Let’s hope veteran running backs don’t complain about getting paid what they’re worth on the open market after 2024. Thanks to a weak RB draft class and an abundance of teams with backfield needs, the position shined early on the first day of free agency.
The three seasoned backs who all played on one-year deals in 2023 will have new second teams this season. There were a few nice surprises and a few head-scratchers with more deals yet to come.
Here’s ranking the initial wave of running back moves in free agency, from the Packers spending best and the Eagles splurging worst:
NFL FREE AGENCY 2024: Live grades | Top 75 rankings | Landing spot predictions
Best 2024 NFL RB free agent signings, ranked
1. Packers sign Josh Jacobs (4 years, $48 million)
Green Bay ended up as the sneaky successful suitor for Jacobs, two seasons removed from winning the rushing and scrimmage-yardage title as a Raider. The Packers are cleaning up the fading committee of Aaron Jones (to be released) and AJ Dillon (a free agent) with an every-down type to take all-around pressure off Jordan Love.
Jacobs is only 26, and the Packers got him through his remaining good years at the annual price he got in Las Vegas. They could afford the RB upgrade with Jordan Love still on the cheap.
2. Commanders sign Austin Ekeler (2 years, $11.43 million)
The Commanders weren’t the obvious call for Ekeler, but putting an efficient, experienced cog like this in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, regardless of who’s at QB, was a smart rather cheap move. Ekeler can work well off Brian Robinson Jr. as a change-of-pace specialist, red-zone dynamo, and outlet receiver. Between new tight end Zach Ertz and Ekeler, Kingsbury’s passing game is set up to be spread out and rookie QB-friendly.
BEST FREE AGENTS AVAILABLE:
QBs | RBs | WRs | Defense | Overall
Giants sign Devin Singletary (3 years, $16.5 million)
The Giants stood their ground in not bringing Saquon Barkley and ended up with Singletary, who ran well for the Texans down the stretch. They also paid much less and got Singletary back with Brian Daboll, his offensive coordinator from the Bills. The Giants made the money-saving backfield move; the Eagles didn’t (more on that later).
Bears sign D’Andre Swift (3 years, $24.5 million)
The Bears are paying Swift rather well, thinking he can handle lead duties over the young duo of Khalil Herbert and Roschon Jonson. Swift was productive with managed touches behind the Eagles’ elite run-blocking line last year, but he had shaky durability with the Lions and is still better as a change-of-pace receiver than volume power runner.
Titans sign Tony Pollard (3 years, $24 million)
The Titans are blowing up their old power running game with Derrick Henry and going for speed, quickness, and explosiveness. The concern is they seemed to have a lot of that upside with Tyjae Spears, and perhaps a complementary power back would have been ideal given Pollard struggled to stay healthy and finish in a Henry-like workhorse role last season in Dallas.
This signals new offensive-minded coach Brian Callahan is looking for more passing game-adjacent juice. With former Jaguars assistant Nick Holz as the OC, the Titans are hoping Pollard can channel some of Travis Etienne.
Chargers sign Gus Edwards (2 years, $6.5 million)
The Gus Bus is headed cross country from Baltimore to Los Angeles, Harbaugh to Harbaugh. All roads lead him back to Greg Roman, who got four fine power rushing seasons out of him before Edwards exploded for 13 TDs in the new offense last season. Edwards will be OK in the same role for Roman again, but he’s relatively cheap, so L.A. still has plenty of flexibility.
Patriots sign Antonio Gibson (3 years, $11.25 million)
The Patriots are pairing Gibson with Rhamdondre Stevenson, changing directions from Ezekiel Elliott last season. Gibson will take more of the receiving burden off Stevenson, while Stevenson sees a bump in the early-down power and red-zone work. Given new OC Alex Van Pelt came from the Browns, the Patriots might be trying to create some kind of Nick Chubb-Kareem Hunt committee with Stevenson and Gibson.
MORE: Tiki Barker blasts Saquon Barkley: ‘You’re dead to me’
Eagles sign Saquon Barkley (3 years, $37.8 million)
Wow. Barkley seemed to enjoy not only getting the big deal, but also being able to sorta stick it to the Giants by leaving for the division archrivals. It’s strange, however, the Eagles spent this much on the position when they have a high-floor running game with most backs because of their run-blocking prowess, even now minus Jason Kelce.
The Eagles might be looking to throw more to their back with Kellen Moore and want to get back to being better in the red zone, but that also seems superfluous with Jalen Hurts’ massive running ability. Howie Roseman seemed to spend a little like Philadelphia was in the lap of luxury when they have new needs with overall changing systems.
