The market for free agent running backs this year has been surprisingly cold. Several quality players have been waiting around for a call since the spending spree began back on March 11. Finally, after weeks of waiting, three of the top free agent runners have found new homes as Knowshon Moreno, Maurice Jones-Drew, and LeGarette Blount have all signed on the dotted line.
Coming off a breakout season in Denver, Moreno signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. It’s certainly much less than most pundits expected him to receive based upon his performance last year, but Moreno should prove extremely valuable to a ‘Phins offense that expects to run the football much more this season than in recent years. Moreno should remain highly motivated to prove his worth to the NFL after being slighted in this manner. Don’t bet against the fiery runner; he’s a complete player with a three-down skill set.
Jones-Drew’s new situation is interesting. After years of functioning as the bell-cow for the Jacksonville Jaguars, MJD has inked a three-year pact with the Oakland Raiders. While he might be coming off a down season, there is plenty of cause for optimism for “Pocket Hercules'” prospects in the” Black Hole”. The Raiders re-signed Darren McFadden to a very modest deal when free agency opened and there’s every reason to expect Jones-Drew to receive a fair shot at competing for a starting gig. While this backfiled does smell like a timeshare waiting to happen, MJD should have a substantial role in the running game.
Blount signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers and probably figures to receive the smallest piece of the proverbial workload pie of the three newly-inked tailbacks. The Steelers are highly committed to the emerging Le’Veon Bell, and he is expected to retain his role as one of the more featured runners in the game. Blount will likely serve as a complementary player, although that is always subject to change. It’s highly surprising that Blount didn’t get a crack at a starting gig somewhere in the league. While he may not possess the third-down prowess that many teams crave, he is a powerful runner who caught fire for the Patriots late last season. A return to New England seemed like the most logical scenario as free agency opened but alas, it wasn’t to be.
-Johnny Manziel held his personal Pro Day on March 27 and by all accounts it was a rousing success. Manziel completed 61 of 63 passes in front of NFL scouts while wearing pads and a helmet no less. Manziel’s efforts certainly helped his draft stock, and the timing couldn’t be better. There has been little consensus recently as to where Manziel might land in the NFL’s annual spectacular, but it appears that “Johnny Football” has cemented his status as a high first-round selection.
-While on the subject of the draft, it’s important to note that the season of speculation is about to hit new heights. With Pro Days on the verge of wrapping up, General Managers and scouts are about to be inundated with more game film than anyone could imagine. It’s amazing to watch top-notch prospects’ projected draft statuses change so frequently when literally nothing is going on. It’s a true sign of how much time executives and media types spend deconstructing these players on film. It’s a crazy time of the year, but it’s also very exciting as it unfolds. While nothing can be certain until the draft kicks of on May 8th, look for rumor-mongering and speculation to ramp up in the coming weeks.
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