NFL Free Agency 2017: Predictions for Top Players Based on Latest Rumors

Tuesday marks the beginning of the somewhat odd "legal tampering period" for the NFL ahead of free agency opening Thursday. 

Tampering, negative connotation or not, is legal in this sense as agents get to work communicating with teams about their players and trying to set up deals, though nothing can go official for another 48 hours.

This, of course, creates a whirlwind on the rumors market capable of making the craziest winds blush.

With names like Adrian Peterson and others making the rounds, the mill already spins at a faster-than-normal pace. The onset of tampering makes it all the better for those eternal-optimist fans out there, not to mention fans as a whole with the league getting ready for a major makeover.

Here's a look at the latest.

The Mike Glennon Sweepstakes

Fans know it is going to be a fun free agency when Mike Glennon has a sweepstakes at all—and might make some huge cash on the open market.

Glennon, 27, didn't even play football in 2015 and only appeared in two games last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while backing up Jameis Winston. He has 30 touchdowns against 15 interceptions on his career, yet Tampa Bay upgraded and he at one point lost the backup job.

Alas, Glennon is on the hunt for a starting gig and might just get it, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

The fit makes sense, provided the Chicago Bears view Glennon as a potential stopgap solution with upside while the front office seeks out a new franchise quarterback. A year of suffering featuring Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley tends to do that to a team.

It doesn't sound like the Bears will have much in the way of competition for Glennon, not with the New York Jets apparently balking at the asking price, according to the New York Daily News' Manish Mehta.

While it is hard to know if another team will enter the running for Glennon when the window opens, few teams boast the capital to best the Bears in a bidding war—Chicago has more than $50 million in free cap space, per Spotrac.

For now, Chicago seems like the safest bet. Front-loading a contract with Glennon doesn't prevent the team from grabbing a rookie in the upcoming draft, so if the Bears like him, they'll get him.

Prediction: Glennon signs with the Bears

Terrelle Pryor's Market

Cleveland Browns wideout Terrelle Pryor was one of the NFL's best stories last year as he fully completed the transition from failed quarterback to wide receiver.

Pryor put up big numbers, too, catching 77 passes for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns, quite the feat considering the iffy quarterback situation had him catching erratic targets from Cody Kessler, Josh McCown, Robert Griffin III, Charlie Whitehurst and Kevin Hogan.

Some additional context:

This impressive showing has the 27-year-old wideout garnering plenty of interest on the open market.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, a handful of teams have big interest in Pryor: "Terrelle Pryor is drawing interest from his hometown Steelers, the Giants, 49ers, Titans and Eagles as the free agency two-day negotiating window opens on Tuesday at noon, league sources told cleveland.com."

All of the teams listed make sense. Pryor would be a hometown get for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who wouldn't mind a stable presence across from Antonio Brown. Similar story with the New York Giants across from Odell Beckham Jr., minus the hometown part. The Tennessee Titans are especially interesting because they need a No. 1 for Marcus Mariota, and signing Pryor could let the team address other issues with both of their two first-round picks.

Alas, when it comes to prediction time, it is still hard to see the Browns letting Pryor get away. The roster is too devoid of talent for that to happen, and the fact the front office didn't hit Pryor with a tag suggests they were either close to a deal or will match whatever offer he gets on the open market.

Per Cabot's writeup, Cleveland remains Pryor's first choice. And the market might not be as impressive as it seems for a guy who just changed positions and only has one year of proven production there. The Browns, in the end, might offer the most money.

Prediction: Pryor signs with the Browns

Adrian Peterson and the Patriots 

A few years ago, the above bold summary would cause some serious concern around the NFL.

Now the idea of Peterson joining the New England Patriots looks like a last-ditch effort by the running back to win a title as his career dwindles and is a low-risk option for the team.

These two parties hadn't been linked until recently, where Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald dropped an interesting note detailing Peterson's potential willingness to take on a team-friendly deal to head to New England:

"

A source close to Peterson told the Herald that since AP has already earned a ton — more than $97 million is his career — it's certainly something he’d consider. Peterson knows how it worked out for Darrelle Revis and Chris Long. But naturally, there will be a lot of teams in the mix, including the Vikings. And, of course, the Pats would have to want to bring in an aging back with an injury history, not to mention baggage.

"

It seems every old veteran gets linked to the Patriots at one point or another, though this is quite the interesting development. 

After all, the Patriots might need to replace LeGarrette Blount's production as he heads to free agency. This is easier said than done after Blount rushed for 18 scores last season.

In an odd turn of events, Peterson isn't in a position to demand more money than Blount. He's 31 years old and played in one game in 2014 and just three in 2016, though he rushed for 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015.

His inability to stay on the field makes him a tough sell, so Peterson willing to play for whatever to join the Patriots makes sense. The Patriots would be silly not to consider it—if Peterson misses time, he's on a cheap deal. If he can bust out another 1,200-yard season (he has seven of them), it means he opened up the passing game for Tom Brady in a way few backs have for a long time.

Other teams probably have an interest in Peterson. But his link to the Patriots and apparent willingness to shrug off the payday in exchange for a shot at a ring makes this an easy call for both parties.

Prediction: Peterson signs with the Patriots

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.