2018 NFL Free Agents: Rumors, Predictions for Kirk Cousins, Jarvis Landry, More

March approaches, and the NFL once again faces an interesting reality—the landscape keeps changing because the financial side of things keeps increasing.

With more money to throw around by the year, more teams are opening the checkbooks and creating scenarios wherein more trades occur, and franchises usually out of contention seemingly have a better chance at turning things around.

Look at the playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams qualified in large part because they threw a huge contract at left tackle Andrew Whitworth. The Jacksonville Jaguars have splurged for years and look like serious contenders.

The offseason should provide plenty in the way of additional fireworks. A handful of potential franchise passers and an elite offensive weapon making rumblings on the rumor mill personify this budding trend.

Kirk Cousins

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

It's hard to know whether the drama surrounding the Washington Redskins and quarterback Kirk Cousins will ever end.

What we do know? Other teams won't stop being linked to him.

Cousins just had a down year, as the franchise let some key offensive weapons go and replacements failed to step up. But for a team like the Denver Broncos, Cousins is still a dream fit as an upgrade because of the way he could come in and provide some smooth sailing for what is already a strong roster most everywhere else.

According to Eric Galko of Sporting News, the Broncos are the biggest threat to swipe Cousins off the open market:

"The Broncos have made it clear to those close to Cousins that they're ready to make a big offer. Over the last two seasons, since moving on from Peyton Manning and letting Brock Osweiler walk (before bringing him back), the Broncos have spent the least of any NFL team on quarterback (less than $7 million combined over 2016 and '17)."

The Redskins have walked themselves into a corner with Cousins, doling out huge cash on repeated franchise tags and being unable to do it again. Now 29, the veteran waded through a down year while throwing for 4,093 yards and 27 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.

That's still a major upgrade for the Broncos, who had three quarterbacks combine to complete 58.7 percent of their passes for 3,668 yards and 19 touchdowns against 22 interceptions in 2017. A shame given the strong running game behind them, weapons such as Demaryius Thomas and a respectable defense.

With the Redskins retaining head coach Jay Gruden, the result here could hinge on Cousins, who has said he would like to stay in town. A tag would earn him another cool contract in the range of $34 million, but with the team likely hesitant to dole out money like that, look for Cousins to stick with what should be a close offer and the comfort zone he's established in Washington.

Prediction: Cousins re-signs with the Redskins

Jarvis Landry

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

On paper, one of the hottest names in free agency will be Miami Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry.

Landry, all of 25 and sitting on 400 catches through 64 career games, should create quite the interesting market for himself given the circumstances.

He's one of the league's premier target hogs over the course of the past four years, tallying 567 in total while only catching 22 touchdowns, nine of those in 2017. He's a move-the-chains sort of receiver, though some could argue the quarterback situation in Miami has hurt his numbers.

Alas, the Dolphins sound like they are trying to get out in front of this thing, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson:

"

I'm told the Miami #Dolphins and WR Jarvis Landry have exchanged proposals regarding a contract extension this month. However, communication has come to a standstill the last two weeks, with Landry's side making the most recent recommendations.

— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) December 28, 2017"

The Dolphins' problem is simple: The market will drive up the price on a target like Landry to excessive numbers. Landry might even want to be back, but at some point, the allure of more money will come calling, and if the money was where he wanted it, Landry might already be back under contract with the team.

It will be interesting to see what happens if a team like the New England Patriots comes calling. A divisional rival signing away talent to hurt a foe isn't exactly rare these days, and the guys in Foxborough, Massachusetts, surely wouldn't mind having a reliable possession guy to pair with Brandin Cooks and others.

Miami, meanwhile, has to keep in mind the long-term money likely wrapped up in Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker, so the team might cut its losses and hit a deep draft class at the position.

With the Patriots making bigger splashes as of late, look for Landry to make a cross-divisional move based on finances and the chance to win a title, which would only up his asking price the next time he hits the market.

Prediction: Landry signs with the Patriots.

Jimmy Garoppolo

The San Francisco 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo are one of the season's best stories. 

Garoppolo joined the team via trade midseason, ripped off five consecutive wins and suddenly has the 49ers looking like a potential contender in 2018 and one of the league's top turnaround stories.

He's already a good case study as to the difference a great quarterback can have on an entire team, from the effectiveness of an offense to helping a defense play better thanks to less time on the field, field position itself and potentially playing with a lead.

Naturally, the 49ers want to find a way to keep Garoppolo in town for the long haul, as Matt Maiocco of NBCS Bay Area noted:

"

The #49ers will work toward a multi-year extension for Jimmy Garoppolo. If the sides do not agree on years, dollars and structure by March 6, the team will place the franchise tag on him to assure he remains with SF for 2018 season. https://t.co/mOXFKXIwvA

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) December 27, 2017"

Garoppolo finished his surprising run with a 67.4 completion percentage and seven touchdowns against five interceptions. If the 49ers commit the necessary money to keeping him, the blueprint to success becomes simple: draft well around him and keep building.

In fact, Garoppolo is a good example of the theme mentioned in the intro. New England didn't want to commit too much money to a guy who would have to sit behind Tom Brady for an unknown amount of time. But the 49ers wouldn't have made the trade if they weren't ready to cough up whatever it takes.

For good reason. Garoppolo shifted a 1-10 team to a 6-10 team. The rest of the league will catch up via film, but San Francisco can stay ahead of the curve as he works through a Kyle Shanahan offense and sees upgrades around him.

It's not often a team solves the biggest need of all in football for years thanks to a midseason trade, yet here are the 49ers, who are set to approach the formality of preventing Garoppolo from getting to the open market.

Prediction: Garoppolo re-signs with the 49ers.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com.