Top Free Agents by Position: Running Back Edition
Top Free Agents by Position: Running Back Edition
Running back
Derrick Henry
Melvin Gordon
Kenyan Drake
Carlos Hyde
Kareem Hunt
Honorable Mention
Lamar Miller
Jordan Howard
Austin Ekeler
Matt Breida
LeSean McCoy
Derrick Henry
The league leader in rushing peaked at the right time. He led the league in carries and yards and went on a playoff run that not too many people have seen before done by a running back. He totaled over 450 yards rushing in three games and willed his Titans to an AFC Championship game. They didn’t win the game, but he did everything in his power to will his team to the big game. Even though they didn’t win he still had an amazing game, and he showed the Titans last year only went as far as he carried them. Whenever he had over 100 yards on the ground, they went a perfect 8-0. The Titans have a lot of decision to make this offseason but one of their main priorities is resigning the 6-3 behemoth they have carrying the ball. If they don’t sign him, he will have plenty of suitors as he wasn’t used too often to start his career and only recently had a bulk amount of the carries. He would fit well with teams like the Dolphins, Chargers, Saints, and Falcons.
Melvin Gordon
Now, this guy is a different case than the previous one. Melvin Gordon had three very good seasons until this year. This past year, he decided to try the hold out until he got a new contract and it didn’t work for him. He sat out until week 4 and didn’t play until week 5. It took him a few games before he got going on a small role. Even when he did, he only went over 100 yards rushing once all season and went over 80 yards only three times. He still was able to find the endzone, although he wasn’t the same productive player from the last two years. In his last two years, he averaged ten touchdowns and over 900 yards on the ground. Not only did his rushing productive drop, so did his receiving total. He was a true dual-threat back. He let Austin Ekeler overtake him in the last three seasons, but he still was a threat in the last two previous seasons. In those seasons he averaged 50 catches and 475 yards with 4 touchdowns. Hopefully, next year whichever team he is on he will bounce back into form on a new deal. My favorites for his option of teams are Chargers, Lions, Buccaneers, and Texans. Chargers are an easy spot, but the surprise pick is the Texans. The image of Watson and Gordon in a backfield is a scary threat especially paired with a trio of wideouts like Hopkins, Fuller, and Stills.
Kareem Hunt
Kareem Hunt is an enigma when it comes to his status and future. He had a solid season in Cleveland for only a half year. Yet, he showed that he still can do the job in both the rushing and passing game. Now, the only main issue is if he can stay eligible to play. He recently got in trouble again with the law in a route stop. He was on camera pleading to get a break after he was caught with marijuana and an empty container of alcohol in the car. This is a player that just needs to stay out of trouble and he can truly be a dangerous player going forward for years to come. His best options for next year are to play on one year prove it deals where he can show that one he can play a full season and produce similar numbers to his rookie and sophomore campaigns. He also have to show that he can stay out of trouble for extended periods and that his past is just that, the past. His best options of teams to sign him would be the Buccaneers, Chargers, Dolphins, Lions, and Redskins. These teams all could be in the market for a dual-threat back. Yet, my favorite is for him to go to the Redskins. Adrian Peterson is getting older and shouldn’t have too much more tread on his tires. Combine that with two backs under him that can’t seem to stay healthy and there can be a good vacancy for Hunt to show he can carry the load. Haskins would get a solid young back to hand off to or dump off to in critical times while he still progresses.
-By: Darren Braxton
Writer/Interviewer