Previewing 2021 free agents for the Redskins to sign: The backfield

2021 backfield free agents

RUNNING BACKS

You know how you sometimes invert fractions to do procedures in math? Trust me, it’s a thing. Well, if you invert the quarterback situation above, you have the 2021 running back situation.

There are riches to make Jeff Bezos drool. Henry and Kamara. Carson and Conner and Cook. Jones (as in Aaron). All studs. None currently older than 26. And I left out Joe Mixon — currently 23. If you want to pay for it, you can get a proven running back. Now, it’s likely that several will not be available come next offseason. I think Henry and Kamara will be off the market. I would normally think Cook would be as well, but he is asking for a boatload of money, and perhaps the Vikings will balk. If Kamara is available, he is the closest thing you will find to Christian McCaffrey, and I would think he would intrigue coach Rivera.

But there are plenty of quality runners who you might be able to snag at a discount, especially if a lot of these other players are still saturating the market come next year. The slight steps down from those Pro Bowlers who I like best are Marlon Mack, Kareem Hunt, and Matt Brieda.

Mack is in an interesting position. He is a quality all-around back who is playing on a team that has stockpiled other runners. The Colts traded up in this year’s draft to select Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor, and that seems a pretty clear signal that they are willing to let Mack walk next year.

Hunt brings baggage, but if you can convince yourself he has matured enough to stay on the field, he is an excellent 24-year old talent. And since it is unlikely that Cleveland will be able to shell out much to keep him in a backfield that already has Nick Chubb, he too is likely to be available.

Brieda is not an every-down back. He isn’t that much smaller than Mack or Hunt, but he fills the role of a third-down back much better. He has great speed and can break big runs — his 5.0 career average is a testament to that. But he would be more of a companion back to Derrius Guice, as opposed to a replacement, which is what the other two would be.

If Guice has a breakout year in 2020, and the team is looking to supplement him at a lower price, two lesser-known players should draw their attention. Right up the road in Baltimore, Gus Edwards has shown some real quality in his limited opportunities. Edwards is a big power back, weighing close to 240. But he has managed a 5.3 career yards per carry which would be impressive for a back of any size. His numbers aren’t entirely believable, based on sample size, but he definitely merits a look, as does Mike Boone of Minnesota.

In fact, if I could choose one player right now as the most likely backfield addition, it would be Boone. Assuming the Vikings pay Cook, they already have a backup they like in Alexander Mattison. That means Boone, and his 5.3 career yards per carry, should be available. If I’m a pro scout right now, I’ve got Mike Boone at the top of my to-do list.