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The initial frenzy that always occurs when the new NFL league year gets underway is starting to fade. A lot of players have found new homes, and now things are starting to become more deliberate as the remaining targets survey the new landscape.
Running back is one position where plenty of movement is still to come. A lot has been made about the changed outlook for teams around the league in the backfield. The urge to give players at the position lucrative long-term deals isn't as strong these days.
That said, the impact that the good ones can make is still incredibly big. That makes it interesting to see how the market plays out. So let's check out some of the latest rumors involving running backs available either through free agency or a trade.
The Dallas Cowboys finally committed to the running game last season. Murray responded by rushing for over 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns. It's hard to believe the team would willingly allow that successful partnership to end, but the interest elsewhere is picking up.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports the dynamic back is heading to meet with the Philadelphia Eagles brass Thursday:
His ESPN colleague, Adam Caplan, notes the interest from Philadelphia is legitimate:
The Eagles have undergone some major changes already this offseason. One of the moves was reaching a deal with running back Ryan Mathews. Adding Murray to create a high-upside duo would create plenty of options for Chip Kelly.
Losing Murray is one thing. Watching him walk into the hands of a division rival would be a major setback for the Cowboys and put pressure on them to find a top-tier replacement. Whether that will force their hand into offering him a better deal to stay remains to be seen.
Peterson and the Vikings have held recent talks to discuss his future with the organization. The running back wasn't prepared to provide details of the meetings or speculate about the next step, telling Ben Goessling of ESPN, "I'm just waiting to see what happens."
If the sides determine it's best to go their separate ways, the trade talk will likely heat up. Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports Peterson is willing to restructure his contract to make a deal work and has multiple possible landing spots in mind:
While the Dallas Cowboys have been reported to be a Peterson favorite destination, the running back prefers five teams: the Arizona Cardinals, the Indianapolis Colts, the Cowboys, the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That said, even if Peterson requested a trade, the Vikings could refuse and simply pay him the $12.75 million in base salary he's due in the 2015 season.
Which of these RBs has the most upside for 2015?
Which of these RBs has the most upside for 2015?
DeMarco Murray
Adrian Peterson
C.J. Spiller
The Cowboys obviously stand out from the list given the Murray situation. If they lose him and are able to bring in Peterson as a replacement, an offensive drop-off becomes less of a concern. They certainly don't want to put too much pressure on Tony Romo again. A balanced attack worked far better.
Indianapolis has signed Frank Gore since the report came out. Otherwise, the other potential fits are still in need of an upgrade at the position. The Cardinals are an interesting alternative with a solid aerial attack already in place. Peterson could take the offense to the next level.
Rick Stewart/Getty Images Spiller is an interesting case. He's one of the league's most explosive rushers when healthy. He played just nine games last season and didn't look like his usual dangerous self when he did play, though. The Clemson product averaged less than four yards per carry.
Signing him to fill a void at running back would come with some clear risk. That said, the reward if he returns to full strength could be worth taking the chance. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports the New Orleans Saints are interested:
The Saints represent an ideal situation for Spiller. They already have a punishing back in Mark Ingram. So he could assume a moderate workload to increase his chances of staying healthy. He would also be a nice weapon in the passing game.
If that doesn't work out, Rapoport notes the Cowboys are a presence once again. Dallas would probably need more depth at the position if it wants to take a chance on Spiller as its starter. But it's clear the Cowboys are keeping all options open at this point.
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