NFL Predictions: Top 10 Potential Moves for Cedric Benson in 2011
NFL Predictions: In June 2010, the Cincinnati Bengals offered Cedric Benson a three-year contract extension worth anywhere between $16-20 million, but Benson turned it down.
Think he's regretting that now?
This season Benson averaged just 69.4 rushing yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry, he had more fumbles than anyone not named Peyton Hillis and he only had two rushes of 20 yards or more.
In other words, Benson probably lost himself a lot of money in 2010.
It's now likely that he'll play in Cincinnati next season for slightly less money, or he'll end up elsewhere if Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski is brought back (Benson's words, not mine).
With Benson's future in Cincinnati a bit cloudy at the moment, let's take a look at 10 potential landing spots for the former No. 4 overall pick.
10. Denver Broncos
1 of 10
Under Josh McDaniels for most of the season, the Denver Broncos hardly ever ran the football.
They ranked 26th in the NFL in rushing yards at just 96.5 yards per game and averaged just 3.9 yards per carry.
The Broncos never busted a run of more than 40 yards, and their running backs had 12 fumbles, eight of which were lost (second worst in the league)
Denver will have Knowshon Moreno, Lance Ball and Correll Buckhalter back in 2011, but none of those running backs had great campaigns in 2010.
Moreno was the best of the bunch—he accounted for more than 1,150 total yards and eight touchdowns—but the Broncos need a complement to Moreno, who is listed at just 210 pounds.
At 227 pounds, Cedric Benson would provide Denver with an inside runner, while Moreno would be more of a factor back.
9. Philadelphia Eagles
2 of 10
The Philadelphia Eagles have a star in the making at running back with LeSean McCoy.
Along with Michael Vick, McCoy helped make the Eagles the No. 4 rushing attack during the 2010 regular season.
Philadelphia averaged 145.4 yards per game (No. 4 in the NFL), scored 18 rushing touchdowns (No. 2) and averaged 5.5 yards per carry (No. 1).
On the surface it doesn't seem like the Eagles need any help in the running game, but they've really been a two-man show with Vick and McCoy.
If the Eagles were to sign Cedric Benson, he could be used much like Thomas Jones in Kansas City: as a short yardage back and between-the-tackles runner.
Meanwhile, McCoy would be utilized like Jones' running mate, Jamaal Charles: a big-play threat and receiver out of the backfield.
8. New Orleans Saints
3 of 10
The New Orleans Saints may be in the playoffs, but they got there because of their defense and passing attack rather than their running game.
Though the Saints have had a lot of injuries, they've only managed to run for 94.9 yards per game and averaged just four yards per carry.
In fact, New Orleans has almost as many fumbles (seven) as rushing touchdowns (nine).
But there is a strong possibility that the team's rushing attack will take an even bigger hit in the offseason.
Pierre Thomas is a free agent, and it's likely that Reggie Bush will be gone if he doesn't take a drastic salary cut.
That would leave New Orleans in a pickle, with the inexperienced Chris Ivory as the team's main option in the running game.
Cedric Benson would probably get some consideration from the Saints in that case, as they could be looking to replace two of their top three running backs.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
7. San Francisco 49ers
4 of 10
Frank Gore was well on his way to another 1,000-yard season with the San Francisco 49ers...until he broke his hip.
The oft-injured running back was put on injured reserve with what seems like his 358th serious injury, and it remains to be seen how he will perform when he comes back.
In Gore's absence, the 49ers relied mainly on a dual-back system with Brian Westbrook and Anthony Dixon.
Dixon, a rookie, is a big bruiser, while Westbrook is a do-it-all back who is clearly past his prime.
With those three backs taking up the majority of the carries, San Francisco ranked just 19th in the NFL with 103.6 rushing yards per game and scored just 10 rushing touchdowns.
Though Cedric Benson would not be an upgrade over a healthy Gore, he's better at this point than both Dixon and Westbrook.
If Gore struggles to return from injury, Benson could wind up in San Francisco as the team's primary back.
6. Indianapolis Colts
5 of 10
It's not a bad idea to be a pass-heavy team when Peyton Manning is your quarterback, but the Indianapolis Colts may have blurred the line between "pass-heavy" and "passing too much."
They ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing yards (92.7 per game) and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry.
Like many teams, the Colts were dealing with plenty of injuries, but both Donald Brown and Joseph Addai struggled when they were actually on the field.
Now, Indianapolis faces the possibility of losing two running backs in the offseason.
Addai and Mike Hart are both free agents, and there should be plenty of interest in them on the open market.
If Addai and/or Hart bolts, then Cedric Benson might be an intriguing option for the Colts.
Perhaps Benson could fill in for Addai in a two-back system alongside Brown, who is just 23 years old and still has time to develop into a good running back.
5. Seattle Seahawks
6 of 10
Aside from the next team on this list, the Seattle Seahawks were the worst rushing team in the NFL this season.
They rushed for just 89 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry, ranking 31st in both categories.
Marshawn Lynch has been remarkably ineffective in Seattle—737 yards, 3.6 yards per carry and six touchdowns (three in one game)—and Justin Forsett isn't a featured back.
The Seahawks could also lose Michael Robinson and Leon Washington, as both backs are free agents this offseason.
Bringing Cedric Benson to Seattle could be a huge risk given his past troubles and a possible awkward pairing alongside Lynch.
But then again, it could wind up working well if both Lynch and Benson regain the form that once made them two of the most promising backs in the NFL.
4. Arizona Cardinals
7 of 10
Congratulations, Arizona!
Of all the things you were bad at in 2010, running the football tops them all.
The Cardinals ranked dead last in rushing yards per game (86.8) and scored just nine rushing touchdowns.
Some of that can be attributed to the team playing from behind and its offensive line troubles, but it's hard to completely understand why a team with two talented running backs—Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells—could struggle that much in the running game.
That rushing attack could take another step back in 2011.
Hightower is a free agent, and he could draw interest from several teams who are in need of a goal line back.
But whether Hightower stays or goes, Arizona has to upgrade its backfield.
Cedric Benson might be worth a shot.
3. Miami Dolphins
8 of 10
A couple of years ago the Miami Dolphins had one of the league's top rushing offenses.
But Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have really started to show the wear and tear on their bodies (Williams is showing his age as well), and the Dolphins averaged just 102.7 rushing yards this season.
Miami also averaged just 3.7 yards per carry and had more fumbles (12) than touchdowns (eight).
Things could be going from bad to worse too.
Williams, Brown and Patrick Cobbs are all free agents this offseason, and the Dolphins seem to be transitioning out of the Tony Sparano era.
This likely means new personnel and a new offense, so I could see Miami possibly taking someone like Mark Ingram in the first round of this year's draft.
However, if the Dolphins go in a different direction and Brown and Williams are gone as well, Cedric Benson has to be an option there, right?
2. Green Bay Packers
9 of 10
Given the ridiculous number of weapons in Green Bay's passing game, I'm not sure the Packers' struggles in the running game even matter.
OK, they do at least a little bit.
The Packers rush for just 100.4 yards per game on a 3.8 yards per carry average, and they ran for just 11 touchdowns this season, with four of them coming from Aaron Rodgers.
They have really missed Ryan Grant, they were in the market for Marshawn Lynch earlier this season and they could be facing a running back shortage heading into 2011.
John Kuhn, Korey Hall and Brandon Jackson are all free agents this offseason.
Though the return of Grant next season will certainly help, it won't be enough if two of those three guys wind up elsewhere.
In that scenario, you have to think that the Packers would give Cedric Benson some serious consideration.
1. Detroit Lions
10 of 10
The Detroit Lions showed some incredible improvement in 2010, ending the season on a four-game winning streak.
They seem to be headed in the right direction, but they definitely need to improve their running game.
Detroit rushed for just 100.8 yards per game and scored just 11 rushing touchdowns during the regular season.
Rookie Jahvid Best did show flashes of great potential, but he's only 5'10", 199 pounds and is likely going to be a do-it-all back rather than a traditional between-the-tackles runner.
Enter Cedric Benson.
With Benson in Detroit, I see him serving in a role similar to Fred Jackson in Buffalo.
Let Benson be the between-the-tackles guy while Best serves as the C.J. Spiller type: a guy who's a home run threat every time he touches the ball.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")