Top Free Agent Running Back Landing Spots: Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette, Melvin Gordon
After Tuesday's deadline for final cuts, there are still a handful of veteran running backs available on the free agency market. Some that were released during roster cuts this week, and some that have been available all offseason. These are the best landing spots for the top former starting running backs that are available to add in free agency.
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Top Running Back Free Agent Landing Spots
Leonard Fournette: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have a backfield that currently consists of Tony Pollard, Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle. Dowdle is the largest back in the group at 5'11" and 216 pounds and is entirely unproven. Of this group, Pollard is the only one with more than seven career NFL carries. Vaughn is a 5'6", 21-year-old rookie. This backfield could use some size and experience behind Pollard to replace Ezekiel Elliott. Fournette would be the perfect option to plug in on short-yardage and he has the added dimension of being a proven pass-catcher.
Fournette has never been the most efficient back, but he's always been dependable and productive, which is exactly what Dallas needs in their running back room to compliment Pollard and a bunch of depth pieces that they don't know whether they can depend on or not. In that offense, there is no reason he wouldn't be able to average about 3.8 yards per carry and punch in five-eight TDs.
Kareem Hunt: Indianapolis Colts
No team needs a running back more than the Colts right now after the asinine decision to leave Jonathan Taylor on the PUP list and force him to miss the first four games of the 2023 season. Hunt would be the perfect fit for this team. He's obviously nowhere near the level of Taylor, nevertheless, he has a similar skill set and is still probably better than the other backs currently on their roster. That's not saying a ton considering their backfield consists of Zack Moss, Deon Jackson and Evan Hull, but that's exactly why they should sign him.
Unless he is truly washed, Hunt has always been a hard runner with pass-catching ability and is a capable blocker. He also has always had a nose for the end zone. Nothing should be more important to that franchise this year than the development of their first-round QB Anthony Richardson, and Hunt's presence in the backfield would do wonders for a rookie quarterback in comparison to what they have now. The season has already gone sideways in a hurry, but it can still be salvaged if Richardson shows promise for the future.
Melvin Gordon: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Ravens cut Gordon in an effort to trim their roster down to 53 players. He may be on his last legs at this point in his career, nonetheless, he could still be a stabilizing veteran presence in a backfield that is expected to be headed by second-year back Rachaad White and undrafted rookie Sean Tucker. Gordon only averaged 3.5 yards per carry last season, but that offense in Denver was a disaster and the previous year he still averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Last season, he also caught 25 of 32 targets for 8.9 yards per catch which is a strong output and where Tampa could use him most. Fournette was their go-to guy in the passing game and Gordon could fill that void nicely with similar production.
Myles Gaskin: New England Patriots
The argument could be made that out of every back listed here, Gaskin has the most gas left in the tank (pun intended). We know how the Pats love to sign former players from their division rivals and he would be a nice depth piece as a change-of-pace back. The team just shipped Pierre Strong off to Cleveland and Ty Montgomery did not make their roster. Gaskin was an underrated back running behind a terrible offensive line in Miami and was having another great summer before being cut on Tuesday. A fresh start somewhere else could be exactly what he needs. Rhamondre is the man in New England, but they love to rotate backs in and get creative. Yes, Zeke is there, however, at this point, he's little more than a guy who you can hand the ball to and he falls forward. The Gas Man would be a nice addition to this backfield and would fill a role that desperately needs filling.
