Former Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (20) - Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Is the running back position in the NFL still valuable? Are these 12 free-agent running back moves worth these athletes getting paid way under the salary cap?
You are correct if you answered yes to one or more of these questions.
Let’s see if these 12 running back moves live up to the production they hope to bring to their new teams.
12 Running Back Moves
- Tony Pollard – From Cowboys to Titans: (Average salary: $7.25 million)
Pollard did show last year that he could be a starting-caliber running back in the NFL. With Dallas, he did an adequate job replacing Ezekiel Elliot but could have shown more spark.
Now playing for the Tennessee Titans, he could be a critical piece to the Titan’s running game. By sharing time with Tyjae Spears, they could be the pieces to bring the offense back to life.
In today’s NFL, Pollard should be an RB1, but the 27-year-old needs to be more of a consistent spark plug to take over for Derrick Henry.
2024 Projection: Help team
2. Zack Moss – From Colts to Bengals: (Average salary: $4 million)
Moss has had quite an interesting journey, taking a circuitous route from the Buffalo Bills all the way to the Cincinnati Bengals.
With this in mind, since being drafted in 2020, Moss has shown off his power by trucking over defenders. The one thing the 26-year-old lacks in the NFL is speed and pass-catching abilities.
Still, this is a nice, low-cost signing by the Bengals to replace the more expensive and troubled Joe Mixon. He should get a chance to be the featured back on third downs for this offense.
2024 Projection: Help team
3. Antonio Gibson – From Commanders to Patriots: (Average salary: $3.75 million)
The Patriots may have finally gone back to their roots with this terrific signing of Gibson. All in all, New England has signed its first mainstream pass-catching back since James White did it famously well with Tom Brady.
Nevertheless, Gibson should be slated to come in on third downs and possess the ball to create yards after contact.
The 26-year-old may have been fumble-prone, but the Patriots can deal with that. They haven’t had that yards-after-the-catch type of back and really could use it in their first year under head coach Jerod Mayo.
2024 Projection: Help team
4. Gus Edwards – From Ravens to Chargers (Average salary: $3.5 million)
This is definitely a hit-or-miss signing for the LA Chargers. Edwards is a great goal-line back and will be reuniting with Greg Roman. However, Jim Harbaugh loves to “ground and pound” with a strong running attack.
Although the Chargers could draft a feature back later this month, that would take the load off of the 29-year-old. Nonetheless, the Chargers are in win mode now, so Edwards must produce this year.
Otherwise, it’s hasta la vista.
2024 Projection: Hurt team
5. D’Andre Swift – From Eagles to Bears (Average salary: $8 million)
Swift joined the first-timers club last year, reaching over 1,000 yards rushing on 200+ carries. To make things better, the 25-year-old stayed healthy for the first time in four years.
Although the current Bears’ ball carrier ran behind the best offensive line with the Eagles led by center Jason Kelce, this doesn’t mean that success can’t happen in Chi-town.
Not surprisingly, the Bears should be drafting USC quarterback Caleb Williams as number one overall. The Bears need Swift to produce in Chicago. Therefore, they need to work with Williams to make their offense work.
Some people could argue the Bears paid a ton of money for Swift. I believe, however, that $8 million a year over the next three years is a steal for a second contract for the tailback.
2024 Projection: Help team
6. Aaron Jones – From Packers to Vikings (Average salary: $7 million)
It’s no surprise that Jones dominated during his time in Green Bay. If not for injuries last year, Jones could have dominated again.
Leading the way for the Packers’ magical wild-card playoff upset over the Dallas Cowboys, Jones should have stayed in Lambeau. However, it wasn’t meant to be, as he is now with their NFC North rival, Minnesota Vikings.
Despite everything, the 29-year-old will fit well in Kevin O’Connell’s offensive scheme. Although O’Connell doesn’t run the ball as much as he should, he may have to lean on it more with Jones.
Additionally, Kirk Cousins is now with the Atlanta Falcons. With a potential rookie or Sam Darnold starting at quarterback, Jones must be the focal point in the Vikings offense this season and beyond.
2024 Projection: Help team
7. Devin Singletary – From Texans to Giants: (Average salary: $5.5 million)
Another classic Joe Schoen move, signing one of his former Bills draft picks and bringing him to the Giants culture. Nevertheless, Singletary was effective but underused.
The Bills decided to move on from Singletary last year due to the emergence of James Cook. Although he had a solid year last year, “the motor will be revving up again in East Rutherford.”
With a stocky build, the 27-year-old is right now the featured back in Daboll’s offense. Despite the notion the Giants want to draft a rookie, Singletary should have career highs with his new team.
2024 Projection: Help team
8. Austin Ekeler – From Chargers to Commanders: (Average salary: $4.22 million)
Ekeler had quite a successful season mixed in with a bit of adversity. Despite going over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, the hard-working 29-year-old back wasn’t as gritty.
Nonetheless, if Ekeler can stay healthy and team up with Brian Robinson, they should both be able to contribute in the pass/rush game to succeed in Kliff Kingsbury’s “Air-Raid” offense.
2024 Projection: Help team
9. Derrick Henry – From Titans to Ravens: (Average salary: $8 million)
We get it, Ravens fans. Although, it’s crazy why your team has a history of signing ex-Titans players and having them produce for the last two seasons of their careers.
From Derrick Mason to Steve McNair and now running back Derrick Henry.
Henry might be losing that speed and power he once had when he started with the Titans as a rookie. Above all, his bruising running style might not fit Todd Moken’s fast-paced offense.
This could be Henry’s final season in the NFL if he doesn’t pan out. It also could be the 30-year-old’s coming back to life moment if he succeeds.
2024 Projection: Hurt team
10. Saquon Barkley – From Giants to Eagles: (Average salary: 12.58 million)
The number-two overall draft pick in 2018 began his career with the Giants with a bang. Despite the Giants not being a great team then, the 27-year-old gave the Big Blue hope with his quick speed and catching abilities out of the backfield.
Recency bias has shown that the former Penn State star has declined tremendously in his morale and play on the team. Additionally, the Eagles paid Barkley a good living for his second contract.
While he’s not D’Andre Swift, Saquon can still reincarnate into the old Saquon by putting up 1,000 yards in Philly.
Barkley will be running behind a much better o-line in Philly, despite not having Jason Kelce up front. He will also be a bright spot in the passing game.
Therefore, he can be a nightmare for linebackers trying to bring him to the ground without the hip drop tackle being allowed this season. This benefits Barkley’s whole body and increases injury risk, too.
2024 Projection: Help Team
11. Josh Jacobs – From Raiders to Packers: (Average salary: $12 million)
If Packers fans are still worrying about Jones heading to the Vikings, this should calm everyone’s nerves down.
Despite Jones being a key element during the Packers’ magical run to the NFC Divisional Series as a seventh seed, Jacobs is an addition by subtraction.
In other words, running backs are now a dime a dozen in the league despite this strong 2024 free-agent class.
While Jones is a dual-threat in running and catching the ball, the 26-year-old Jacobs is too. The difference is that Jones isn’t as physically a runner as Jacobs.
For instance, you need a downhill physical runner, especially when the weather gets cold at Lambeau late in the season.
While the cheese heads can be mad about Jones leaving, Jacobs is a great plus. Also, you at least resigned AJ Dillion to a one-year deal.
2024 Prediction: Help team
12. Joe Mixon – From Bengals to Texans: (Average salary: $9.88 million)
The 28-year-old runner might have found the best landing spot for him, team and money-wise. Above all, he can prove to Cincinnati that this old dawg can learn and regain new tricks in Houston.
Mixon is a wild man who runs with winning intentions and is an animal in the backfield. Even though Stefon Diggs was recently traded from the Bills, they still want a balanced attack of airing the ball and running it down teams throats.
Additionally, both Mixon and Diggs are crazy guys, so hopefully, they won’t cause drama and start fighting with each other.
But otherwise, this might be the best free agent signing in the 2024 running back class.
2024 Prediction- Help team
We will just have to wait and see about these 12 running back moves and how each player does with their new teams.
To see if they were worth their free agency moves.
