2012 NFL Free Agency: Where Will The Top Running Backs Land?

As free agency prepares to kick off in the National Football League on March 13, one of the positions where the cupboard is rather bare is in the offensive backfield, as such standout ball-carriers as Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens, Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears and Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks were all retained by their respective clubs.

However, that doesn't mean that teams looking to upgrade at the running back position will be left completely holding the bag, as there is a trio of veteran backs with 1,000-yard seasons on their resumes that should generate a fairly considerable amount of interest on the open market.

Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns

If 2010's 1,600-total-yard, 13-touchdown season was a dream for running back Peyton Hillis of the Cleveland Browns, then 2011 was an absolute nightmare. The four-year veteran missed nearly half the season with a variety of injuries, groused incessantly about his contract situation and gave renewed life to the concept of the "Madden Curse" after appearing on the cover of the popular video game last year.

After some debate as to whether or not to franchise tag Hillis, the Cleveland front office apparently has decided to allow him to test the open market. At this point there's no telling what sort of offers Hillis might generate in free agency amid bizarre (and refuted) reports that Hillis had contemplated retirement to join the CIA.

The Browns, however, have not ruled out bringing Hillis back in 2012 for the right price, and given his woefully bizarre 2011 campaign, it's very possible that the interest that Peyton Hillis generates in free agency won't be enough to motivate him to leave Cleveland—unless, of course, the team selects Trent Richardson in the first round of April's draft and simply decides they no longer want Hillis around.

Projected Destination: Cleveland Browns

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

There will apparently be no such homecoming for Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson, as although the 29-year-old has gained over 1,000 rushing yards in three of his four seasons in the Queen City, the team appears to be set to move on after the eighth-year pro also failed to gain more than four yards a carry in three of those four seasons.

Benson is the definition of a plodder in the backfield, and may have been the least explosive starting running back in the National Football League a year ago. While Benson's days as a feature back in the NFL are likely over, he is still capable of moving the chains between the tackles and could have significant value to a team with salary cap space looking to add a complementary back. An option could be the Kansas City Chiefs, who could replace the even slower and older Thomas Jones with Benson as a bruising complement to Jamaal Charles, who will be returning from a serious knee injury this season.

Projected Destination: Kansas City Chiefs

Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders

Cedric Benson may well find himself replaced in Cincinnati by Michael Bush of the Oakland Raiders, who has been repeatedly linked to the team by recent reports, including a recent one by ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley. 

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I can see Bush coming to Cincinnati. The Bengals want to improve over last year's starter, Cedric Benson. They have the salary-cap room to lure the free agents that they want. They offer Bush a chance to play near his hometown of Louisville. And they have new assistant Hue Jackson, who was Bush's head coach last season in Oakland.

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Hensley also points out that the Bengals would likely prefer to add another back in free agency or the draft as well. Although Bush gained over 1,400 total yards last year filling in for the injured Darren McFadden for the Raiders, the four-year veteran seemed to wear down badly down the stretch, failing to top 80 rushing yards the last six weeks of the season.

However, the Bengals have ample salary-cap space to make Michael Bush a very competitive offer. An extra first-round pick obtained in last year's Carson Palmer trade could potentially be used to add a back such as the University of Miami's Lamar Miller, which would form an intriguing "thunder and lightning" combination that would be a huge upgrade for the Cincinnati ground attack.

Projected Destination: Cincinnati Bengals

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