With the start of the NFL season less than just two weeks away, most of the big-name players have already found a home for the 2023 season. However, there is one major exception, as running back Kareem Hunt is still a free agent. The one-time Pro Bowler and NFL rushing leader is probably the best back on the market and reportedly has multiple offers from four different teams across the league. We do not know which teams these are, but we can make an educated guess.
Free agent RB Kareem Hunt has had offers from four teams over the past several weeks, per source. He has continued to wait for the right offer.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2023
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Report: 4 Teams Tied to Free Agent Kareem Hunt
The Woeful Running Back Market
Needless to say, it is a bad time to be a running back. The position itself takes a dangerous toll on the body, as a player needs to be willing to run headfirst into a 1,000-pound wall of muscle play after play, down after down. Unfortunately for free agent running backs like Kareem Hunt, the NFL has determined that the running back position isn’t important to the overall success of a football team. Passing wins games in today’s game, and even when you do need to run the football, the offensive line and playcalling have a much larger effect on the success of the play than the actual runner.
This depreciated running back market has led to notable holdouts from Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and J.K. Dobbins, and while those players eventually returned to the field, none of them received the contract they truly wanted. It makes sense that Hunt is waiting for the right deal to materialize, as the physical nature of the running back position is prone to injuries, so it will only be a matter of time before some team out there is desperate for a starter.
There is a chance that Hunt remains a free agent when Week 1 rolls around, but if that happens, he’s going to risk losing some game checks. Chances are, Hunt will sign one of the four offers before the start of the season, the only question is which team will be his new home.
Possible Free Agent Homes For Kareem Hunt
Right off the bat, the most likely fit is the Indianapolis Colts. Jonathan Taylor and the organization are openly at war, as the Colts refuse to give Taylor a real contract or trade him to another team. The former First-Team All-Pro is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but even when he’s eligible to return, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he never plays another snap with the Colts. Kareem Hunt would make perfect sense as a free agent signing, as nobody wants to see 17 games of Zack Moss.
Skills and drills with #Colts RBs Deon Jackson, Jake Funk (practice squad), rookie Evan Hull and Jason Huntley (practice squad).
Zack Moss (broken arm) is in a hoodie watching.
No sight of Jonathan Taylor (ankle), who went on reserve PUP yesterday. pic.twitter.com/woeNUcILgb
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 30, 2023
The New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, brought Kareem Hunt in for a workout a while back, so they’re clearly interested in signing him as a free agent. Alvin Kamara will miss the first three games of the season, Jamaal Williams is nothing more than a serviceable starter, and rookie Kendre Miller left a lot to be desired in the preseason. If New Orleans believes they need more reinforcements in the backfield, then Kareem Hunt is a perfect signing.
The Miami Dolphins are not hiding the fact that they’re looking for a better running back. Miami was in the thick of the Dalvin Cook and Jonathan Taylor sweepstakes, so they might have to settle for Kareem Hunt as a free agent consolation prize. The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, have two talented but oft-injured running backs in J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Hunt would provide some much-needed stability to the depth chart, and he’s a clear upgrade on current practice squad member Melvin Gordon.
Those are the four most likely teams, but the Kansas City Chiefs could be a wild card. Obviously, Hunt and the Chiefs have quite a bit of history together, but if they can put their past behind them, then this is a match made in heaven. Kansas City needs a three-down back, and we all know how dangerous Kareem Hunt can be in this offense. Obviously, Hunt isn’t the player he once was, but he’s still better than Jerrick McKinnon in the passing game.
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Main Photo: Charles LeClaire – USA Today Sports
