Major Signings and Extensions

• Josh Allen Stays in Buffalo – The Bills locked in their franchise quarterback, agreeing to a massive six-year, $330 million contract extension.
• Jaycee Horn Sets a Record – The Panthers extended their star cornerback on a four-year, $100 million deal, making him one of the highest-paid defensive backs in the league.
• DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh – The Steelers made a bold move, acquiring star wide receiver DK Metcalf in a trade and signing him to a five-year, $150 million extension.
• Sam Darnold Cashes In – The Seahawks handed the veteran quarterback a surprising three-year, $100.5 million contract.
• Milton Williams Joins Patriots – New England bolstered its defensive line, inking Williams to a four-year, $104 million deal.
• Aaron Banks to Green Bay – The Packers secured their offensive line with a four-year, $77 million contract for Banks.

Big-Name Players on the Move

• Joey Bosa Lands in Buffalo – The Bills added a premier pass rusher, signing Bosa to a one-year, $12.6 million deal.
• DeAndre Hopkins Heads to Baltimore – The Ravens strengthened their receiving corps with a one-year, $5 million agreement for the veteran wideout.
• Chase Young Joins Saints – The former No. 2 overall pick signed a three-year, $51 million deal with New Orleans.
• Najee Harris Joins the Chargers – The star running back signed a one-year, $9.25 million contract with Los Angeles.
• Khalil Mack Stays with the Chargers – The veteran edge rusher inked a one-year, $18 million extension.
• Chris Godwin Remains in Tampa – The Buccaneers retained their top wide receiver on a three-year, $66 million deal.

Notable Trades

• Texans Acquire C.J. Gardner-Johnson – Houston traded offensive lineman Kenyon Green to the Eagles for the standout defensive back.
• Browns Land Kenny Pickett – Cleveland acquired the young quarterback from Philadelphia in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
• Commanders Land Laremy Tunsil – Washington significantly upgraded its offensive line by acquiring Tunsil from the Texans.
• Steelers Eye Aaron Rodgers – Pittsburgh is reportedly considering signing the legendary quarterback as they evaluate their future under center.

Teams Making Tough Decisions

• Rams Could Release Cooper Kupp – If Los Angeles fails to find a trade partner, they are expected to cut ties with the former Super Bowl MVP.
• 49ers Release Kyle Juszczyk – The veteran fullback, a key part of San Francisco’s offense, has been let go.
• Patriots Move On from Davon Godchaux – New England traded the defensive tackle to the Saints.

With free agency in full swing, more moves are expected in the coming days. Which team made the biggest splash so far?

Defensive Backs:

1. Justin Simmons (S): A versatile safety known for his range and playmaking ability, Simmons has been a cornerstone of the Denver Broncos’ defense. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler and a leader in interceptions among safeties over the past few seasons.
2. Stephon Gilmore (CB): A former Defensive Player of the Year, Gilmore is a shutdown corner with exceptional coverage skills. He’s been a key contributor to the success of the New England Patriots’ defense, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl ring.
3. Quandre Diggs (S): Diggs is a ball-hawking safety known for his knack for creating turnovers. He’s been a reliable presence in the secondary for the Seattle Seahawks, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2020.
4. Xavien Howard (CB): Howard is a lockdown cornerback with a penchant for intercepting passes. He led the NFL in interceptions in 2020 and has earned multiple Pro Bowl selections during his career with the Miami Dolphins.
5. Adoree’ Jackson (CB): Jackson is a dynamic cornerback with exceptional speed and agility. He’s been a valuable asset to the Tennessee Titans’ secondary, showcasing his coverage skills and playmaking ability.

Wide Receivers:

1. Michael Thomas: Thomas is a prolific wide receiver known for his route running and sure hands. He holds the NFL record for most receptions in a single season and has been a consistent playmaker for the New Orleans Saints, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and a First-Team All-Pro nod.
2. Odell Beckham Jr.: Beckham is an explosive playmaker with electrifying speed and agility. He’s known for his highlight-reel catches and game-changing ability, having made a significant impact for the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns throughout his career.
3. Tyler Boyd: Boyd is a reliable receiver with strong hands and precise route running. He’s been a consistent target in the Cincinnati Bengals’ passing attack, recording multiple 1,000-yard seasons and showcasing his ability to move the chains.
4. Hunter Renfrow: Renfrow is a dependable slot receiver known for his toughness and route running. He’s been a reliable target for the Las Vegas Raiders, particularly in critical situations, earning the trust of his quarterbacks and coaching staff.

Quarterbacks:

1. Ryan Tannehill: Tannehill is a proven quarterback with a strong arm and leadership qualities. He’s revitalized his career with the Tennessee Titans, leading them to multiple playoff appearances and earning Pro Bowl honors.
2. Carson Wentz: Wentz is a talented quarterback with a unique combination of size and athleticism. He’s shown flashes of brilliance during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts, earning Pro Bowl honors and leading his teams to playoff berths.

These free agents represent a mix of established veterans and rising stars, each bringing their own set of skills and accomplishments to the table. As teams continue to assess their needs and evaluate available talent, the anticipation grows for where these players will land next in the NFL

Where will these big names play? Well of course we have input here at MockDraftHQ so we set out to see what the people think.

The following is from jbassetta22’s latest two round mock draft.

Check out where he predicts the familiar faces will play in 2017:

This one is so obvious it doesn’t need an explanation. So here are my predictions on where the above players will land in free agency:

Adrian Peterson, RB- Indianapolis Colts

Jay Cutler, QB- Houston Texans

Tony Romo, QB- Denver Broncos

Jonathan Hankins, DT- SF 49ers

LeGarrette Blount, RB- NE Patriots

Nick Mangold, C- Denver Broncos

Jamaal Charles, RB- Philadelphia Eagles

Marshawn Lynch, RB- Oakland Raiders

The question remains- Who are the top 2015 NFL free agents? Who’s going where? Who’s going to get paid the big bucks? Who would you bet your money on as if you were at https://www.betfair.com/sport/american-football?

Well lets break it down.

2015’s Top Free Agents by Position:

Quarterbacks– this group has name recognition but in 2015 can you really rely on any of these guys? Mark Sanchez, Josh McCown, and Michael Vick will impress teams with their experience while Ryan Mallet and Jake Locker will have teams wondering if there is any starter potential left to be unlocked. Ultimately, I’d say Michael Vick is probably the most reliable of this group and who I’d bring in.

Running Backs– We already know DeMarco Murray is the name everyone is looking at. If he hits the market you may see a dark horse team like Seattle clear out some cap room to offer him a lucrative one year deal if something crazy happens like Marshawn Lynch retires. Sadly, that’s about the value of runners these days. Other players such as CJ Spiller, Justin Forsett, and Mark Ingram could be more than serviceable starters if you can afford them. The group rounds out with an oft-injured group that includes Ryan Matthews, Ahmad Bradshaw, Darren McFadden, and Knowshon Moreno. Then there is are the guys no one may call until October in Ray Rice and Chris Johnson.

Receivers/Pass Catchers– Another big name out of Dallas heads the group in Dez Bryant. Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, and Demaryius Thomas also have a slim chance of being available depending on what their respective groups do. The more likely to be sought after group includes a group of boom or bust guys like Torrey Smith, Michael Crabtree, Kenny Britt, and Cecil Shorts. Then there are the trusty veterans who you know what you’re getting in Hakeem Nicks, Ted Ginn, Wes Welker, and Eddie Royal.

The tight ends feature Pro Bowlers in Julius Thomas, and Jordan Cameron. The class rounds out with Jermaine Gresham, Owen Daniels, Lance Kendricks, and Charles Clay. There will be no short of tight ends available on the market this summer. Teams will be urgently trying to get the attention of Dez, Cobb, Maclin, and the Thomas’ as they are the elite pass catchers available.

Offensive Line– The best players available will be veterans Bryan Bulaga, Michael Roos, Doug Free, Mike Iupati and Orlando Franklin. I look for at least two of these big names to change teams.

Defensive Line– 2014 sack leader Justin Houston will lead the field. Behind him is Jason Pierre-Paul, and the troubled Greg Hardy. If your team wishes to break the bank Ndamukong Suh and Terrance Knighton will be taking all bidders. I look for both of those big guys to get PAID in a major way. I think Hardy will find a team like New England to help him rejuvenate his image on a cheap deal.

Linebackers– the best free agent linebacker is Sean Weatherspoon, followed closely by the erratic Rolando McClain. There are also solid pros such as David Harris, Brandon Spikes, Justin Durant, and Malcolm Smith on the market. If your team is looking for veteran leadership we got that too- the services of AJ Hawk, Lance Briggs, and Larry Foote will also be available.

Defensive Backs– Byron Maxwell will be looking to get paid after a great season serving as the back to challenge across from “the best corner in the game” Richard Sherman. I don’t think Seattle will look to retain him. Behind him are veterans Brandon Flowers, Kareem Jackson, and Antonio Cromartie. Cromatie has allegedly made it known he wishes to play in the New York area so look for him to show up in Buffalo with Rex.

Safeties Rahim Moore, Devin McCourty, and Antrel Rolle will be out there for your needs in the back of your defense. Moore is allegedly looking at $6 million plus a season and Denver is looking to give it to him… so realistically teams may have to look else where. Solid pros such as Louis Delmas, Stevie Brown, and the Landry Bros will be out there as well.

• Vincent Jackson to Tampa
  Tampa needed a big wideout, they probably hold off taking a WR with a high pick now and wait on Benn to progress
  
• Redskins trade for #2 overall pick, sign Josh Morgan and Pierre Garcon
  The Redskins will be releasing Jabar Gaffney and/or Santana Moss, and the Robert Griffin III era will begin
• Giants sign Martellus Bennett
  They won a SB with pretty much no TE play… so take this as a upgrade
• Cowboys sign Brandon Carr, Kyle Orton
  Cowboys looking to upgrade the defensive backfield and they are not done yet.  They could still use a high pick on a corner, but DE is now more likely
• Brandon Marshall traded to Chicago
  Marshall got into another “incident” in which people got hurt….
• Chargers sign Robert Meachem
  Chargers may be looking to focus in on defense in this draft. Still need a pas rusher to emerge
• Colts resign Reggie Wayne
  Wayne is a 10 year veteran and has a ring.  He loves Indy and Indy loves him. He will love Andrew Luck
• Cortland Finnegan signs with St. Louis
  Dont rule out St. Louis drafting a CB still, but WR looks like where they will invest some draft picks
• Saints resign Marques Colston
  It was between Colston or Meachem to resign and we see who won
• 49ers sign Randy Moss
  Randy Moss is 35 years old and coming off retirement, I don’t rule out the 49ers drafting another receiver to go with him

So while thinking about what may happen when the lockout is eventually lifted, a topic that definitely needs to be accessed is the free agent situation.  Especially when looking at the 2012 NFL Draft, you have to put in perspective which teams are going to fill their needs via free agency.

Barring anything crazy happening, I am going to assume top flight players like Michael Vick and Peyton Manning won’t hit the free market.  So here who is going to be available in 2011:

Quarterbacks

• Matt Hasselbeck
• Marc Bulger

Prediction: Hasselbeck eventually gets his asking price with the Seahawks.  Marc Bulger becomes a Dolphin or a 49er to man the ship for the young Qbs there.

Runningbacks

• De’Angelo Williams
• Darren Sproles
• Ronnie Brown
• Ricky Williams

Prediction: The Dolphins resign Williams to a 1 year deal.  Ronnie Brown gets a mega deal from the Washington Redskins (Dan Snyder remembers the 4 TD games out the wildcat), De’Angelo becomes a Denver Bronco, and Sproles takes his talents to some NFC team like Tampa Bay or Carolina.

Receivers

• Randy Moss
• Vincent Jackson
• Santonio Holmes
• Braylon Edwards
• Terrell Owens

Prediction: Moss becomes a Jet, Holmes resigns with NYJ, Braylon becomes a Texan, Vincent Jackson becomes a Ram or Redskin (whoever bids higher), and T.O. chases a ring as a Patriot or Chicago Bear.

Stay tuned for part two tomorrow, where we will take a look at the defensive side of the ball.

Here is the list of players available:

OFFENSE

QB
1. Kurt Warner (Arizona)
2. Matt Cassel (New England) – FRANCHISED
3. Kerry Collins (Tennessee)
4. Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay)
5. Byron Leftwich (Pittsburgh)
6. David Carr (NY Giants) – Resigned, 1 year, 2 million, by NY Giants
7. Luke McCown (Tampa Bay) – Resigned, 2 years, 4 millon, by Tampa Bay
8. Kyle Boller (Baltimore)
9. Chris Simms (Tennessee)
10. JP Losman (Buffalo)
11. Dan Orlovsky (Detroit)
12. Joey Harrington (Atlanta)
13. Rex Grossman (Chicago)
14. JT O’Sullivan (San Francisco)
15. Patrick Ramsey (Denver)

RB
1. Brandon Jacobs (NY Giants) – Resigned, 4 years, 25 million, by Giants
2. Derrick Ward (NY Giants)
3. Darren Sproles (San Diego) – FRANCHISED
4. Cedric Benson (Cincinnati)
5. LaMont Jordan (New England)
6. Fred Taylor (Cut)
7. Correll Buckhalter (Philly)
8. Dominic Rhodes (Indy)
9. Maurice Morris (Seattle)
10. JJ Arrington (Arizona)
11. DeShaun Foster (San Francisco)
12. Deuce McAlister (Cut)
13. Ahman Greene (Cut)

FB
1. Terrelle Smith (Arizona)
2. Heath Evans (New England)
3. Leonard Weaver (Seattle)
4. Moran Norris (San Francisco)
5. Tony Richardson (NY Jets)

WR
1. TJ Houshmandzadeh (Cincinnati)
2. Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay) – FRANCHISED
3. Lance Moore (RFA) (New Orleans)
4. Nate Washington (Pittsburgh)
5. Devery Henderson (New Orleans)
6. Malcolm Floyd (RFA) (San Diego)
7. Hank Baskett (RFA) (Philly)
8. Michael Clayton (Tampa Bay)
9. Reggie Williams (Jacksonville)
10. Bryant Johnson (San Francisco)
11. Bobby Engram (Seattle)
12. Jerry Porter (Cut)
13. Demetrius Williams (RFA) (Baltimore)
14. Brandon Jones (Tennessee)
15. Ronald Curry (Cut)
16. Jabar Gaffney (New England)
17. David Patten (Cut)
18. Marty Booker (Cut)
19. Amani Toomer (NY Giants)
20. Mike Furrey (Cut)
21. Justin McCareins – Resigned, 1 year, 730k, by Tennessee – Maybe

TE
1. Owen Daniels (RFA) (Houston)
2. Bo Scaife (Tennessee) – FRANCHISED
3. Chris Baker (Cut)
4. LJ Smith (Philadelphia)
5. Jerramy Stevens (Tampa Bay)
6. Leonard Pope (RFA) (Arizona)

OT
1. Jordan Gross (Carolina) – Resigned, 6 years, 60 Million, by Carolina
2. Vernon Carey (Miami) – Resigned, 6 years, 42 Million, by Miami
3. Stacy Andrews (Cincinnati)
4. Tra Thomas (Philly)
5. Mark Tauscher (Green Bay)
6. Marvel Smith (Pittsburgh)
7. Khalif Barnes (Jacksonville)
8. Max Starks (Pittsburgh) – FRANCHISED
9. Marc Columbo (Dallas) – Resigned, 4 years, 22 Million by Dallas
10. Jon Runyan (Philly)

OG
1. Jahri Evans (RFA) (New Orleans)
2. Brandon Moore (Cut)
3. Derrick Dockery (Cut)
4. Willie Colon (RFA) (Pittsburgh)
5. Chris Kemoeatu (Pittsburgh)
6. Cooper Carlisle (Oakland)
7. Stephen Peterman (Detroit) – Resigned, 5 years, 15 million, by Detroit
8. Harvey Dahl (RFA) (Atlanta)
9. Ray Willis (Seattle)
10. Russ Hochstein (New England)
11. Elton Brown (Arizona)
12. Pete Kendall (Washington)
13. Edwin Mulitalo (Cut)

OC
1. Jason Brown (Baltimore)
2. Matt Birk (Minnesota)
3. Jeff Saturday (Indy)
4. Brad Meester (Jacksonville)
5. Duke Preston (Buffalo)
6. Richie Incognito (St. Louis)
7. Eric Ghiaciuc (Cincinnati)
8. Melvin Fowler (Buffalo)
9. Nick Cole (RFA) (Philly)
10. Rudy Niswanger (RFA) (Kansas City)

DEFENSE

DT
1. Albert Haynesworth (Tennessee)
2. Rocky Bernard (Seattle)
3. Jonathan Babineaux (Atlanta) – Resigned, 5 years, 25 million by Atlanta
4. Jovan Haye (Tampa Bay)
5. Gabe Watson (RFA) (Arizona)
6. Dewayne Robertson (Cut)
7. Shaun Cody (Detroit)
8. Mike Wright (New England)
9. Tank Johnson (Dallas)
10. John Thornton (Cincinnati)
11. Marcus Tubbs (Seattle)
12. Colin Cole (Green Bay)
13. Ryan Sims (Tampa Bay) – Resigned, 4 years, value unknown, by Tampa Bay
14. Grady Jackson (Atlanta)
15. La’ Roi Glover (St. Louis)
16. Darwin Walker (Carolina)

DE
1. Julius Peppers (Carolina) – FRANCHISED
2. Terrell Suggs (Baltimore) – FRANCHISED
3. Chris Canty (Dallas)
4. Antonio Smith (Arizona)
5. Kalimba Edwards (Cut)
6. Igor Olshansky (San Diego)
7. Dwan Edwards (Baltimore) – Resigned, 1 year, 1 million, by Baltimore
8. Ebenezor Ekuban (Denver)
9. Bertrand Berry (Arizona)
10. Tully Banta-Cain (Cut) – Signed by New England, Terms Undisclosed
11. Kevin Carter (Tampa Bay)
12. Chauncey Davis (Atlanta)
13. David Bowens (Cut)
14. John Engleberger (Cut)

MLB
1. Ray Lewis (Baltimore)
2. Karlos Dansby (Arizona) – FRANCHISED
3. Bart Scott (Baltimore)
4. Jonathan Vilma (New Orleans)
5. Mike Peterson (Jacksonville)
6. Channing Crowder (Miami) – Resigned, 3 years, value undisclosed, by Miami
7. Eric Barton (NY Jets)
8. Andra Davis (Cleveland)
9. Takeo Spikes (San Francisco)
10. Zach Thomas (Dallas)
11. Nate Webster (Denver)
12. Niko Koutividies (Cut)
Notable Resigning – John DiGiorgio, terms undisclosed, by Buffalo Bills

OLB
1. Michael Boley (Atlanta)
2. Leroy Hill (Seattle) – FRANCHISED
3. Angelo Crowell (Buffalo)
4. Freddy Keiaho (RFA) (Indy)
5. Keith Brooking (Atlanta)
6. Marcus Washington (Cut)
7. Rashad Jeanty (RFA) (Cincinnati)
8. Pierre Woods (RFA) (New England)
9. Tyjuan Hagler (Indy)
10. Marques Harris (San Diego)
11. Dontarrious Thomas (Minnesota)
12. Morlon Greenwood (Cut)
13. Jamie Winborn (Cut)
14. Antwan Peek (Cut)

CB
1. Nnamdi Asomugha (Oakland) – Resigned, 3 years, 45 million, by Oakland
2. Chris Gamble (Carolina) – Resigned, 6 years, 53 million, by Carolina
3. Dunta Robinson (Houston) – FRANCHISED
4. Phillip Buchanon (Tampa Bay)
5. Domonique Foxworth (Atlanta)
6. Kelvin Hayden (Ind

y) – Resigned, 5 years, 43 million, by Indianapolis
7. Jabari Greer (Buffalo)
8. Bryant McFadden (Pittsburgh)
9. Ronald Bartell Jr (St. Louis)
10. Chris Johnson (Oakland) – Resigned, 4 Years, 15 million, by Oakland
11. Leigh Bodden (Cut)
12. Dre Bly (Cut)
13. Chris McAlister (Cut)
14. Adam Jones (Cut)
15. Andre Goodman (Miami)
16. Joselio Hanson (Philidelphia) – Resigned, 5 years, 21 million, by Philidelphia
17. DeMarcus Faggins (Houston)
18. Eric Green (Arizona)
19. David Barrett (Cut)
20. Daven Holly (Cleveland)
21. Ricky Manning Jr (St. Louis)
22. Karl Paymah (Denver)
23. Drayton Florence (Cut)
24. Sam Madison (Cut)
25. Terry Cousin (Cut)
Noteable Extension: Corey Webster (Giants) – Extended 5 years, 43 million, by Giants

S
1. Sean Jones (Cleveland)
2. Jermaine Phillips (Tampa Bay)
3. Oshiomogho Atogwe (St. Louis) – FRANCHISED
4. Yeremiah Bell (Miami) – Resigned, 4 years, 20 million, by Miami
5. Gibril Wilson (Cut) – Signed, 5 years, 27 million, by Miami
6. Dawan Landry (RFA) (Baltimore)
7. Jarrad Page (RFA) (Kansas City)
8. Eugene Wilson (Houston) – Resigned, 3 years, by Houston
9. Brian Dawkins (Philly)
10. Josh Bullocks (New Orleans)
11. Mike Brown (Chicago)
12. Atari Bigby (RFA) (Green Bay)
13. James Sanders (New England)
14. James Butler (NY Giants)
15. Jim Leonhard (Baltimore)
16. Keith Lewis (Cut)
17. Gerald Sensabaugh (Jacksonville)
18. Marquand Manuel (Cut)
19. Marlon McCree (Denver)
20. Corey Chavous (Cut)
21. Dwight Smith (Cut)
22. Sammy Knight (Cut)