The NFL draft is coming and that means teams will start focusing on needs as the free agent class gets to the bottom of the barrel and teams like the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, NY Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals could look at free agents like Willis McGahee, Michael Bush, Ronnie Brown or Tashard Choice as backup RB options.
The Washington Redskins were one of the best rushing teams in the league last season, but Alfred Morris has been getting overworked and they could use some more depth behind Roy Helu as well. The New York Giants were a mess rushing the ball last season and while they signed Rashad Jennings and brought back Peyton Hillis, the team has to wonder about David Wilson and what he will be able to do after a neck injury and that could cause the team to draft a running back or to pick up someone like Michael Bush or Ronnie Brown.
The Steelers suffered in the running game last season while Le'Veon Bell was injured and they could go for more depth, while the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans need that area addressed as well. The Cowboys love DeMarco Murray, but he has issues staying healthy and while they have some solid backups like Joseph Randle, they too could use more at the position. The Texans lost Ben Tate to the Cleveland Browns and after Arian Foster was injured last season they could look to add another player or two to take some pressure off his shoulders, which have been worked hard over the past three seasons.
The Miami Dolphins could also be in the mix even after signing Knowshon Moreno, as they were one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL last season as well. The team ranked 26th in the league in yards per game on the ground with Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller and if one of those players gets cut loose, expect the Dolphins to at least take a look at some players.
Brown and Bush each had down seasons in 2013, but that means they could come cheap and fill certain needs for teams. Brown is an average run blocker, but he has shown in the past that he can be a great weapon out of the backfield catching the ball and if he can return to the form he had in 2012, he could be a valuable signing for teams. Two years ago Brown had 49 catches for 371 yards and that was a career high in catches and while he had just 157 yards last season on the ground, that was more about scheme than his skills.
Michael Bush has been declining over the past two years, decreasing in yards, carries, touchdowns and yards per carry, but again, part of that was due to the health of Matt Forte, who had a career season in 2013. Bush could be a solid backup option, as could McGahee, who was signed to the Browns for part of last year. Last season he had 277 yards in 12 games and that came after a solid 731 yard season with the Broncos in 2012.
