The NFL free agent period is set to begin on March 11 and some names that could get attention include a stable of running backs in Ben Tate, Maurice Jones-Drew, Rashard Mendenhall, Willis McGahee, Dexter McCluster, James Starks and Darren McFadden and teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, NY Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Buccaneers all could be in the mix.
The running back position is deep on the market this season and a player like Ben Tate should get plenty of attention after he was basically a starter for the second half of the season after Arian Foster went down with an injury. Rashad Jennings did the same for the Raiders when Darren McFadden down and he could cash in this season as well after rushing for over 700 yards. Mendenhall and McGahee were veteran players with their teams and they could serve in the same role again, while McCluster turned into a wide receiver for the Chiefs and that could be where he comes into the mix this offseason as well.
The Giants and the Ravens have running back issues heading into 2014, with Baltimore getting a terrible season and offseason from Ray Rice, while the G-Men lost David Wilson to injury and also have Andre Brown as a free agent. James Starks should be in the mix for teams that miss out on the top names and someone like Darren McFadden could get attention as well after another injury season with the Raiders.
McFadden rushed for 379 yards and five touchdowns and he missed a number of games once again, adding to the 19 in 41 games over the past few years and that is one reason why he will likely leave Oakland. The team may try to bring him back on the cheap, but if he wants too much, Reggie McKenzie will let him walk. McFadden has had one 1,000 yard season and that was back in 2010 and he will be looking to get back to that level again.
Maurice Jones-Drew is another option and while he is 29, he had another solid season with 803 yards rushing and 43 catches for 314 yards and that could lead to a nice deal for him. Knowshon Moreno is going to get some attention as well and this comes after he rushed for 1,038 yards and scored 10 touchdowns and on top of that he added another 458 yards receiving. The Broncos could keep him, but he likely will cost too much.
Tate rushed for 771 yards and scored four touchdowns and he played with broken ribs, showing his toughness and will to win and now he likely will be a starter somewhere else. McCluster could make a move as well and it comes after he has made 172 catches, 662 rushing yards and six touchdowns with the team over four seasons and he is a crack returner as well.
