Ranking Best Fits for Top RBs in 2023 NFL Free-Agency Class
NFL teams looking to add talent to their backfields this offseason are in luck. Not only is the draft class deep, but the pool of free agents is incredibly strong too.
Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley are the big fish. They finished first and seventh in yards from scrimmage last season. Both are the kind of rare talent who can be the focal point of an offense as a running back.
But there are plenty of options outside of those two who could elevate backfields. Tony Pollard and Miles Sanders finished in the top 20 in scrimmage yards. Devin Singletary and David Montgomery are third-round picks who have led backfields in the past.
All nine of the backs featured in this list are 27 or younger, have led a backfield and are coming off productive seasons.
That doesn't even include the 30-year-old Raheem Mostert, Dalvin Cook handcuff Alexander Mattison or the oft-injured Rashaad Penny—each of whom could be productive additions.
Whether a team is looking for a short-yardage bruiser, pass-catching specialist or do-it-all back, there's someone potentially available who can help.
Based on how they would mesh with personnel, scheme and teams' available salary-cap space, these are the best fits for each of the top backs in the class.
Josh Jacobs
1 of 9
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Detroit Lions
Few NFL players earned more money in a contract year than Josh Jacobs did this season. The Raiders declined his fifth-year option last offseason and appeared to be on their way to replacing him. They drafted Zamir White in the fourth round and played Jacobs extensively in the Hall of Fame Game to kick off the preseason.
Jacobs responded by posting more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns.
That production makes the Raiders a sensical fit. Jacobs has said he would like to remain a Raider, but the money has to be right. Retaining him would help out both sides as they look to break in a new starting quarterback after releasing Derek Carr.
If Jacobs is set on leaving, the Bengals seem to tick off his boxes. In an appearance on PFT Live, Jacobs noted that he would be happy to play on the franchise tag only if the Raiders "got some guys on defense, figure out the quarterback situation, got some guys up front."
Those are all things that are already in place in Cincinnati. Joe Mixon was a disappointment this season, rushing for just 3.9 yards per carry. The club could save $7.2 million against the cap by cutting him before June 1, which would give them a good start on paying Jacobs.
After watching Jamaal Williams rush for 17 touchdowns, Jacobs should also be taking a look at what Detroit has to offer. An offensive line anchored by Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell is an attractive marketing pitch, and Dan Campbell would relish utilizing Jacobs' powerful downhill running style.
Saquon Barkley
2 of 9
- New York Giants
- Detroit Lions
- Chicago Bears
Much like Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley maximized his stock with his 2023 campaign. After being held back by a combination of injuries, questionable coaching and poor offensive line play, Barkley had his best season since racking up over 2,000 scrimmage yards as a rookie in 2018.
With Brian Daboll taking over as head coach, Barkley regained his reputation as one of the top backs in the league.
With another offseason to build the offense to his liking, the Giants' surrounding talent at receiver should be better and lessen the load on Barkley to carry the team.
Barkley makes sense for the Lions for all of the same reasons Jacobs does. D'Andre Swift would be a good complementary back to Barkley, and they could help each other stay healthy in a run-heavy offense.
If Barkley just wants to make as much money as possible and be the focal point of an offense, the Bears remain an option. They have more cap space than anyone, and putting him in a backfield with Justin Fields would force defenses to split their attention between the two as running threats.
Tony Pollard
3 of 9
- Dallas Cowboys
- Miami Dolphins
- Carolina Panthers
Tony Pollard has been an efficiency metrics darling over the last few seasons as he patiently waited behind Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas. Whether he re-signs in Dallas or not, it appears as though his time is now.
Pollard was joint-fourth in the league in rushes of 20 or more yards despite ranking 23rd in carries, per FantasyPros. Pollard finally got a larger role in the Cowboys offense last year, and Bob Sturm of The Athletic reported a number of analysts and scouts believe Elliott has "very little left in his legs and the word is out."
That opens the door for Pollard to come back to Dallas with an even bigger role. They know how to get him the right touches in their offense, and he's had success there.
Mike McDaniel knows a thing or two about scheming up the run game too, though. The Dolphins should be on the lookout for a running back. Last year's leading rusher, Raheem Mostert, is set to be a 30-year-old free agent. In an offense with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Pollard would likely see a lot of light boxes.
Carolina shipped off Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers last season, so they could use a dynamic replacement. Pollard is not only an explosive runner but was ninth among all running backs in yards per route run, per PFF. With D'Onta Foreman potentially leaving in free agency, signing Pollard to pair with Chuba Hubbard, who averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season, would help out whoever ends up being the Panthers' quarterback.
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Miles Sanders
4 of 9
- Chicago Bears
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Buffalo Bills
Miles Sanders is coming off his most productive season to date. He not only broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, but he had 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. Now, he hits the open market looking to get paid on a second contract in a crowded market.
That's why the Bears might work out to be a good fit. Sanders had a lot of success in part because he finally stayed healthy and because he was playing beside a legitimate running quarterback in Jalen Hurts. In that sense, playing beside Justin Fields wouldn't be much different.
The Bears offense is still developing with Fields at quarterback. Sanders could go there and immediately become a cornerstone of the offense.
Returning to the Eagles would obviously be nice for Sanders. He has proven success in their system, and they have one of the best offensive lines in football. The problem is that the organization appears to be high on Kenneth Gainwell, and they have too many impact free agents to prioritize Sanders.
If Sanders wants to keep playing for a contender, then the Buffalo Bills might be his preferred destination. Josh Allen is a running quarterback, but there is also the opportunity to play a bigger role in the passing game after Devin Singletary and James Cook combined for 84 targets last season.
Sanders only saw 26 with the Eagles last season, but he proved he can be a reliable receiver with 50 receptions for 509 yards in his rookie season.
David Montgomery
5 of 9
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Denver Broncos
- New York Giants (if Barkley leaves)
If Barkley and Jacobs are Tier 1 of the free-agent class, then Pollard and Sanders are Tier 2. The third tier begins with David Montgomery. The Bears running back has had plenty of chances to show he can be a lead back, but success hasn't been easy to find in Chicago.
For one, the offensive line hasn't given him great openings. He was joint-41st among qualified ball-carriers in yards before contact in 2022. Montgomery still did his part as a runner, as he was sixth in the league in attempts per broken tackle (8.1). Still, he's only rushed for over 1,000 yards once and needs to prove he can be an early-down back.
The Eagles could be looking for one in Montgomery's price range. If they bid farewell to Sanders, they might look to the free-agent market to find a back to pair with Kenneth Gainwell. At 5'11", 224 pounds, Montgomery would be a contrasting presence to the 5'9", 200-pound Gainwell.
The Denver Broncos just hired Montgomery's college running back coach, Lou Ayeni, to the same position, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Javonte Williams is recovering from a knee injury that included a torn ACL and LCL, so finding a reliable early-down back who can ease him back into the game would be ideal.
If the New York Giants allow Saquon Barkley to leave, they would be a logical landing spot for Montgomery. Daboll helped maximize Barkley's talent within the offense, and Montgomery could see a similar boost in production.
Devin Singletary
6 of 9
- Arizona Cardinals
- Los Angeles Rams
- Denver Broncos
In a typical free-agent class, Devin Singletary might have a lot of appeal. He has four years of decent production in Buffalo's pass-happy offense. He's fine as a runner. The 25-year-old has averaged 4.7 yards per carry in his four seasons and hasn't racked up that much mileage with 672 career carries. He's a good receiver, too, with 145 receptions in that timespan.
But in a class that has four or five potential lead backs, Singletary feels more like a complementary piece in a backfield committee than a building block of an offense.
It would make sense for the Arizona Cardinals to pair him with James Conner. The Cardinals running back has struggled with injuries throughout his NFL career, whereas Singletary has been a vision of durability. According to Mike Clay of ESPN, he is one of just seven backs who has appeared in all 34 regular season games over the past two seasons.
The Rams could also benefit from someone as consistent and durable as Singletary. Cam Akers has dealt with multiple injuries since being drafted, and Kyren Williams is unproven as his backup. Singletary would provide a baseline for performance the Rams could use.
He could also fit as the Broncos lead back while Javonte Wiliams is recovering. With Sean Payton taking over the offense, there's going to be a role for a pass-catching back. Singletary is no Alvin Kamara, but he might be the closest thing the Broncos can afford.
Jamaal Williams
7 of 9
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Carolina Panthers
Jamaal Williams' 17 rushing touchdowns might have primarily been the product of having 16 more carries inside the 10 than anyone in the league. But it still speaks to the skill set he brings to the table as a tough between-the-tackles runner.
Williams' age (27) is sure to move him down some free-agent big boards, but he still hasn't crossed the 1,000-carry threshold for his career. That could make him a valuable short-yardage back who can help round out several backfields for at least the next couple of years.
He had his best season in Detroit last season, and it would make a lot of sense to simply return. The Lions have a strong offensive line, and Williams has a defined role there already.
The Eagles could be an enticing option as well. Based on his age and prior production, Williams should command less money than Miles Sanders, and he could be the thunder to Kenneth Gainwell's lightning moving forward.
If Williams wants to be a featured back, his best bet could be a team like Carolina. With D'Onta Foreman set to hit the market, Williams would only have to compete with Chuba Hubbard to take over the role.
Frank Reich is going to want to run the ball as the Panthers break in a new quarterback. Williams could be a cheaper option who could still take on the responsibilities of an early-down back.
Damien Harris
8 of 9
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Las Vegas Raiders (if Jacobs leaves)
If Damien Harris had hit the market last season, he'd be much higher in the running back hierarchy. He had 929 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns with the Patriots in 2021. However, injuries and the emergence of Rhamondre Stevenson left him with almost half as many carries, which saw him rush for 462 yards and three touchdowns across 11 games this season.
The problem for Harris is that he only has 40 career receptions. Therefore, his best fits are places where he can partner with a pass-catching back.
The Chargers spring to mind. Austin Ekeler is one of the best receiving backs in the league, and Los Angeles has been in need of a No. 2 who can shoulder some of the rushing load to keep him healthy. Harris could provide that and give Justin Herbert a more reliable running game after it ranked 30th in the league last season.
He could work as a Leonard Fournette replacement in Tampa Bay as well. Rachaad White caught 50 passes as a rookie, and the Bucs cut Fournette after he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry.
Harris will likely be keeping a close eye on the Josh Jacobs situation in Vegas. If the Raiders don't re-sign him, Harris could reunite with former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Kareem Hunt
9 of 9
- Denver Broncos
- Miami Dolphins
- Arizona Cardinals
Kareem Hunt could wind up being the steal of the free-agent class. It's easy to forget that he had 2,984 yards from scrimmage in the first two years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hunt was released from the Chiefs after video of the running back surfaced showing him kicking and pushing a woman. The Browns signed him and, after serving an eight-game suspension, Hunt settled into being the No. 2 back in Cleveland.
Playing behind Nick Chubb limited his opportunities, but it also means that he has avoided the wear and tear of being a lead back.
That could make him appealing for teams that are willing to give him a larger role than the one he played in Cleveland. The Broncos make a lot of sense. Much like David Montgomery, Hunt has a connection with new running back coach Lou Ayeni, who coached him while he was at Toledo.
The Dolphins are one of the few teams where Hunt could sign and be the favorite to be the lead back. Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed are all set to hit free agency.
The Cardinals run game should look much different with Jonathan Gannon taking over for Kliff Kingsbury. Hunt's physicality and ability to help in the passing game would make him a strong addition at a cheaper price than some of the other backs the Cards could target.
All salary cap info via Spotrac and all advanced stats via Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.
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