NFL Free Agency 2011: 10 Spots Where Joseph Addai Might Land

Joseph Addai could still be gone, but now the Indianapolis Colts can get something back for him.

The running back was given a one-year tender as a restricted free agent by the Colts. Addai still could sign an offer sheet with another team, but with the tender, Indianapolis would receive a first-round draft pick as compensation.

It's a steep price for a player who's been plagued by injuries in recent years and almost guarantees that Addai will remain in Indy.

When he's healthy, he's done fine, leading the team in rushing in four of his five seasons. For his career, Addai has rushed for 4,020 yards and 38 touchdowns, along with 1,355 yards receiving and nine touchdown catches.

If he were to go, there aren't many places he could land. With some teams, he could be a starter, but he would become more of a complementary back or No. 2 option at other places.

Here are 10 possibilities.  

10. Detroit

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 02: Jahvid Best #44 of the Detroit Lions tries to get around the tackle of Frank Walker #41 of the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 2, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Lions ranked 23rd in rushing last year at just over 100 yards per game.

Lions fans, Kevin Smith isn't getting the job done. He hasn't rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season yet, can't average at least five yards a carry and only played in six games last year. I'd like to see what would happen, too, if Jahvid Best could stay healthy.

Best ran for 555 yards last year, and Maurice Morris added 336 yards. I think it wouldn't hurt to bring Addai as your starter, shift Best to your No. 2 and use Morris as a third option.

9. Houston

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HOUSTON - JANUARY 02: Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes for major yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Reliant Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

For a pure marketing standpoint, it would be cool, since Addai is from the area.

Let me be clear, though: I love Arian Foster's game. The kid is incredible and he would remain a starter.

This would be one of the teams where Addai would be a No. 2 option, and he could also be a reliable receiver as well out of the backfield for Matt Schaub.

8. Denver

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 12: Runningback Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos runs with the football during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defe

No way, no how do I kick Knowshon out of his starter's role.

Knowshon Moreno rushed for 779 yards and five touchdowns last season and after him, there's just a bunch of guys. 

I have a hard time seeing John Elway part with a first-round pick, but he also knows that Denver was dangerous back when they stockpiled talented backs when Mike Shanahan was still there.

7. Miami

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Ronnie Brown #23 of the Miami Dolphins carries the ball in the first half against the New England Patriots on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are both free agents, so Miami is going to need to address this position somehow.

I still see them nabbing a running back with their pick in the first round.

If it does turn out to be Alabama's Mark Ingram, I think he and Addai together could make this position much more improved. Miami averaged nearly 103 yards rushing last year, but even worse was the fact they only scored eight times on the ground in 2010.

6. Washington

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LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 12: Ryan Torain #46 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on December 12, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Buccaneers defeated the Redskins 17-16. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Imag

OK, Redskins fans, I sure hope Ryan Torain (742 yards, four touchdowns) can carry the load.

I think adding Addai to the mix with him and young Keiland Williams (261 yards, three TDs) would improve them here significantly. Hey, it would be cool to see a pair of rushers from my alma mater together too.

Washington was 30th in rushing last year at just over 91 yards a game.

5. Cincinnati

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BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 2: Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Bengals 13-6. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Cedric Benson has said he wants to stay and is excited about new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, who is putting more of an emphasis on the running game.

If this thing is blown up, though, and Benson leaves along with Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer retires, then this could be an option where Addai could be a starter.

4. Arizona

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 25: Runningback Tim Hightower #34 of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 25, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeat

I'm not saying Tim Hightower still can't be used or that Beanie Wells is a bust, but the Cards simply need to upgrade this position.

The facts don't lie, either: Arizona was dead last in rushing last year at nearly 87 yards a game.

Bringing in Addai would be smart. You could have him be your starter and move Hightower (736 yards, five touchdowns) to your No. 2 guy with Wells (two touchdowns) adding some extra punch.

If healthy, Addai is far better than either of them right now. You know I'm right, Arizona fans.

3. Seattle

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a 67-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, W

If he can keep from being a knucklehead, Marshawn Lynch is a perfectly capable starter.

Lynch finished with a team-high 573 yards and six touchdowns last year, while Justin Forsett added 523 yards and two scores. Put Addai in the mix, and no way does Seattle average 89 yards and finish next to last in the league in rushing.

2. Carolina

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 03: Running back DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Carolina Panthers runs for a touchdown past Will Smith #91 of the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/G

The Panthers put tenders on 14 restricted free agents, including running back DeAngelo Williams.

With five years of experience, though, that may not stick if the new collective bargaining agreement goes back to how it was before the 2010 season.

Williams could be coveted by plenty of teams, but the team wouldn't experience a huge drop-off if it grabbed Addai and put him back with Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson.

1. New Orleans

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Reggie Bush #25 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball against David Hawthorne #57 of the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington

The Saints were wise to lock up Pierre Thomas with a four-year, $12 million deal recently.

Thomas was hampered by injuries last year and rushed for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Ivory carried the load with 716 yards and five touchdowns.

Questions remain about Reggie Bush, the second overall pick in the 2006 draft. The team hasn't said yet if they plan to keep him, but if he were to leave, Addai could give them another capable runner who could also catch passes, just like Bush did.