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The 2024 NFL offseason is nearly here. Teams can use the franchise tag on one upcoming free agent between now and March 5.
Free agents can start negotiating with teams starting March 11. While no contract can become official until March 13, most top-tier free agents already have deals before the new league year starts.
Unfortunately, running backs have difficulty finding massive offers on the open market. Teams have devalued the running position over the past few years, especially when handing them a new long-term contract. Let’s look at the top 10 free-agent running backs for the 2024 offseason.
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Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Barkley is one of the more talented running backs in the NFL. Unfortunately, he has struggled with injuries in his career, missing 25.3% of the games. The former Penn State star has dealt with numerous ankle injuries, including a high-ankle sprain in 2023 that cost him three weeks. Barkley is a difference maker when healthy, averaging 75.8 rushing yards per game over the past two seasons.
Last year, the superstar running back had to play under the franchise tag. He repeatedly voiced his displeasure with the team’s decision throughout the past 12 months. However, Barkley likely won’t receive the franchise tag again this offseason. Reportedly, the Giants will let the veteran test the open market. While he could return to New York, the two teams most likely to sign him are the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers.
Giants Considering Letting Saquon Barkley Test Free Agency? https://t.co/uSBrmwRPx0
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) February 16, 2024
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Unfortunately, Jacobs finds himself in a similar boat as Saquon Barkley. The veteran running back had the fifth-year option in his rookie contract declined heading into the 2022 season. Jacobs went on to have a monster year, posting career highs in rushing yards (1,653) and touchdowns (12). He also led the NFL in offensive touches (393) and scrimmage yards (2,053). The Raiders slapped the franchise tag on Jacobs last offseason, leading to him sitting out most of training camp.
After starting the year slowly, Jacobs looked like a superstar running back again. Unfortunately, he suffered a quad injury in the Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, ending his 2023 season. Jacobs’ value with the team took a hit during the four weeks he missed. Zamir White stepped up and played at a high level as the starter. While he could return to Las Vegas, Jacobs likely will play elsewhere in 2024.
D'Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles
Many were frustrated with Swift’s role with the Detroit Lions. The former Georgia RB had star potential but never got enough touches to break out in Detroit. Head coach Dan Campbell limited Swift’s workload to protect him from injury. Instead, he ended up giving Jamaal Williams more touches than he deserved. Swift got traded to the Eagles during the 2023 NFL Draft and had a breakout year.
The veteran running back had 229 rushing attempts for 1,049 yards and five rushing touchdowns in his first season with Philadelphia. By comparison, Swift had 250 rushing attempts and 1,159 yards over the previous two years. Surprisingly, the running back didn’t miss a game until Week 18 before returning for the team’s playoff matchup. Swift could return to Philadelphia depending on how the free-agent market shakes out.
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Pollard had a breakout season in 2022 after the Cowboys made him a co-starter with Ezekiel Elliott, totaling 193 rushing attempts for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns. Many in the fantasy football community were excited to draft the former Memphis star after Dallas released Elliott last offseason. Unfortunately, the explosive running back struggled last season, averaging a career-low four yards per rushing attempt.
Despite earning 59 more rushing attempts in 2023 than the year before, Pollard had fewer rushing yards and saw his touchdown production cut in half. Yet, Pollard says he wasn’t healthy until the second half of the year after suffering a broken leg during the playoff game. Dallas likely views Pollard as a 1B running back rather than a featured guy. Meanwhile, Micah Parsons says he wants the explosive running back to return next season.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Micah Parsons thinks that Tony Pollard should get another shot with the #Cowboys and says the team needs to get a “nasty” interior lineman, via @stephenasmith’s show.
“I would say toward the end of the season Tony Pollard was catching his rhythm again. I do… pic.twitter.com/0iT8fECLW3
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 20, 2024
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
While Ekeler fought against every narrative that undrafted running backs never pan out in the NFL, his time as a superstar is over. The veteran had outstanding back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022, totaling at least 1,550 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns both years. Furthermore, he led the NFL in offensive scores in both seasons. Yet, Ekeler has surprisingly never made the Pro Bowl in his career.
Much will change in Los Angeles this offseason. Jim Harbaugh takes over as the head coach. Many believe he will either sign a big-name running back like Saquon Barkley in free agency or target his former Michigan backfield star Blake Corum during the NFL Draft. Either way, Ekeler’s days with the team are likely over. Don’t be surprised if he lands with the Washington Commanders after they hired Anthony Lynn as their run game coordinator.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
Many considered Moss’ NFL career on a downward spiral after the Buffalo Bills drafted James Cook in 2022. Instead, the former Utah star saw his career rebound after getting traded to the Colts. The veteran played well, filling in for Jonathan Taylor since joining the team. He averaged 93.3 rushing yards per game over the first three contests without the superstar running back this year.
Furthermore, Moss had at least 70 rushing yards in every game despite facing some top-tier run defenses in those three contests. While his role was minimized after Taylor got 100% healthy, the veteran still made an impact for Indianapolis. If the Colts give 2023 fifth-round pick Evan Hull the first crack at being Taylor’s backup, Moss could cash in on the open market as a low-end starting running back.
Devin Singletary, Houston Texans
Ironically, the next guy on the free-agent list saw his career take a turn because of James Cook. Singletary spent the first four career seasons with the Buffalo Bills, totaling at least 685 rushing yards every year. He ended his time in Buffalo with back-to-back seasons of at least 800 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Unfortunately, the veteran had to take a one-year deal with the Texans last offseason.
The former Florida Atlantic star started the 2023 season as Dameon Pierce’s backup and then co-starter. However, Singletary eventually pulled away with the featured role. He ended the year with 898 rushing yards, a career-high. Despite Singletary’s productive end to the regular season, Houston reportedly could chase after a big-name running back in free agency.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: There's buzz around the #NFL that the #Texans could try to improve at the runningback position to help C.J. Stroud, per @JFowlerESPN
Names like Saquon Barkley or division-rival Derrick Henry could be names to watch.
Read More Here: https://t.co/zDQSkVG1iT pic.twitter.com/RBcEhdvi6d
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 20, 2024
Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots
While many called Elliott washed up or over the hill last offseason, the former No. 4 overall draft pick surprised some in New England. He started the season as the No. 2 running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson. Yet, his role with the team grew as the Patriots realized their passing attack was a disaster. More importantly, Elliott stepped up when Stevenson missed time with an injury.
New England was without Stevenson for the final five games of the regular season. The veteran averaged 19.8 touches for 74.4 scrimmage yards per game, totaling three touchdowns in those five contests. Where Elliott had the biggest impact was the passing game. He remains one of the top pass-protecting running backs in the NFL. Furthermore, the veteran had 51 receptions last season, his highest total since 2020.
A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones struggled to stay healthy last season. Yet, he ended the year playing so well that many around the NFL believe the veteran will return to Green Bay in 2024. However, the same can’t be said for Dillon. The former Boston College star averaged 5.3 yards per rushing attempt in limited action as a rookie. However, he has never averaged more than 4.3 yards per rushing attempt any year since his promising rookie season.
More importantly, Dillon never got better as a player. Instead, his rushing total and yards per attempt have declined in three consecutive years. When the Packers needed him to step up with Jones out of the lineup, Dillon totaled 55 or fewer rushing yards in all but one game. While his time in Green Bay is likely over, Dillon should find a new home on the open market as a No. 2 running back.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
Much has changed for Gibson during his four years with Washington. During the two years the franchise was known as the Washington Football Team, Gibson was considered one of the top up-and-coming running backs in the NFL. He averaged 4.7 yards per rushing attempt and had 11 touchdowns as a rookie. Many thought the former Memphis star would become a top-10 running back after his rookie year.
Instant impact for @WashingtonNFL's new RB.
The TOP plays from @AntonioGibson14's rookie season! pic.twitter.com/uMwnqGPXH3
— NFL (@NFL) March 13, 2021
However, things drastically changed when the franchise became the Washington Commanders. While the name change didn’t impact Gibson’s production, the addition of Brian Robinson Jr. played a significant role. Gibson had 258 rushing attempts in 2021. By comparison, he had 214 rushing attempts in 31 games over the past two years with Robinson on the team. While Gibson isn’t the star running back many thought, the veteran could be this year’s Zack Moss and prove the doubters wrong on a new team.
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