We're now a few days deep into the 2017 edition of NFL free agency. While many of the pool's top talents have been snatched up, there are still plenty of quality players available.
Standout running back Adrian Peterson remains unsigned, as does linebacker Dont'a Hightower. The Cleveland Brown recently released quarterback Robert Griffin III onto the market, and the Dallas Cowboys may soon do the same with Tony Romo.
What does the next stage of free agency have in store? While we can't totally be sure, we do have plenty of swirling rumors to go by. We're going to examine some of the latest here, while providing our own predictions for each situation.
Latest Buzz
Browns Shopping Osweiler
We mentioned that the Browns released Griffin, though he isn't likely to generate a ton of interest on the open market. However, Griffin might not be the only quarterback the Browns send to the open market this offseason.
See, the Browns essentially rocked the football world on the opening day of free agency by trading for Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler. The shocker wasn't necessarily that the Browns traded for Osweiler (though that was a bit surprising) but that Cleveland didn't really do the deal for Osweiler.
Houston sent a second-round draft pick to Cleveland as part of the deal so that the Browns would take on Osweiler's hefty contract. The pick was the priority for the Browns, not the quarterback, as Ben Volin of the Boston Globe pointed out:
Now, it appears the Browns are looking to flip Osweiler back to another team. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns are trying to trade Osweiler for another pick:
It was always all about the pick, and never about the quarterback. The Browns have been offering Osweiler to teams for about a third-round pick, and are willing to give back a fifth-rounder, multiple league sources tell cleveland.com. The Browns would also eat a portion of Osweiler's $16 million contract, as much as half, sources say.
If the Browns cannot trade Osweiler, per Cabot, they will simply release him. If there's a team out there with any real interest in the quarterback, they may be inclined to do a deal to secure him before he hits the open market.
Prediction: Browns don't get their third-round pick, but do manage to move Osweiler.
Teams Not Interested in Trading for Romo
The Cowboys have yet to release Romo, as the team is looking to deal the quarterback rather than simply release him. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, however, this is likely what Dallas will be forced to do:
The two teams that have been most linked to Romo to this point are the Denver Broncos and the Texans. By clearing Osweiler's contract off the books, the Texans now have the cap space to pursue Romo should he hit the open market.
The Denver Broncos also have the cap space—nearly $18 million, per Spotrac—though they might not be as interested in signing the oft-injured veteran.
Per NFL Media's James Palmer, the Broncos didn't (at least publicly) act thrilled about the news the Cowboys intended to release Romo at the start of free agency:
Of course, the Cowboys didn't release Romo right away, and this is perhaps why the Broncos didn't begin champing at the bit to plan for him. The reality is that the Broncos still have Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch on the roster and would only need to plan for Romo should his addition become imminent.
Given Denver's reported lack of interest in Romo, there isn't really any reason for the Texans to jump with a trade offer either. It certainly feels like Dallas is destined to dump Romo at some point, so teams can bide their time and focus on other moves until then.
Prediction: Romo is released, signs with Houston.
Peterson in 'No Rush to Pick Team
The Minnesota Vikings decided not to pick up the option of running back Adrian Peterson this offseason, sending the bruising runner to the open market. However, teams haven't exactly been beating down the door to sign Peterson, and he remains a free agent.
According to ESPN's Ben Goessling, Peterson is in no rush to sign a deal:
The reality here, though, is that there is a reason Peterson isn't in a rush to sign. Teams are not offering him the type of contract that he would hurry to ink—if teams are offering Peterson anything at all at this point.
Peterson's father, Nelson, has linked the running back to the Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders. While nothing definitive has emerged about these teams' interest in Peterson, they would both make sense for him.
Oakland boasts an offensive line that was rated fifth in run blocking by Pro Football Focus last season. Seattle employs former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
“You look at the connections in Seattle, so there’s definitely interest there,” Nelson Peterson said, per Chris Tomasson of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. “Marshawn Lynch is not there, and [the Seahawks are] looking for that power back, so they’re definitely in the running,”
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, however, the Seahawks have "no immediate interest" in signing Peterson.
With younger backs like Eddie Lacy and Latavius Murray still sitting around the free-agent market, Peterson could be waiting a while.
Prediction: Peterson signs one-year deal with Raiders.