The NFL scouting combine is a big week in the offseason.
Draft prospects work out and meet with teams. Teams see agents and get a better idea what free agency will hold for them. General managers get reacquainted and feel each other out for future trades. A lot of seeds are planted in Indianapolis this week.
So with the NFL’s offseason getting into full swing this week at the combine, it’s also a good time to look at the 10 biggest questions in the NFL with free agency and the draft coming up faster than you think:
Will Ray Rice play in 2015?
Considering Rice, who was involved in a domestic violence incident that has become synonymous with commissioner Roger Goodell’s tenure, has been free to sign with anyone for a while, it’s possible the answer is no. Maybe he’ll be more attractive during a second wave of free agency when teams find they didn’t land anyone viable at running back in the first wave and there aren’t many great options left over. Rice is not helped by the fact that the last time we saw him play in 2013, he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. Rice might resurface but he has to be concerned he won’t get that second chance.
Where will Adrian Peterson play in 2015?
Unlike Rice, Peterson is still considered an elite talent. The ice seems to be thawing in Minnesota, with Vikings officials saying they’d welcome Peterson back despite the incident last season in which he pleaded no contest in an incident in which he disciplined his son with a switch. Something may need to happen with his $12.75 million base salary, which is a huge amount for a running back in this era. The best guess is something works out with the Vikings. If not, he'll play somewhere (and no, I'm not buying it being the Dallas Cowboys).
Most likely landing spot for Darrelle Revis?
Assuming the Patriots don’t pick up Revis’ massive option for 2015 ($25 million cap hit), where does the All-Pro cornerback land? Well, how about New England? The Patriots have expressed a desire to bring Revis back on a long-term deal. One has to assume winning a Super Bowl with the Patriots was a fun experience for Revis. Coming back to New England makes sense for everyone.
If not Revis, who will be the biggest free agent to switch teams?
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to the Oakland Raiders seems like a reasonable fit. The Raiders have a ton of cap room (again) and general manager Reggie McKenzie can’t afford to strike out completely in free agency (again). The Lions will clearly try to resign Suh, but they better get it done before free agency starts. If he hits the market, some team is going to break the bank for him.
Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota at No. 1?
The only thing that seems for certain is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take a quarterback at No. 1. If they don’t, cutting Josh McCown will look really dumb. So who will it be? If you’re just looking at film, Winston might win because Mariota didn’t run an NFL-style offense at Oregon. But Winston has off-field questions. I’d bet on Winston but that could change before the draft in late April.
If Peyton Manning returns to the Broncos, how good will he be?
From various reports, Manning wants to come back to the Broncos and the Broncos want Manning back. Perhaps there’s a holdup over money, but it would be an upset if he’s not back under center with the Broncos for another season. But after Manning slipped last season, can he still be elite? The best guess is he’ll be managed more, like he was at the end of last season. He had 47 or more attempts four times in Denver’s first 10 games, and that’s unlikely to happen again with Manning turning 38 next month. Then maybe he’ll be fresher in December and January. He still had a 101.5 rating last year; it’s not like he’s going to fall off completely in 2015. If he returns, that is.
Who will be the opening day starting QB for the Browns?
The Browns probably have little choice but to try to retain free agent Brian Hoyer (if he wants to come back to Cleveland, of course). Johnny Manziel is working on things off the field, in a treatment facility, and he’s no sure thing on the field. There’s nothing in free agency; Hoyer is the top quarterback option by far. There’s no easy fix for the Browns in the middle of the first round, where they have two picks. They’ll probably overpay Hoyer because the unknown at quarterback is a scary place.
What will happen to Jay Cutler?
It has been a while since we heard anything about Cutler being traded. Again, when teams face the unknown at quarterback they don’t always make good choices. Someone would probably offer the Bears a get out of jail free card and take on Cutler’s horrible contract in a trade (there are a lot of desperate teams at quarterback), but that means the Bears would be rebooting at quarterback. Mediocrity at quarterback is better for job security among coaches and front office personnel than starting over. So it seems Cutler will be back.
Will Marshawn Lynch play again?
It seems like we’re going to get Lynch retirement rumors every offseason until he actually does it. Will this be the year he walks away? The Seattle Seahawks say they don’t know. There was a report that the Seahawks would offer Lynch an extension that would pay him $10 million in 2015, and while it would seem that would be enough to lure Lynch back for at least another year, you can never be sure with him.
Do the Cowboys retain Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray or both?
Two of the Cowboys’ big three on offense are free agents. It seems impossible to believe Bryant hits free agency. It would be a shock if he doesn’t receive the franchise tag if a long-term deal isn’t worked out. Murray is trickier. He is coming off an All-Pro season but he unfortunately finds himself in the “we won’t invest in running backs” era. It’s hard to believe that after such a successful season that Jerry Jones wouldn’t want to run it back, but it’s no guarantee Murray will be back.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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