Running Backs Who Should Get Starter Consideration
1) Pierre Thomas/New Orleans Saints
Status: Restricted Free Agent
Possible Suitors: New Orleans Saints
Most Likely Destination: New Orleans Saints
Comments: Thomas is an interesting story.
The Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He competed against
fourth-round pick Antonio Pittman for the final roster spot at running back.
Thomas wound up winning that job, but his role increased as the season
progressed. Veteran RB Deuce McAllister missed 13 games and Reggie Bush also
missed four games due to injury. Thomas only had 69 touches in that season, but
you could see his talent.
Over the past two seasons, Thomas has led the team in rushing and his importance
to the team has grown. He posted a career-high 186 touches last season along
with career highs in rushing and receiving yardage.
The expectation is that he'll yield at least a first-round tender from the
Saints. The salary for three-year restricted free agents is $2.396 million.
Should they decide to use a first-round and third-round tender on Thomas, he
would earn a salary of $3.043 million.
The bottom line is that Thomas' versatility to the Saints' offense is way too
important to lose.
2) Leon Washington/New York Jets
Status: Restricted Free Agent
Possible Suitors: New York Jets
Most Likely Destination: New York Jets
Comments: Unfortunately for Washington, he suffered a gruesome broken
right leg during the team's October 25 game at the Oakland Raiders. Washington
missed the rest of the season and is still rehabbing the injury.
It's believed Washington turned down at least a few contract offers before he
got hurt, so he has no leverage at this point based on the fact that he's coming
back from a serious injury.
The diminutive, but speedy back has been an important part of the Jets' offense
since he was drafted in 2006. He's posted a career 4.8 rush per carry average and has been very
effective in their passing game. The jack of all trades has also been an effective
special teams returner.
The Jets could chose to tender him at a second-round level at $1.759 million,
but he could attract significant interest from other teams at that level. A
first-round tender of $2.521 million would probably be enough to scare off other
suitors.
The Jets need Washington's speed as a complement to power backs such as Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones, so look for them to do what they can to keep him.
3) Chester Taylor/Minnesota Vikings
Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
Possible Suitors: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs,
Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams
Most Likely Destination: Open
Comments: Teams generally don't have much interest in 31-year old backs
(he turns 31 on 9/22), but Taylor will likely be viewed by personnel evaluators
in a different light.
Taylor, over his eight years of play, only has one season in which he carried
the ball over 200 times (2006). Durability also hasn't been an issue (he has
only missed three games over the past four seasons). He's known as a solid third
down back and pass protects well. He has also been a good short-yardage back.
It's very possible that a team offers him a short-term deal to be a starter or a
good enough role for him to gain significant playing time.
The Vikings really need to make an effort to re-sign him as they no other viable
options to replace his role from their current roster.
The Ravens, who drafted Taylor, could need a veteran back for depth purposes if
they cut aging RB Willis McGahee.
The Browns, who cut veteran RB Jamal Lewis, also could be looking for a veteran
back to replace him.
The Chiefs need a power back to go along with the speedy Jamaal Charles.
With the likelihood that the Eagles don't bring back veteran RB Brian Westbrook
next season, Taylor could replace his roles on third down and in short-yardage.
The Chargers are expected to release veteran RB LaDainian Tomlinson soon, so
they would be really hurting at the position. Taylor could be a short-term
solution as a starter.
The Rams need a veteran backup to starter Steven Jackson. Samkon Gado and Ken
Darby weren't impressive enough last season in back of Jackson.
4) Darren Sproles/San Diego Chargers
Status: Restricted Free Agent
Possible Suitors: San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis
Rams, Washington Redskins
Most Likely Destination: Open
Comments: Sproles, like so many free agents, will be restricted unless a
new CBA can be reached by early March.
Sproles is a unique talent. He fits in as a change of pace back, but is also a
dangerous special teams returner. He also proved to be an outstanding weapon in
San Diego's passing game the past two seasons with nine TD catches to go along
with an 11.4 receiving average.
The problem the Chargers have to deal with is Sproles must get at least a 10 percent increase
(or 110 percent of last year's salary)
over last year's $6.621 million base salary unless they tender him at the lowest
level ($1.226 million). Should they do that, they wouldn't be entitled to any
compensation in return if they declined to match the other team's offersheet. If
they tender him at any other level, he would earn a salary of $7.2831
million. He would earn a guaranteed
salary of $7.9452 million if he's named as their "franchise" player once again
in 2010. The best way to bring him back would be to sign him to a long-term
deal.
There's a realistic possibility that Sproles isn't re-signed because of the
complexities of re-signing him. If that transpires, he probably would receive
significant interest elsewhere.
San Francisco could really use a change of pace back plus it's not a secret that
they are looking to upgrade their special teams returns.
The Rams not only need speed at running back of starter Steven Jackson, but they
could also use speed on special teams returns. Danny Amendola did a nice job
last season, but he doesn't possess the speed of Sproles.
The Redskins are also another team that could use some speed at running back to
go along with a boost on special teams returns.
5) Carnell Williams/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Status: Restricted Free Agent
Possible Suitors: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Most Likely Destination: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Comments: Williams' final season on his rookie deal will void, sources
said based on him meeting minimum playing time requirements. Unfortunately, that
will still make him a restricted free agent if a new CBA isn't completed by
March 5.
Williams is one of the most remarkable stories in the NFL in recent years
considering how he's been able to come back after suffering a series of serious
knee injuries.
He still hasn't shown good enough durability to use anything higher than a
second-round tender on him, but he's shown that he can be part of a two-man
backfield.
6) LenDale White/Tennessee Titans
Status: Restricted Free Agent
Possible Suitors: Tennessee Titans
Most Likely Destination: Unknown.
Comments: Because he only has five accrued seasons of play, White will be
a restricted free agent this year, assuming no new CBA is reached.
It was just two seasons ago that White led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with
15. But with Chris Johnson's emergence in 2009, White's role was significantly
reduced. He went from 200 carries in 2008, to just 64 in 2009. He also only
scored twice last season.
It's not certain that the Titans will even tender White because of his decreased
role last season. The team is also said to be high on fifth-round pick Javon Ringer.
If he's not brought back, White offers a team a role as solid power back in a
No. 2 role.
Others Who Could Find Interest For Backup Purposes
Jerome Harrison/Cleveland Browns/RFA - He went from not having a role through
three years of play to posting 561 yards on the ground over his final three
games from last season. Harrison really was drafted with the thought that he
could be a change of pace, but last season he proved he could be a power runner
with 106 carries over those last three games. Depending on what level the Browns
tender him, Harrison could receive quite a bit of interest in March.
Willie Parker/Pittsburgh Steelers/UFA - He turns 30 in November. Parker has seen
his better days, but he certainly could offer a team a solid backup role with
7-10 carries/game.
Kevin Faulk/New England Patriots/UFA - Faulk is one of the NFL's most versatile
backs. While he turns 34 in June, Faulk still looks to have a few good
productive years left as a third down/change of pace back.
Larry Johnson/Cincinnati Bengals/UFA - His better days are clearly behind him,
but Johnson could offer a team that uses a power running game good depth at the
position.
Jason Snelling/Atlanta Falcons/RFA - He went into last season as the backup
fullback, but ended it as their top backup running back. Snelling has now become
an integral part of Atlanta's running game. Should they tender him at his
original draft round, he could receive significant interest from other teams.
However, he'll likely yield a second-round tender based on his increased role.
Jerious Norwood/Atlanta Falcons/RFA - Norwood's injury problems from last season
opened the door up for Snelling. Norwood, however, offers the Falcons badly
needed speed at the running back position, so they probably will try to keep him
another year.