NFL Free Agents 2017: Top Rumors and Updated Predictions

We're not even a full day into NFL free agency, and things have already gotten a little wild. The Chicago Bears landed quarterback Mike Glennon, the Philadelphia Eagles signed wideout Alshon Jeffery and wide receiver DeSean Jackson chose to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Oh, and the Cleveland Browns traded for a quarterback it appears they have no interest in keeping:

Don't think for a second that the fun of free agency's opening flurry is close to being over, though. There are still plenty of big names out there who are waiting to be signed.

Let's take a look at some of the latest rumors surrounding the top players still available on the open market and make some predictions.

Latest Free-Agency Buzz

Patriots Still Trying to Retain Hightower

The New England Patriots didn't use the franchise tag on star linebacker Dont'a Hightower, and they didn't manage to lock him up before the start of free agency. However, this doesn't mean the team has given up on trying to keep their defensive centerpiece.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported on Thursday night that the Patriots will try to bring Hightower back:

Re-signing Hightower certainly makes a lot of sense for the Patriots. He's one of the top inside linebackers in the game—rated fifth at the position by Pro Football Focus last season—and re-signing him might just keep him away from a divisional rival.

Per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, the Miami Dolphins are showing interest in Hightower:

ESPN's Ed Werder has reported the Tennessee Titans are also interested in bringing in Hightower, but "at $10 [million]-$13 [million], he's out of [their] price range now."

Our guess is that Hightower listens to offers from teams like the Dolphins and the Titans in order to gauge his market value before he tries to come to a compromise with the Patriots.

Prediction: Hightower signs a five-year deal with New England.

Patriots Not in Trade Talks for Garoppolo

The Browns traded to acquire quarterback Brock Osweiler from the Houston Texans essentially to gain an extra second-round pick next year. It seems the move wasn't at all about getting Osweiler.

Browns general manager Sashi Brown said the following in a statement on the team's official website: "We're really excited to acquire a second-round draft choice in this trade. Draft picks are extremely important to our approach in building a championship-caliber football team. We are intent on adding competition to every position on our roster and look forward to having Brock come in and compete."

Whether Osweiler gets the opportunity to compete is anyone's guess. What we know for sure is that Cleveland has five second-round picks over the next two years and may use some of them to try to acquire Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo.

"They do intend to make a run at Jimmy Garoppolo as we get closer to the draft," NFL Media's Ian Rapoport said on Thursday. "Will they actually be able to do it is the question."

The buzz surrounding the entire situation increased dramatically early Friday morning, when Garoppolo appeared to post a farewell message to Patriots fans via his Instagram account. Did this mean he believed a trade was imminent? Well, not exactly.

According to Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk, it seems Garoppolo's account may have been hacked.

"According to multiple reports, people close to Garoppolo say he's not on Instagram at 4 a.m., and the post appears to be a hoax," Smith wrote.

ESPN's Josina Anderson reported that if the Patriots are in talks to deal Garoppolo, it isn't with the Browns:

While the Patriots might not be ready to move Garoppolo yet, our guess is that the Browns eventually offer up enough to get him. Cleveland has eight first- or second-round picks over the next two years. The deal they offer could be awfully hard to pass up for a team looking to make a couple final runs with Tom Brady under center.

Prediction: The Browns acquire Garoppolo eventually.

Pryor Visiting With Redskins

The Browns might eventually get their quarterback in Garoppolo. They also might be able to retain quarterback-turned-wideout Terrelle Pryor too, but it's beginning to feel unlikely. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pryor is spending Day 2 of free agency visiting with the Washington Redskins:

Adding Pryor would make sense for Washington, as the team has lost its top two receivers from last season. Jackson is in Tampa, while Pierre Garcon signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Browns haven't dismissed the idea of retaining Pryor, but they recently added wideout Kenny Britt on a deal worth just over $8 million per year. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns had offered Pryor a deal in the $8 million-$9 million-per-year range.

The Redskins have roughly $23 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. They can afford to better Cleveland's original offer to Pryor if they choose to do so. Given the need for a quality receiver that has developed in Washington, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Redskins overpay to ensure that Pryor doesn't return to Cleveland unsigned.

Our guess is that Pryor and Josh Doctson will be Washington's starting wideouts in 2017.

Prediction: Pryor signs a four-year deal with the Redskins.