The 2023 NFL offseason was fascinating when it came to the running back position. A total of six players that received the “franchise tag”, and three of them were members of a backfield. The Raiders’ Josh Jacobs, the Cowboys’ Tony Pollard and the Giants’ Saquon Barkley all received the tag and all wound up playing one a one-year contract. Each of the three is with the new team, and two of these performers have made this list.
A year ago, Texas’ Bijan Robinson and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs were selected in the first round by the Falcons and Lions, respectively. In April, Texas’s Jonathon Brooks was the first running back selected this year. He went 46th overall to the Carolina Panthers.
As for the top running back acquisitions this offseason, all five veterans have been named to at least one Pro Bowl. Two of the performers have combined for three of the past five individual rushing titles.
The top offseason additions at running back this offseason
5. Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers)
His five-year run with the Silver and Black had far more positives than negatives, however, he wound up in the open market. Via Spotrac, the Packers inked the solid performer to the tune of four years and $48 million. Will 2022 NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs put up similar numbers with Matt LaFleur’s offense?
The Packers caught fire down the stretch last season and rode that momentum into the playoffs. While quarterback Jordan Love got hot, as did veteran running back Aaron Jones. The latter was cut loose by Green Bay (more on him later) and Jacobs, a three-time 1,000-yard runner, should be able to fill the bill.
4. D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears)
He will be suiting up for his third different team in as many seasons and makes his return to the NFC North. After three seasons with the Lions, running back D’Andre Swift was dealt to the Eagles in 2023. He had a career year with Philadelphia via 1,263 yards from scrimmage but opted to join the Chicago Bears.
The Bears were second in the league in rushing yards in 2023, but were led on the ground by quarterback Justin Fields (now with the Steelers). Swift will team with Khalil Herbert to give Matt Eberflus’ club a solid 1-2 punch out of the backfield. Swift also caught 39 passes in 2023, almost twice as many as Herbert (20).
3. Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles)
Speaking of the Eagles, it’s a team that has excelled at running the ball in recent years. The Birds have finished in the NFL’s Top 10 in rushing yards per game each of the past four seasons, including eighth in 2023. Miles Sanders ran for 1,049 yards in 2022, and D’Andre Swift totaled 1,269 yards rushing in 2023.
The former is now with the Panthers, the latter signed with Chicago. Enter versatile Saquon Barkley, who totaled 1,242 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 of the Giants’ 25 offensive touchdowns this past season. It robs New York of a vital weapon that has scored 22 TDs in his last 31 games (including playoffs).
2. Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings)
Green Bay’s emerging young quarterback got a lot of “love” in the second half of the season. However, it’s worth noting that the club’s ground attack was also rolling down the stretch, and keyed by Aaron Jones. He would close out his Packers’ career with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games (including playoffs).
That’s because he was released by Green Bay this offseason, and wasted little time latching on with the rival Vikings. Alexander Mattison led Minnesota (29th in the NFL in rushing in 2023) with 700 yards on the ground this past season. In Jones’ aforementioned last five games, he rushed for an impressive 584 yards.
1. Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens)
He was part of a tandem his first two seasons in the league, but would soon become the workhorse that the league has seen the past seven years. Derrick Henry has led the league in rushing attempts in four of the last five seasons (NFL-high 280 carries in ’23), and ran for 1,000-plus yards in five of the last six years.
The Tennessee Titans led Henry test free agency, and he joined the team with the best record in the NFL this past season. The Ravens also led the league in rushing. They add a performer who has totaled 10-plus touchdowns on the ground six straight seasons and get a runner with plenty of tread left on the tires.