Before the free agency, DNA of Sports offers you its traditional Top 5 free agents which will be available at each position on March 15. We continue here with the running backs.
From mid-March, dozens of riders will be available for franchises. From the runner capable of being a threat in the air to the additional runner in a committee, through the veteran who will bring serenity, there will be something for everyone.
Three of them performed particularly well and will be the headliners of this 2023 vintage.
1 – Saquon Barkley – 26 years old
Stats 2022 (16 games played): 1,312 yards rushing, 4.4 yards/rush and 10 TDs + 76 receptions and 338 yards.
This year marked the strong comeback of Saquon Barkley. Impressive during his rookie and sophomore years, the runner from Penn State had been slowed by injuries since. The 2020 and 2021 seasons had been very complicated, to the point of wondering if he would return to his best level. His 16 games in 2022 have set the record straight.
Able to play with his speed as well as his power, at ease in aerial play, real security for his quarterback in pass protection… Saquon Barkley knows how to do everything. Players like him don’t often become free agents and a lot of franchises should definitely be on the lookout.
The ideal destination: New York Giants
It would be a shame for Barkley and the Giants to stop on such a good path. The running back seems to have found an environment where he can perform. Brian Daboll made him one of the leading lights of his attack.
The problem for New York is that both their starting running back AND their starting quarterback become free agents at the same time.
Certainly, the leaders have the weapon of the franchise tag, but they can only use it once. Negotiations have already started with Barkley and both parties would be well advised to find a long-term agreement.
2 – Josh Jacobs – 25 years old
Stats 2022 (17 games played): 1,653 yards rushing, 4.9 yards/rush and 12 TDs + 53 receptions and 400 yards.
He has been the most consistent player on the Las Vegas offense this season. Overexploited by Josh McDaniels (393 balls hit), he never disappointed.
Josh Jacobs is typically the modern running back: hyper-versatile and unpredictable. His first three seasons had been good with the Raiders, but this one marked a meteoric rise.
Except that the leaders had decided not to activate the 5th year as an option on his rookie contract and now find themselves with their backs to the wall.
The ideal destination: Las Vegas Raiders
It’s hard to see the Raiders let the runner go. We have seen this season that the current was going pretty well between him and his coach. The latter did not hesitate to request it as soon as possible. Thanks to the franchise tag, Las Vegas is not obliged to agree on a long-term agreement.
In any case, it would be good form to keep it so that you can quickly think about other priority issues in Nevada (the quarterback, the offensive line, etc.)
3 – Tony Pollard – 26 years old
Stats 2022 (16 games played): 1,007 yards rushing, 5.2 yards/rush and 9 TDs + 39 receptions, 371 yards and 3 TDs.
Normally, Tony Pollard would perhaps be the first player on this list. His stats are no better than Barkley and Jacobs, but he has to share the ball with Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas. Looking closer, we see that it displays the best average yards gained per attempt.
The only concern for him, a serious injury in the last game of the season which places a big question mark on his off-season. Pollard broke his leg against the 49ers in January and will be going through a long healing process. He should, however, be available for the resumption of the season, but how many franchises will be willing to take the risk? That’s what we call getting hurt at the worst time.
The ideal destination: Dallas Cowboys
Like its two previous counterparts, no surprises are predicted here. The Cowboys seem to have understood it, he is the runner who must embody the future of the franchise in this position. Ezekiel Elliott could even be cut, to make way for Tony Pollard who would then assert himself as the real running back number 1.
4 – Mile Sanders – 26 years old
2022 stats (17 games played): 1,269 rushing yards, 4.9 yards/game and 11 TDs + 20 receptions and 78 yards.
Some would say it’s easy to run behind a line as dominant as the Eagles. They are not necessarily wrong. That being said, Miles Sanders has shown enough since coming to the league to be considered one of the best running backs in the NFL.
Despite a talented group of runners in Pennsylvania, Miles Sanders had established himself as Nick Sirianni’s number one option. Not sure that’s enough to stay, but it will be enough to attract signing suitors.
The ideal destination: Buffalo Bills
What if he was Buffalo’s missing piece? For a few seasons, Sean McDermott has been trying to develop the racing game to relieve Josh Allen and bring diversity. There is still a lot of work to do for the AFC East champions in 2022, but signing Miles Sanders would automatically take the ground game to the next level.
5 – David Montgomery – 26 years old
Stats 2022 (16 games played): 801 yards rushing, 3.9 yards/rush and 5 TDs + 34 receptions, 316 yards and 1 TD
If the first four players in this ranking were quite obvious, the fifth brings more questions. We decided to highlight David Montgomery, in front of players like Damien Harris, Jamaal Williams or Leonard Fournette.
Active for four years in the league, the Chicago runner has been productive, both on the ground and in the air. He was sometimes one of the few rays of sunshine in the attack of the Bears.
He can play on all three attempts without becoming a burden. For four seasons, he has also been one of the most successful players in breaking tackles (185 since 2019, the 5th highest total in the league). He has all the qualities to seduce.
The ideal destination: Denver Broncos
With the advent of Khalil Herbert, not sure that the Bears are doing everything to retain their runner. In this perspective, David Montgomery would fit perfectly in an attack carried by Sean Payton.
The Broncos already have their number 1 running, Javonte Williams, but he will unfortunately be sidelined for the season. We therefore need a fallback solution for Denver and it could be named David Montgomery.
Other interesting names: Jamaal Williams, Damien Harris, Jerick McKinnon, Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt, Devin Singletary, Raheem Mostert, Rashaad Penny, Jeff Wilson Jr., Samaje Perine, Alexander Mattison
