Top Free Agent Landing Spots for Nick Chubb, J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards - Post NFL Draft

May 8, 2025

Joey predicts the top free agent landing spots for Nick Chubb, J.K. Dobbins, and Gus Edwards following the 2025 NFL Draft. His expert fantasy football draft analysis.

With the 2025 NFL Draft behind us, we now have a better understanding of what some teams might need before training camp. The Dallas Cowboys need some wide receiver help, the Pittsburgh Steelers could use a starting quarterback, and the New York Giants could use some depth at the offensive line position.

There are also a few teams that could use some veteran running backs on their roster. Luckily for them, a handful of solid running backs remain on the free-agent market. Three running backs some teams could be looking to add are Nick Chubb, J.K. Dobbins, and Gus Edwards.

But where will each of these three running backs sign in free agency? What teams are the best fits for Chubb, Dobbins, and Edwards? Let's dive in and find out the best landing spots for those three veterans.

Nick Chubb

Chubb was one of the best running backs in the NFL from 2019 to 2022. The former Cleveland Browns running back rushed for a combined 5,345 yards and 40 touchdowns in those four seasons while making four straight Pro Bowl appearances. Unfortunately, the veteran suffered a gruesome knee injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2 of the 2023 campaign.

Chubb then went on to miss the rest of the 2023 season and the start of the 2024 season as he worked his way back from that MCL/ACL injury. To no one's surprise, the 29-year-old wasn't exactly his former self in his first year back from that injury. He rushed for just 332 yards on 102 carries and averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry.

It wasn't a complete shock to see Chubb struggle on the ground in 2024. At his age, it's not easy to come back from those types of severe injuries. Some even thought that when the Browns running back tore his MCL in that Week 2 game, he would never play football again. So, seeing him on the field was a win in itself.

Although no team has picked him up in free agency yet, it's only a matter of time until Chubb is signed. He almost certainly won't be back with the Browns after they selected two running backs (Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson) in the 2025 NFL Draft. As a result, the veteran will likely play for a new team this upcoming season.

Nick Chubb wants you know he’s still a free agent: pic.twitter.com/GCAjtDdfrw

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 28, 2025

One team that could look to sign him in the next few weeks is the Chicago Bears. The Bears didn't select a running back until the seventh round of the draft, and they could use a powerful back like Chubb in their offense. He would be the perfect complement to D'Andre Swift in Chicago's backfield. This almost feels like a perfect landing spot for the seven-year veteran.

Update - On Monday, June 9, the Houston Texans signed Nick Chubb to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million that could be worth up to $5 million. Fantasy managers should expect the 29-year-old to compete for the No. 2 role alongside rookie Woody Marks and Dameon Pierce.

J.K. Dobbins

It is a bit shocking that Dobbins still finds himself a free agent in May. Despite dealing with some injuries throughout his NFL career, the 26-year-old continues to show his potential out of the backfield. That was surely the case with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.

After tearing his Achilles in Week 1 of the 2023 season, Dobbins took a one-year prove-it deal with the Chargers last offseason. He signed for just $1.6 million. However, he was worth more than that $1.6 million following a career year. The former Ohio State running back rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns across 13 games in 2024. 

Even though Dobbins missed time later in the year due to a knee injury, the 26-year-old stayed relatively healthy last year. His 13 games played were the most since his rookie season, and his 227 touches were the most in his career. Therefore, some team will surely pick him up in the coming months.

If Dobbins does not sign before training camp begins, the Chargers will have exclusive negotiation rights with the running back. That's because Los Angeles just recently placed the unrestricted free agent (UFA) tender on him. However, there's a strong chance that the 26-year-old will sign with a team very soon.

Chargers applied the unrestricted free-agent (UFA) tender to running back JK Dobbins, who remains eligible to sign with any team. Dobbins now will still count against the compensatory formula if he signs with another team before training camps open in July. But the Chargers will… pic.twitter.com/MvyFHgkLqI

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2025

The Bears are a possible landing spot for him, considering they could use another running back on offense. The Denver Broncos could also be a nice fit for Dobbins. Although the Broncos did draft RJ Harvey in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they could be looking to add a veteran to that running back group. As of now, Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Audric Estime are the top three running backs on that offense.

Therefore, Dobbins could fit perfectly in Denver. He could establish himself as a top running back in that offense and proved last season that he is capable of handling a solid workload. With the Chargers signing Najee Harris in free agency and drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round, we can expect the running back to play for a new team in 2025.

Update - On Tuesday, June 10, the Denver Broncos signed Dobbins to a one-year contract worth $5.25 million. Dobbins should be expected to compete for the starting role alongside rookie RJ Harvey.

Gus Edwards

Edwards and Dobbins have had similar paths in their NFL careers. Both players started their careers with the Baltimore Ravens, then signed with the Chargers last offseason, and are now free agents at the beginning of May. But it's hard to imagine Edwards and Dobbins playing together on the same team in 2025.

Not many teams need a running back, and there's no way a team will sign two running backs at this point in free agency. Still, Edwards will almost certainly be signed in the next few months before training camp begins. The 30-year-old can be that bruiser-type back for a lot of teams this upcoming season.

Chargers have informed running back Gus Edwards that he will be released and become a free agent, per source. pic.twitter.com/yFcmPPg0ar

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2025

Although he only rushed for 365 yards and four touchdowns last year with the Chargers, he totaled 810 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season with the Ravens in 2023. Given his 6-foot-1, 238-pound build, teams like the Bears and Cincinnati Bengals could be the perfect fit for the veteran running back.

The Bears are surely in the market for a running back to complement Swift out of the backfield. New head coach Ben Johnson is likely looking for a running back who can get those tough yards -- similar to how he used David Montgomery in that Lions offense over the past few years. Edwards would immediately be the short-yardage back for the Chicago offense.

We also shouldn't rule out the Bengals potentially signing Edwards at some point in free agency. There's no doubt that Chase Brown is the clear RB1 in that offense, but the team doesn't have a bigger back on its roster. With Cincinnati only adding one running back through the draft in 5-foot-9 Tahj Brooks, Edwards could be an upgrade over Zack Moss as the RB2.

Moss has dealt with some injuries over his career and hasn't been able to stay healthy. So, it wouldn't be surprising if the Bengals decided to bring in Edwards for some competition in the backfield. He would likely be the team's short-yardage back while playing second fiddle to Brown in that Cincinnati offense.

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