2018 NFL Free Agents: Predictions for Players Who Will Command Most Interest

There is still a Super Bowl to be won and playoff games to be played in the 2017 NFL season, but the title dreams for many teams have long since faded.

Free agency and the draft always provide lights at the end of the losing tunnel, and the upcoming offseason will be no different. A number of potential free agents are talented enough to join a new situation and make an immediate impact.

With that in mind, here is an early look at some of the players who figure to draw the most interest if and when they hit the open market, as well as predictions for their landing spots.

Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins and running back Le'Veon Bell were chosen because they were the top three free agents on the list from the NFL1000 scouts.

Quarterback Drew Brees

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Brees is a New Orleans institution.

The 11-time Pro Bowler led the Saints to a Super Bowl title and has thrown for more than 4,000 yards every season since he joined them before the 2006 campaign. He surpassed 5,000 yards five times in that span, including in 2016, when he threw for 5,208 yards and 37 touchdowns.

He also seemed like someone who isn't looking at other teams when he said, "I don't plan on leaving New Orleans ever," while appearing on Hardwick & Richardson XTRA 1360-AM (h/t Nick Shook of NFL.com) in November.

"I know all of that stuff takes care of itself when it's supposed to," Brees continued. "I have not approached them about any contract. We just have a great understanding here. Listen, we're going to go through this season, and we'll revisit it in the offseason. Right now, I'm in the moment."

New Orleans also has a number of young offensive playmakers, including wide receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara, and it figures to compete for a Super Bowl again in 2018 after this year's successful showing.

The thought here is the Saints will draft a quarterback at some point in 2018 for insurance behind the 38-year-old Brees, but they will attempt to take advantage of this competitive window by bringing the Purdue product back.

Prediction: Saints re-sign Brees

Quarterback Kirk Cousins

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Cousins' contract situation brings plenty of intrigue after Washington franchise-tagged him in 2016 and again in 2017. 

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explained in February another franchise tag for 2018 would cost the team more than $34 million. Florio also said Washington could use the transition tag, but even that would cost nearly $29 million and put the team in a situation where it may be asked if it wants to match another squad's offer sheet.

Considering Washington has been to one playoff game with Cousins (a loss in the Wild Card Round) and is playing out the string in a postseason-less campaign this year, it will likely not be willing to spend so much money on the quarterback spot this offseason.

The prediction here is Washington turns to the draft instead, freeing Cousins to sign elsewhere.

The San Francisco 49ers made sense as a destination at one point considering Cousins' former offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, is the head coach. According to Over The Cap, the 49ers are also expected to have the most cap space available for 2018.

However, they traded a second-round pick to the New England Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo, which is plenty to give up for a short-term rental. Garoppolo has also played well since assuming starting duties, so look for San Francisco to re-sign the former Patriot and eliminate itself from the Cousins sweepstakes.

Instead, the Cleveland Browns will sign Cousins. They are expected to have the second-most cap space, and general manager John Dorsey will attempt to establish long-needed stability at the position with the Michigan State product.

Prediction: Browns sign Cousins

Running Back Le'Veon Bell

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Some players are too talented to give up, and Bell fits that mold even as a running back who doesn't have the ball in his hands every offensive play like a quarterback.

The two-time Pro Bowler is patient enough to gain yards between the tackles, elusive enough to make defenders miss in space and a capable receiver out of the backfield who routinely provides a matchup nightmare for opposing linebackers.

He tallied 854 receiving yards in 2014, 616 last year and has 627 this season. He is a generational player who is just 25 years old.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be 36 years old next season and has contemplated retirement in the recent past. Wide receiver Antonio Brown is one of the best players in the league, but even he will be 30 years old before the 2018 campaign.

Bell has a chance to be the face of the Steelers offense in the coming years and someone they rely on to pick up 150 or more yards from scrimmage on a weekly basis. Pittsburgh won't let him get away, even if it needs to make him the highest paid running back in the league to do so.

Prediction: Steelers re-sign Bell