NFL Free Agency 2018: Latest Rumors, Predictions on Where Big Names Will Land

The NFL free-agency dominoes are starting to fall in quick succession, though the market has yet to work out solutions for some of the biggest names such as Kirk Cousins and Teddy Bridgewater. 

Others have had quick developments in a flurry after an unexpected slow start to the market. Allen Robinson is going to the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson. Guard Andrew Norwell will head to the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Slow start or not, these early salvos show fans one thing—it's about to get hectic on the market Tuesday through the league opening Wednesday afternoon, when deals and trades can go official, like the deal between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals sending Cordy Glenn to the latter, according to Anderson.

With a quick-hitting theme in mind, let's take a look at some of the most recent rumblings and nail down predictions for each.

Adrian Peterson

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Like it or not, Adrian Peterson is still one of the biggest names on the market after his release from the Arizona Cardinals, reported by Schefter. 

Peterson joined the Cardinals for six games in 2017 at the age of 32 and averaged 3.5 yards per carry with two touchdowns, ripping off a memorable 134 yards and two touchdowns in an October win. 

Still, the market is harsh for running backs, and especially those over the age of 30. Don't tell it to Peterson, though, who says he'd love to have a homecoming of sorts with the Houston Texans, according to TMZ. He's also stressed his neck is fully healed, according to Anderson: 

Houston actually makes a ton of sense for Peterson after getting all of 3.7 yards per carry from Lamar Miller. D'Onta Foreman looks promising, but a deep committee approach will accomplish the biggest goal behind adding a guy like Peterson—taking pressure off Deshaun Watson. 

The mentioned huge game from Peterson last year will likely have a few teams interested in his services, though he'll probably have to wait quite a while for a deal while guys like Dion Lewis decide where they want to go and the newest draft class reshuffles the league. When the tidal wave of dust settles, though, it's easy to see a team like Houston taking a small gamble on Peterson. 

Prediction: Peterson signs with the Texans

Kirk Cousins

The market surrounding Cousins will only get more interesting as the new league year approaches.  

Early Tuesday morning, Schefter reported Case Keenum will sign with the Denver Broncos, which takes away a potential landing spot for Cousins after his finally getting away from the franchise tag and the Washington Redskins. 

What the Keenum report does do, though, is throw more credibility behind a report that the Arizona Cardinals are a serious contender for his services, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport: 

ESPN's Dianna Russini had also reported the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings are on the market looking at Cousins as well, but it seems his market has dramatically shrunk compared to what most thought it would be. 

Which makes sense, really. Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman reported he has a "very weak hand" based on teams he's talked to, meaning the market isn't as expansive as one would think for a potential franchise quarterback. But Cousins, owner of 99 touchdowns and 55 interceptions, just got rejected in favor of Alex Smith by the Redskins and clearly isn't a quarterback who elevates the talent of those around him. 

This could end up working in favor of the Cardinals, of course. If the price is right, they'll take a player like Cousins and throw him in Carson Palmer's space instead of turning to a rookie or a Blaine Gabbert and let him go to work with David Johnson, arguably the best running back in the league, as well as a veteran like Larry Fitzgerald. 

Based on the weapons, a reduced market and the familial connections, Cousins to Arizona seems almost perfect. 

Prediction: Cousins signs with the Cardinals 

Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater 

Jim Mone/Associated Press

The picture at quarterback is starting to become clearer. 

With Keenum and perhaps Cousins getting ready to finalize new locales, the attention turns to guys like Drew Brees and even Teddy Bridgewater.

Not that there was much in the way of doubt Brees would get back together with the New Orleans Saints, something Rapoport provided an update on Tuesday morning: 

Rapoport followed later by reporting the Saints and Brees have a two-year deal in place. 

This throws an interesting spotlight on Bridgewater, to say the least. 

It's easy to forget Bridgewater looked like a huge-upside starter with the Vikings before his freak injury. Given the success of the system in Minnesota, there wasn't much of a chance the Vikings were going to play him over Keenum or even Sam Bradford. 

Meaning, Bridgewater is free to seek out a starting deal and a team like the Broncos certainly had an interest, according to ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold: "The Broncos also considered Kirk Cousins and had some discussions about Teddy Bridgewater, who was a teammate of Keenum's this past season with the Minnesota Vikings."

Even with some of these locales drying up and other interesting names on the market such as AJ McCarron, Bridgewater still has options. The New York Jets have to figure out something under center, and the Buffalo Bills could use a potential starter after deciding to ship away Tyrod Taylor. 

Looping back to the Vikings, though, is something to keep in mind. In 2015 before the injury, Bridgewater completed 65.3 percent of his passes with 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns against nine interceptions. The upside of a solid starter was certainly there, so after possibly losing Keenum, a reunion would make sense for the Vikings. 

The harsh reality for Bridgewater, which guys like McCarron will find out as well, is that a guaranteed starting role isn't going to happen. The market is too deep, and there is a strong draft class entering the league at the same time. Bridgewater re-upping with the Vikings gives him familiarity and a chance to start, which isn't a bad deal given the journey he's traveled in the NFL thus far. 

Prediction: Brees re-signs with the Saints; Bridgewater re-signs with the Vikings