Chris Johnson has been linked in trade rumors for some time and now that free agency is moving along and players have signed, the Titans are looking to deal their running back and teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, NY Jets, Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals could be fits for a Tennessee deal.
Johnson has been one of the most consistent backs in football since he was drafted, but the Titans have grown weary of his antics and his contract dissatisfaction and now they are moving to trade him. Johnson is set to make $8 million this season and NFL.com is reporting that Johnson would be willing to take a slight pay cut to make a deal work and this comes after he did not want to do that for the Titans. Johnson has been moaning about his contract since he signed an extension and now it looks like a split is in the cards and teams like the Cowboys, Broncos and Dolphins all could use a boost in their rushing attacks and Johnson could fit with all those teams.
The Dolphins were one of the worst teams on the ground last season and they ranked 26th in the NFL in rushing with just 90 yards per game from Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller and adding someone like Johnson could really open up the offense. The Dolphins offensive line was a mess and now that they have added Branden Albert things should get better and that may help the rushing game too. Johnson rushed for 2,000 yards earlier in his career and he has been milking that, but he has shown that he is consistent and he rushed for over 1,000 yards every year in the league, but last season he had his lowest yards per carry in his career.
The 28-year-old would be a dream for the Dallas Cowboys, but it could be hard to swing the money under the cap after Tony Romo signed his massive extension. Johnson is one of the fastest backs in the NFL and while he has lost a step, he still can be very explosive. Last season he had a long of 30 yards and that was disappointing, but the Titans were not the best constructed team in 2013, especially on the offensive line, so he has some beef there.
The Raiders lost Rashad Jennings and while they brought back Darren McFadden, Johnson could be a prime option for the team and the two of them could be a great tandem for Dennis Allen. The Jets could be an option as well since they have the money, but they have looked into DeSean Jackson and may not be willing to worry about Johnson at the same time. Knowshon Moreno had a big season for the Broncos, but he is hanging onto the free agent market and he could be replaced with Johnson if the Broncos want to make a deal. The Cardinals have some young players and they had Rashard Mendenhall last season, but he is gone and adding Johnson could make the team into a playoff contender.
