The Dallas Cowboys are in the mix for Chris Johnson after he was released from the Titans and other teams like the NY Giants, Jets, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots could be interested in signing him after Tennessee cut the long-time back.
According to ESPN.com and Pro Football Talk, the Titans released Johnson on Friday and this came after intense trade speculation in the offseason and issues with his $8 million salary. Johnson now will command attention and depending on his price tag, some teams will be in on the bidding and some may lose interest. Johnson is 28 years old and he rushed for ver 1,000 yards in each of his seasons with the Titans in six years and now he will hit the market as the team moves on from him after his career low 3.9 yards per carry last season.
Chris Johnson has been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason and ESPN.com is reporting that the market is heating up and while blogger Todd Archer says the Dallas Cowboys are not a fit, they could be interested in making a deal along with the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and NY Jets over signing a name like Knowshon Moreno, while the Titans could just opt to cut the running back. UPDATE: Chris Johnson was released from the Titans and now can sign with anyone. Same things apply, just not the trades.
Johnson is coming off of a tough year with the Tennessee Titans after putting up a career low in yards per carry and according to Ed Werder at ESPN.com and NFL.com, there is a market for Johnson and a number of teams are interested in trading for him. According to Pro Football Talk, sources close to the Titans said that Johnson would be willing to take a pay cut to get a deal done, but it's not clear how much. Johnson and the Titans have been at odds over his contract over the past year and the team could end up releasing him to the free agent market if they can't make a trade.
Johnson is coming into the season after rushing for 1,077 yards and six touchdowns and that was his lowest total since 2011 and while he has been remarkably consistent and durable, he has continuously been at odds with the team over his contract and that could lead to a split. Johnson broke out in his second year in the NFL with a 2,006 yard season and that year he had a career high 14 touchdowns and he followed that with 11 touchdowns, but he has not been to double digit scores since then. Johnson has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his seasons in the NFL and he has only missed one game during his career, but last season he had his first season under 4.0 yards per carry and with a new head coach coming in, it could be time for a change.
The Cowboys don't really have the cap space to pull off this move and while their rushing attack wasn't as potent as they wanted last season, DeMarco Murray, Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar is a solid stable of running backs for 2014. The Miami Dolphins have the cap space for a move, but after the money they have spent the past two seasons they may not want to do that, but their rushing game sure could use a boost.
The Fins ranked 26th in the NFL in rushing last season with only 90 yards per game and they could use an upgrade from Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller. Johnson will make $8 million next season and that is one reason for the trade rumors and another team that could fit the cap space is the Oakland Raiders and they could go after a deal after they lost their leading rusher in Rashad Jennings to the NY Giants. The Denver Broncos likely would not pull off a trade, but if he gets released, they could be a potential option after Knowshon Moreno became a free agent and he had a solid year with 1,000 yards and double digit touchdowns.