NFL free agency is a year-round process, as teams scout opposing players in an effort to defeat them during the year and perhaps sign them in the offseason.
Now we're at the end of the 2023-24 NFL season, the free agency picture is coming into focus, and teams are beginning to identify potential targets to improve their roster weaknesses.
Here are the top running backs slated to hit free agency in 2024. Click here for PFF's full list of the top 200 free agents.
1. RB SAQUON BARKLEY, NEW YORK GIANTS
2024 Free agency rank: 29
Barkley held out for a short period this past offseason before returning to play on his franchise tag plus a few incentives that he had close to zero chance of earning. Unfortunately for him, the Giants' season was an abject disaster from the start … that is, until Tommy Cutlets became America’s quarterback for a few weeks.
Barkley is still capable of breaking off an explosive rush at any moment and made several highlight-reel catches in 2023, including a wheel route touchdown that ended with a dive for the pylon in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. There’s no doubt Barkley’s highs are as high as any running back in the game, but the position market is a tricky landscape to navigate in 2024, especially with his missing extended time in three out of the past four seasons.
The good news for Barkley and all free agent running backs this offseason is that the 2024 running back draft class is not perceived to be strong.
Top free agent comparison: LeSean McCoy, 2015
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Saquon Barkley | 0.13 | 2.87 | 62.3 | 0.9 | ? |
| LeSean McCoy | 0.15 | 2.20 | 61.8 | 0.9 | 5.6% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
2. RB JOSH JACOBS, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
2024 Free agency rank: 30
A year removed from winning the rushing title in 2022, Jacobs endured an ugly start to the year amid the implosion of the Josh McDaniels era, and his rushing grade finished nearly 10 points below any prior season. He averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in 2023. Fortunately, Jacobs being utilized more frequently and effectively was a focal point of the Antonio Pierce regime. He amassed at least 98 yards from scrimmage in three of those five games before a quad injury ended his season.
Jacobs will turn just 26 the month before free agency and should still have plenty left in the tank.
Top free agent comparison: Doug Martin, 2016
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Josh Jacobs | 0.21 | 2.98 | 58.2 | 1.2 | ? |
| Doug Martin | 0.15 | 2.83 | 62.3 | 1.01 | 4.6% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
3. RB DERRICK HENRY, TENNESSEE TITANS
2024 Free agency rank: 31
There is only one “Tractorcito,” with Henry's usage as a screen receiver in recent seasons adding another element to his game, causing comparisons to players like Steven Jackson and Chris Ivory to fall a bit short. Henry has not yet hit the proverbial wall, whether that is tied to a running back’s age or total carries. His 3.32 yards after contact per attempt in 2023 was still a top-tier mark.
Going forward, Henry may not break off as many explosives as in years past, but he looks to have a few more seasons of bowling over defenders and scoring double-digit touchdowns in him.
Top free agent comparison: Leonard Fournette, 2022
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Derrick Henry | 0.2 | 3.37 | 60.8 | 1.77 | ? |
| Leonard Fournette | 0.15 | 2.94 | 62.8 | 1.23 | 3.4 |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
4. RB TONY POLLARD, DALLAS COWBOYS
2024 Free agency rank: 55
Pollard was one of three running backs to play out the 2023 season on the franchise tag, and some of the concerns that Dallas cited during his days as the change-of-pace back to Ezekiel Elliott did bear out once he became the focal point of the Cowboys’ rushing attack.
Pollard’s efficiency on a per-touch basis came way down, which was to be expected, but the explosive plays in both the run and pass game were also far harder to come by as a result.
Top free agent comparison: Chris Carson, 2021
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Tony Pollard | 0.19 | 3.32 | 66.9 | 1.13 | ? |
| Chris Carson | 0.21 | 3.45 | 73.0 | 1.04 | 2.8% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
5. RB AUSTIN EKELER, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
2024 Free agency rank: 56
Ekeler pushed for a contract extension and then a trade before the season once it became clear the Chargers didn’t plan to add years to his contract.
The former undrafted free agent has lost some of his top-end speed and acceleration, but he is still shifty over the middle with good start-and-stop ability laterally and a natural pass-catching prowess that rivals any back in the NFL.
Top free agent comparison: Dion Lewis, 2018
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Austin Ekeler | 0.18 | 2.79 | 73.0 | 1.51 | ? |
| Dion Lewis | 0.19 | 2.72 | 73.4 | 1.46 | 2.8% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
6. RB D'Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles
2024 Free agency rank: 104
Swift enjoyed a bounce-back year operating behind the best offensive line in the NFL after an up-and-down tenure with the Detroit Lions. Still, he will carry the same question marks Miles Sanders did last offseason, and Sanders lost the starting job to Chuba Hubbard in Carolina about halfway through his first year of a four-year contract.
Swift is a shifty back who can make defenders miss in a phone booth but rarely seeks out or runs through contact and doesn’t always have the best eyes for developing holes between the tackles. He has good breakaway speed if there are large holes created before contact and is a natural hands-catcher, but he is prone to the occasional focus drop when he takes his eyes off the football and thinks about his first move before securing the ball.
Top free agent comparison: David Montgomery, 2023
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| D’Andre Swift | 0.2 | 2.63 | 58.5 | 1.17 | ? |
| David Montgomery | 0.2 | 2.7 | 68.5 | 1.1 | 2.7% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
7. RB J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
2024 Free agency rank: 128
Top free agent comparison: Damien Harris, 2023
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| J.K. Dobbins | 0.17 | 3.02 | 69.4 | 1.01 | ? |
| Damien Harris | 0.15 | 2.84 | 63.9 | 1.09 | 0.8% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
8. RB Devin Singletary, Houston Texans
2024 Free agency rank: 129
Top free agent comparison: Miles Sanders, 2023
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Devin Singletary | 0.22 | 2.92 | 55.8 | 0.71 | ? |
| Miles Sanders | 0.17 | 2.90 | 45.0 | 0.51 | 2.8% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
9. RB A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers
2024 Free agency rank: 132
Top free agent comparison: Jordan Howard, 2020
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| A.J. Dillon | 0.12 | 2.8 | 57.9 | 0.92 | ? |
| Jordan Howard | 0.11 | 2.8 | 57.9 | 0.69 | 2.4% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
10. RB Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
2024 Free agency rank: 133
Top free agent comparison: Alexander Mattison, 2023
| Player | Missed tackles forced per attempt | Yards after contact per attempt | Receiving grade | Yards per route run | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Zack Moss | 0.22 | 2.88 | 42.7 | 0.7 | ? |
| Alexander Mattison | 0.24 | 2.78 | 51.0 | 0.9 | 1.6% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
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