The NFL has entered the so-called "legal tampering period," which gives teams a chance to discuss contracts with potential free agents. That said, only a player's current team can complete a deal until March 10 at 4 p.m. ET, when the new league year begins.
Even though it's not the deepest free-agent class, there are certainly some big names that should attract plenty of interest in the days ahead—enough star power to shift the balance of power should two or three of them end up with the same team when the dust settles.
The lack of market depth along with the fact that almost every team is seeking upgrades in some areas should lead to some interesting battles. So let's check out some of the latest rumors making the rounds before the signing period gets underway.
Darrelle Revis
"Revis Island" remains an extremely difficult assignment for any wide receiver as the veteran cornerback heads toward his ninth season. He seemed to find a comfort zone with the New England Patriots en route to helping the team capture its fourth Super Bowl title.
It sounds like the perennial contenders have the inside track to keep him, as well. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports the corner is going to survey the market, and if another team isn't able to blow him away with an offer, he'll head back to New England:
The New York Jets may pose the biggest threat to the Pats' hopes of getting Revis back. He spent the first six years of his career in New York, and Adam Schefter of ESPN told Mad Dog Sports Radio the team wants him back badly:
New England has won 12 AFC East crowns since 2000. The Jets, and every other team in the division, understands that getting Revis back would be a major step toward continuing that dominance. Going all out to get one of the league's best corners back while keeping him away from the Pats is the right move.
Julius Thomas
Thomas caught 10 touchdowns in the first half of last season. Injuries slowed him down after that brilliant start, however, and he caught only two more the rest of the way. He still has a whopping 24 touchdowns over the past two years, though.
It would be tough for the Denver Broncos to bring him back after using the franchise tag on Demaryius Thomas. One team looking to make a splash that could take advantage is the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports:
Which of these FA situations are you watching most closely?
Which of these FA situations are you watching most closely?
Darrelle Revis
Julius Thomas
Frank Gore
The Jags are hopeful Blake Bortles can develop into a franchise quarterback. They won't know for sure until they are able to surround him with more weapons. The athletic Thomas, who's a matchup nightmare in the red zone, would be a major step in the right direction.
Jacksonville does feature solid depth at wide receiver despite lacking a true No. 1 target. Thomas could help bring everything together. Of course, the number of tight ends that can match his impact is small, meaning the Jaguars will likely face plenty of competition.
Frank Gore
Gore has been one of the most consistently productive running backs in the league for the past decade. He's never averaged less than four yards per carry, and his power was still evident last season. The market for aging runners—he's 31—is always uncertain, though.
It's an era where teams are hesitant to pay big bucks for backs. So Gore could generate interest for multiple teams, but the type of deal he could command is a mystery. Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com reports that the Philadelphia Eagles are one team likely to get involved:
A person with knowledge of the situation, who requested anonymity, told NJ Advance Media that the Eagles have expressed interest in free-agent running back Frank Gore.
That person said a deal with the San Francisco 49ers star could get done as early as Tuesday, the first day free agents can sign with another team.
The 49ers aren't ruling out bringing him back into the fold, either. Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle passed along comments team owner Jed York made to the outlet's Ann Killion about the Gore situation:
Joining the Eagles is probably an intriguing possibility for Gore, as the team's fast-paced offense would guarantee him a lot of touches. He's spent his entire career with the 49ers, though. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him back there in the end.
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