Top 25 2015 NFL Free Agents with predictions

By Keegan Matheson | Feb 12, 2015

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Sep 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88) celebrates with running back DeMarco Murray (29) after a touchdown during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

As Super Bowl XLIV slowly fades in the rear view mirror, the 2015 offseason is beginning to feel underway with an exciting crop of NFL free agents on the horizon. Competing for NFL free agents is a risky business, as bidding wars often inflate a player’s value well beyond their worth. For every Albert Haynesworth, however, there is a Drew Brees or Reggie White, and 2015 could be the right time to buy.

Looking back just one season, it’s easy to see how quickly a free agent signing can revive a struggling unit or drag a team down. Golden Tate finally provided the Detroit Lions with a second option in their passing game, DeMarcus Ware looked reborn in Denver and Justin Forsett came out of nowhere to lead the Baltimore offense along with fellow free agent Steve Smith. At the same time, we see huge disappointments in the forms of Toby Gerhart, Josh McCown, LaMarr Woodley and Hakeem Nicks, among many others.

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Within a month, on March 7th, teams can begin to negotiate with pending unrestricted NFL free agents. At 4:00ET on March 10th, the 2015 league year begins with the opening of free agency and a flood of contracts signed. Ahead, we take a look at the top-25 free agents in this class. While some may choose to stay put or be forced to do so by a franchise tag, the list of available talent is encouraging.

Ranking players with such varied ages and positions can prove to be difficult, especially given that many players could be a top-10 target to some teams, or a non-target to an organization who doesn’t deem them a schematic fit. Along the way, we’ll discuss some potential landing spots for each.

One of the largest factors in all of this is the cap space available to each franchise. Teams like the Jaguars, Browns and Raiders, who I expect to spend big under their great new hire in Jack Del Rio, will be linked to dozens of names due to their financial abilities alone. On the other hand, you have a team like the New Orleans Saints, who have buried themselves in a difficult cap situation that could limit them to one free agent addition at most.

First up, and in no particular order, a quick look at some names that just missed the cut. While the top-end talent in this free agent class is clear, this list of honorable mentions suggests that the group of players ranked from 10-40 could be quite interchangeable, and will provide some tough choices for buyers in 2015.

Just missed: OLB Brandon Graham, DT Jared Odrick, G Orlando Franklin, CB Chris Culliver, TE Charles Clay, RB Mark Ingram, RB Frank Gore, C Rodney Hudson, OLB Jabaal Sheard, ILB Rolando McClain, CB Kareem Jackson, WR Michael Crabtree, CB Tramon Williams.

Next: #25: An injured, yet talented, Redskins pass-rusher