Ben Tate and LeGarrette Blount were released by their teams this week and if they pass through waivers, the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens or NY Giants could be interested in signing one of the running backs after they were waived by the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tate signed with the Browns in the offseason on a two year deal after playing with the Texans to start his career and he was expected to be the starting running back this season. Tate opened the season as the RB1 on the depth chart, but he got injured and that gave way to Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell in the offense. Tate returned and played well to start, but over the past few weeks he has not been effective and the Browns felt that West and Crowell deserved more time in the offense.
Blount was released by the Steelers after leaving the field before the game on Monday night was over. Blount was the backup for Le'Veon Bell and he had expressed frustration about how he had been used this season. Teams now also could look at Blount along with Tate as options down the stretch at RB.
Tate was looked at as not "explosive" enough for the Browns offense and that was one of the reasons the team traded Trent Richardson last year. Tate has been averaging less than two yards per carry over the last five games and after rushing for minus nine yards last week, the Browns felt it was time to make a move. The Colts have been looked at as a team that could sign Tate, as they just lost leading back Ahmad Bradshaw and now they have Dan Herron and Richardson as their top two RBs.
Tate had over 700 yards last season and in his first year with Houston he rushed for over 900 yards while filling in for Arian Foster. Tate is a tough runner and he is solid out of the backfield catching the ball and he also is not a fumbler, which makes him more appealing for teams. According to ESPN.com, the Colts may want Tate, but it's likely that other teams in the waiver order will claim him ahead of the Colts. Jason Cole at Bleacher Report writes that the Dolphins Ravens and other teams ahead of the Colts could be interested in Tate if he makes it to them on the waiver list.
The Dolphins have Lamar Miller, but he was only elevated to the top spot after the team lost Knowshon Moreno to a season ending injury. The Ravens also could be an option, as they lost Ray Rice and now have Justin Forsett, Lorenzo Taliaferro and Bernard Pierce as their top three backs. The Ravens could use a boost in the rushing game and Tate's style could fit into what Baltimore likes to do.
Tate made it known last week that he was not happy about his role with the Browns and that was one reason why he was released. Tate was not effective over the past five weeks and this season he was ranked 43rd in the league in yards per carry on his rushes. Tate rushed for over 200 yards combined in back to back games earlier in the season, but since that performance he has had just 90 yards over a five game stretch.