My second free agency article, here we get into a position that has more meat on it than the Quarterbacks. I will be going over the Running Backs. There are many more actual free agent Running Backs than there are free agent Quarterbacks.
Position: RB/FB
Rating: B+
Notable Free Agent RBs: Steven Jackson(STL), Reggie Bush(MIA), Ahmad Bradshaw(NYG), Shonn Greene(NYJ), Danny Woodhead(NE), Chris Ivory(NO), LaRod Stevens Howling(ARI), Darius Reynaud(TEN).
Potential Cutable/Tradable RBs: Michael Turner(ATL), DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewar(CAR), Maurice Jones-Drew(JAX), Darren McFadden(OAK), Pierre Thomas(NO)
Notable Free Agent FB's: James Casey(HOU), Mike Cox(ATL)
The biggest names on the free agent market are guys like Reggie Bush, Steven Jackson, and Ahmad Bradshaw with the 2nd tier being Chris Ivory and Danny Woodhead.
The best fit for Reggie Bush would be in Green Bay, finally giving the Packers an every down back who can be an absolute beast in the passing game. Reggie would also be a good fit with the Eagles as another versatile running back, and would be a great fit if Chip uses some of his two back option schemes from Oregon that he ran with LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner or DeAnthony Smith and Kenjon Barner. A team who could surprise some teams by picking up Reggie Bush would be the Indianapolis Colts, he would be a great fit in Indy if they continue to run an offense similar to the one ran by Bruce Arians last year.
Ahmad Bradshaw was really a shock to me, I know he's dealt with injuries but he is a really good running back. I like Ahmad either going to the Jets as a compliment or replacement to Shonn Greene. Ahmad could also be brought back by the Giants according to reports and really, I think his best bet is to stay in New York either with the Giants or Jets.
Steven Jackson is still a beast even at this point in his career and would be a great fit in Green Bay for the same reasons I gave for Reggie. Steven is still massive every down back who can run up the middle as well as catch out of the backfield. Steven is also one of the best blocking running backs in the NFL. I'd love to see him in a place where has a chance at winning a ring like Green Bay. He could also be a great fit as a Steeler bringing the power back back to Pittsburgh, or with the Bengals to work in a timeshare with the Law Offices of Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis.
As far as Chris Ivory goes, Ivory would be best served by staying with the Saints because Sean Payton really likes using him and Ivory could be in for a promotion with Pierre Thomas possibly becoming expendable enough to be traded or released. Payton really likes Ivory and I think he will use him much more than he was used this year, if he did leave though, he could be a great fit in the zone running schemes used by Washington, Houston, San Francisco, Oakland, and Seattle.
Danny Woodhead would be a great fit as a replacement for Reggie Bush in Miami but I would not be shocked at all if Rex Ryan decided to bring back one of his favorite players and bring Danny back to the Jets. Woodhead would also be a good fit as a 3rd down back in Washington or Houston as he has good receiving ability and seems to have good enough vision to read off of the Zone Blocking scheme.
As far as guys being traded or cut, Michael Turner is boring, he is a big slow back who is not very good at this point. He could be a good short yardage backup running back in a place like San Francisco, Seattle,Tennessee, Giants, or possibly the Jets but I don't expect him to be a starter again.
I honestly don't expect MoJo Drew or Run DMC to be traded, although I think Marcel Reece is a better running back for the Raiders than McFadden. Neither of these guys are getting traded, end of story.
Pierre Thomas however could be cut by the Saints to make room for Chris Ivory and Mark Ingram. I figure either the P.T. Cruiser or Chris Ivory will not be a Saints next year, and I'm hoping if one has to go it's Pierre. Pierre Thomas would be a good fit just about anywhere in the NFL as a starter or at the very least a 3rd down back. His skill set makes him very versatile and able to fit just about anywhere.
Of the FBs the only ones worth noting are James Casey and Mike Cox. James Casey is a versatile FB/H-Back/TE who can make an immediate impact as both a blocker and a receiver. He would be a good fit for any of the Zone Blocking teams like Washington and Houston as well as any of the Spread teams. Mike Cox is more of a throwback straight up in line blocker, he would be a good fit for power running teams like the Jaguars, Jets, Cardinals, or Carolina.
Next time I will be covering receivers, with such names as Mike Wallace, Greg Jennings, and Percy Harvin out there it should be an interesting group.
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