Chris Johnson had trade interest from four teams, mostly Bills and Dolphins
Chris Johnson (28) carries the ball against the Houston Texans. Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee Titans have officially released star running back Chris Johnson in a move that has been expected for a few months now, as his exorbitant price tag sealed his fate. This move leaves the Titans without a viable running back and a top playmaker on offense, though Johnson’s playmaking abilities were lacking last season with an average of just 3.9 yards per carry. His production certainly didn’t justify his salary, but a change of scenery and a cheaper deal will do him well.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that CJ1K received trade interest from the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets. Per ESPN colleague Paul Kuharsky, the Dolphins and Bills had the most trade interest for Johnson, and it’s incredibly interesting to see that these two teams had more interest in acquiring him than the Jets.
The Bills already have a top running back duo in C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, with Spiller being the playmaking speed guy. They’ve shown some interest in RBs this offseason, but the fact that they showed significant trade interest in Johnson is a bombshell to my ears. I would be shocked if they didn’t trust either Spiller or Jackson, as Spiller is a star and Jackson is still going strong at his age; adding Johnson to a crowded backfield wouldn’t make much sense for a team that should be more worried about the health of its passing game. However, Jackson and Spiller will be free agents soon, so the Bills are likely putting out at least a feeler for the RB position in the future.
I think the Jets look like the most logical suitors for Johnson, so it was also interesting to hear that another AFC East rival in the Dolphins had notable trade interest. They have a young, talented RB in Lamar Miller who would have had much better numbers behind a competent offensive line, and they made the move to sign veteran Knowshon Moreno this offseason to help give him a very good partner in the backfield.