The NFL running back position has been talked about a lot over the past couple of offseasons. As the league takes a more committee approach to their backfields, players become more replaceable and less valuable, unless your name is Christian McCaffrey. So yes, there are some outstanding NFL running back free agents available for the 2024 NFL Free Agency period, but will there be a market of teams wanting to invest much money into these players?
There are many great players available during the 2024 NFL Free Agency period. To find out who all is available, explore our other articles here at FlurrySports!
When Does NFL Free Agency Start 2024?
The 2024 NFL Free Agency period officially begins on Wednesday, March 13th at 4 p.m. EST. In this day and age, all this truly means is that this is when free agents will be able to officially put pen to paper and sign their new contract.
The legal tampering period in the NFL begins at noon EST on Monday, March 11th. This is when teams can legally start negotiating with players and agents. However, we know this is already happening which is why many NFL insiders will start announcing deals and free-agent destinations on this day.
Best NFL Running Back Free Agents
Saquon Barkley (27)
Saquon Barkley stayed relatively healthy the past couple of seasons, and it led to him playing very well. Now, we will get the chance to pick his new team and, more importantly, choose an offensive line to run behind that isn’t a complete disaster. While money will play a factor, it’s clear Barkley wants to win as well.
Possible Teams:
- Houston Texans
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Chicago Bears
- Seemingly everyone (he has a good media team)
Josh Jacobs (26)
The Las Vegas Raiders did their absolute best to run Josh Jacobs into the ground before his contract was up. In 2022, he totaled nearly 400 touches. Last season, he missed a few games, but he still saw over 20 touches per game. After a heavy workload and some injuries, Jacobs could be forced into an incentive-heavy contract, which may become the trend for NFL running back free agents.
Possible Teams:
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Houston Texans
Tony Pollard (26)
In his first season as the lead back for the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Pollard showcased why he is a better fit as a complementary option in the backfield. The good news is that he stayed healthy, is a talented player, and has less wear and tear than the other players on this list.
Possible Teams:
- Dallas Cowboys
- Chicago Bears
- Minnesota Vikings
Derrick Henry (30)
Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans are finally splitting after he has had tremendous success over his NFL career. Last year, however, wasn’t great, but there was little threat of a passing game and the Titans’ offensive line was embarrassingly poor. Many analysts have attempted to predict when Henry would “fall off a cliff.” Was last season exactly that, or will he see a resurgence after signing with a new team in NFL Free Agency?
Possible Teams:
- Dallas Cowboys
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Philadelphia Eagles
Austin Ekeler (28)
Speaking of falling off of a cliff, let’s talk about Austin Ekeler. The dual-threat running back was so effective, especially in the red zone. However, it was a bad last season for him, after taking on a contact restructure that was incentive-heavy. No team should be signing Ekeler to be a bell-cow at this stage of his career, but he could thrive in a receiving-back role alongside a more steady early-down option.
Possible Teams:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Dallas Cowboys
- Washington Commanders
Other NFL Running Back Free Agents
- D’Andre Swift (25)
- JK Dobbins (25)
- Kareem Hunt (28)
- Gus Edwards (28)
- Alexander Mattison (25)
2024 NFL Salary Cap Tracker
In order to be active during NFL Free Agency, a team must have some money to spend on NFL free agent running backs. As of Sunday, these 10 teams have the most money available, per the 2024 NFL salary cap tracker.
- Washington Commanders ($91.5M)
- New England Patriots ($82.8M)
- Tennessee Titans ($75.5M)
- Houston Texans ($62.8M)
- Chicago Bears ($62.7M)
- Arizona Cardinals ($56.6M)
- Indianapolis Colts ($49.2M)
- Cincinnati Bengals ($48.5M)
- Detroit Lions ($45.3M)
- Philadelphia Eagles ($43M)
