2023 NFL Free Agency: Predicting where top 10 running backs land
The 2023 NFL Free Agency class is rather loaded no matter what way you look at it, but perhaps no position group is more over-saturated than running back. This year’s running back group is outstanding from top to bottom, including All-Pro Josh Jacobs and Pro Bowler Saquon Barkley.
This free agent group of running backs includes five players who ran for 1,000 yards this past season. Even if that number doesn’t carry as much weight as it used to, there were only seven players to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in the entire NFL in 2021. In 2022, that number jumped back up significantly, but a number of those 1,000-yard backs could now be changing homes.
We’re going to take a stab at predicting where those new homes might end up being. To keep this from being completely boring, we’re also going to pick a team for players if they leave, even if the likeliest projection is them staying put. You can also check out our predictions of 50 top NFL free agents and where they might sign here.
2023 NFL Free Agency: Where will the top 10 running backs sign?
1. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs went from having his fifth-year option declined by the new regime in Las Vegas (Josh McDaniels, Dave Ziegler) to being one of the hottest offensive weapons in the entire league. Although you can chalk it up to Jacobs really showing out in a contract year, he’s managed to be pretty productive through four years with the Raiders, racking up at least 1,200 yards from scrimmage in all of his first four seasons, as well as 40 total touchdowns.
It reached a pinnacle for him in 2022, however, when he racked up 2,053 all-purpose yards and 12 total touchdowns.
The Raiders would be fools to get rid of him, right? Then again, they’re also dumping Derek Carr for nothing. It seems like the way things work with Josh McDaniels goes like this: You say you don’t want to play for the team he’s part of, and he finds a way to get you out of there quickly.
Jacobs seems like one of the likeliest franchise tag candidates in the NFL, to me, but with the Raiders, you just never know.
Prediction: Tagged by Raiders
If he leaves: Signs with Denver Broncos