...]

Former Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, who is immediately available because he was cut, also hasn’t been getting significant play in Indianapolis. But it’s not just confined to the older running backs. For younger guys like Raiders running back Latavius Murray, the numbers won’t be there — just like they haven’t been in recent years.

"

Peterson and Charles are 31 and 30 years old, respectively, and coming off significant injuries. It's possible teams sign them for low salaries, but it's also possible that both of them call it quits if the price isn't right.

Ultimately, it's incredible that two stars who dominated their profession a few years ago are now struggling to find work in their early 30s. The NFL really does stand for "Not For Long," and the age of the workhorse running back, when guys like Ricky Williams would touch the ball well over 400 times per season, is long gone too.

Martellus Bennett

The New England Patriots tight end, who toughed out numerous injuries en route to a 55-catch, 701-yard, seven-touchdown Super Bowl-winning season, is garnering some interest around the league.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe has the latest from the Combine:

Bennett would be a great fit in Jacksonville, which has a hole at tight end after trading Julius Thomas to Miami, and Oakland, which received very little production from tight end this season. (Clive Walford and Mychal Rivera combined for a 51-reception, 551-yard, four-touchdown season, which did not match Bennett's production.)

Bennett in the Silver and Black would be particularly scary, as he could be the final piece the Raiders need to challenge the Patriots for AFC supremacy.

Rick Wagner

The Baltimore Ravens offensive line was one of the best pass-protecting units last season, ranking eighth in adjusted sack rate per Football Outsiders.

Right tackle Rick Wagner, one of the best in the business, played a big part in that success, but it looks like the Ravens are going to have to find a replacement for him, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun:

With the NFL featuring such an emphasis on quarterback play these days, it's of utmost importance to invest in players who will protect a signal-caller likely making over $20 million per season. Therefore, Wagner is going to get paid by a team with deep pockets and a need at right tackle. San Francisco or Cleveland, perhaps?