Lammey: Buzz around the NFL before free agency kicks off

Author’s note: Covering the NFL since 2003, I’ve been able to generate contacts with every team in the league. This is the time of year when those relationships come in handy.

NFL teams have entered the offseason mode, and information is swirling around the atmosphere of the league. If you know who to ask, you can learn some interesting things about the direction of these franchises as they prepare for the 2017 season.

Here’s some of the latest buzz I’m hearing from around the NFL with free agency set to start later this week.

T.J. Lang on the Broncos radar

The free agent class has a few interesting offensive linemen for teams to consider. While it’s not a great offensive tackle collection, there are some guards who could be in line for big money deals in free agency. One of those guards is T.J. Lang, who is unlikely to re-sign with the Green Bay Packers.

Lang is arguably the most highly sought after guard on the open market. He could land a deal that pays him nearly $8 million per year.

Buzz:  The Broncos are interested in upgrading their offensive line, and they might start inside at the guard position. Lang is a tough player who could fit the power/gap scheme the Broncos are implementing this season.

Sources indicate the Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings should be considered the frontrunners for Lang’s services.

Adrian Peterson would take Patriots discount

One of the best running backs to ever play this game is Adrian Peterson. For the first time in his career, he may not be playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 2017.

Peterson did not have his 2017 option exercised, and he’ll become an unrestricted free agent on March 9. Teams like the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots could be interested in the superstar running back, but only one of those teams could get Peterson at a discounted price.

Buzz: Peterson wants to compete for a championship, and going to the Patriots would give him a strong chance. Sources indicate Peterson may be willing to play for a discount in order to join the Patriots.

The team could lose LeGarrette Blount in free agency, and they’d be in search of a two-down thumper like Peterson. The Patriots have plenty of salary cap space ($61.9 million), but it may not take as much to sign Peterson as it would for other teams.

Martellus Bennett could land in AFC West

There is going to be an influx of incredible tight end talent coming into the NFL via the 2017 NFL draft. This could be the best tight end class in NFL history, so that makes the free agent market tougher for veterans looking for a new team.

That’s not going to be the case for Martellus Bennett. After winning the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, Bennett is set to hit the open market.

Buzz: The Raiders need a tight end to improve their high-powered passing attack. They hoped Clive Walford would develop into that guy when they drafted him a couple of years ago, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Bennett is looking for a big payday, and the Raiders have the cap space to make him happy.

 

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