Life in the NFL has not been kind to free agent running back J.K. Dobbins. Originally selected as a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Ohio State product entered the league as one of the most promising young rushers in the game. Splitting snaps as a rookie, Dobbins finished his inaugural season with 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on just 134 carries (6.0 yards per attempt). With veteran Mark Ingram departing in the 2021 offseason, Dobbins was supposed to break out in his second season.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The running back suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for the 2021 campaign. He returned to the field in 2022, but only played in eight games as his knee continued to give him trouble. 2023 was more of the same, as an Achilles injury limited him to just one game. Now, J.K. Dobbins is a free agent, but it’s hard to say if anyone will sign him.
Will J.K. Dobbins Find A Free Agent Home?
Recovering from an Achilles injury is notoriously difficult, especially for running backs. Even once they’re back on the field, players struggle to regain their acceleration, which is a crucial tool for a running back. J.K. Dobbins recently received medical clearance, but the free agent might not be back to his old self.
J.K. Dobbins had a recent free agent visit with the Kansas City Chiefs. While there are no reports to indicate how well the visit went, we can infer that it didn’t go well. Shortly after the running back left the building, Kansas City re-signed Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Despite his first-round draft capital, Edwards-Helaire has been nothing but a disappointment since entering the league. If the Chiefs think he’s better than Dobbins, then that’s a major red flag.
JK Dobbins, who visited KC today, remains a free agent. https://t.co/HzzUUeaGWK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 2, 2024
As unfortunate as it is, there is a real chance that J.K. Dobbins will be a free agent for quite some time. However, if he is going to sign with a new team, one of these three organizations makes the most sense.
Possible Destinations
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers also brought in J.K. Dobbins for a free agent visit, but unlike the Chiefs, they could actually sign him. As of this posting, Gus Edwards is the only notable running back currently under contract. Head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to build a run-first offense, and offensive coordinator Greg Roman knows Dobbins from their time together in Baltimore. With a weak running back draft class, the Chargers could decide to sign the known commodity in Dobbins.
Carolina Panthers
Miles Sanders is too expensive to cut, but that doesn’t mean he has to be the Panthers starting running back. If the season started today, Chuba Hubbard would probably be the starter for Dave Canales’ offense. While Hubbard is a fine role player, he lacks an exciting ceiling. Injuries may have sapped J.K. Dobbins of some of his athletic potential, but the free agent still has some upside if he ever finds his old form. The Panthers have done a remarkable job of adding offensive talent, so they might as well add in a low-risk, medium-reward running back to the mix.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are struggling to adjust to the post-Josh Jacobs Era. Zamir White played well in limited touches last year, but that doesn’t mean he can handle a larger workload. His new teammate, Alexander Mattison, is proof of that, as the former Viking struggled to replace Dalvin Cook. J.K. Dobbins can’t singlehandedly replace Jacobs, but the free agent can help split the work between the aforementioned runners. With their three powers combined, the Raiders should have a decent run game.
Main Photo: Brad Mills – USA Today Sports
