NFL Free Agency: Where Will Tim Hightower Play Next Season?

Tim Hightower has spent his entire NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals, progressively getting better each season.

In 2010 he carried 153 times for 736 yards giving him an average of 4.8 yards a carry. He also found the end zone five times, an accomplishment on an anemic Cardinals offense.

Now he is faced with free agency and the option to sign elsewhere. Seeing as Arizona went from being a Super Bowl contender to the basement from the NFL Hightower is likely to take the express ticket out of town.

Hightower's value will likely be hurt by a poor final three games to the season. He only had 24 carries for a measly 69 yards. Not even three yards a carry. His value will also likely be hurt by his five fumbles and the fact he only had one-third of his 2009 receptions in 2010.

Teams that may be interested in Hightower will likely include the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.

All of those teams averaged less than four yards a carry in 2010 and could easily benefit from Hightower's high average. Hightower will likely need a situation where he can split carries with someone.

In Miami it looks like the Dolphins are prepared to let both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams go after unimpressive seasons from the aging running backs. If they address their need for a running back through the draft Hightower could be a good player to help ease a rookie into the NFL.

The Cincinnati Bengals are likely to stick with the combo of Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott, but could possibly bring Hightower in to compete for the starting job after Benson only averaged 3.5 yards a carry this year.

In Denver Hightower could form a formidable duo with Knowshown Moreno. The same for St. Louis except with Steven Jackson.

Marshawn Lynch had an abysmal year for the Seattle Seahawks and only averaged 3.5 yards a carry, while in Indianapolis it isn't clear how Joseph Addai will return from injury.

All of these teams could show interest in Hightower, but my guess is that he will remain in Arizona as I can't see any of these teams offering him the contract or opportunity the Cardinals likely will.