At first glance, the Patriots running back group looks pretty full.
Sony Michel has been the feature back who saw a bit of a decline last season. James White is an elite pass-catching back. Rex Burkhead is a versatile veteran who can do a bit of everything. Damien Harris is an unknown sophomore prospect. Brandon Bolden is a special teamer who can fill in and get the job done when he’s needed.
Yet, there are still holes that can be filled, especially if Rex Burkhead gets cut. New England has struggled to find a short-yardage specialist, and they may get a lot of use out of another back who can both catch and run effectively. So Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio should be scouring the market. Here are five free-agent running backs that the Patriots should check in on.
1. Jordan Howard
Howard’s career has been on a very interesting trajectory. He started off hot as a rookie with the Bears, finishing with 1,313 yards (second in the NFL) and a trip to the Pro-Bowl. His production and playing time began to dip over the next two seasons in Chicago, and he eventually was traded to the Eagles for a conditional fifth-round pick.
Last season, his sole year with Philadelphia, Howard had eight carries inside of the five. He scored five touchdowns on those attempts. Howard could be that bruising back that the Patriots have been looking for while also providing relief for Michel if needed. And, following his worst season in terms of attempts (119), it would be surprising to see him get any huge offers.
2. Ty Montgomery
Montgomery came into the league as a wide receiver in the 2015 draft. He was a third-round pick that was expected to eventually become a contributor behind Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb, and 2015 second-round pick Davante Adams. Just one year into his NFL career, he was moved to running back after injuries to Eddie Lacy and James Starks. The new position gave Montgomery the opportunity to do a lot more, and he did just that. He finished his time in Green Bay with 849 rushing yards and 827 receiving yards.
Since then, Montgomery had a brief stop in Baltimore and spent last year with the Jets where he was seldom used. He has the versatility to play a similar role to what Burkhead has done in New England. He can catch out of the backfield or line up out wide and provide some ability in the rushing game as well. After a dismal year, Montgomery could probably be fetched for cheap.
3. Isaiah Crowell
Crowell has carved out a solid career for himself after going undrafted in 2014 out of Alabama St. He spent four seasons in Cleveland where he rushed for 3,118 yards and 21 touchdowns. In 2018, Crowell signed with the Jets and tied his career-high in yards per attempt (4.8) while splitting the workload with Bilal Powell and Elijah McGuire. Just one year into his three-year, Crowell was cut to make room for Le’Veon Bell. He missed all of last season due to a torn Achilles suffered in a team workout with the Raiders just a month after signing with them.
It’s hard to expect much from any player coming off of a torn Achilles, never mind a running back. At the position where cutting and explosiveness is imperative, that injury can be devastating. However, Crowell will likely come at the veteran minimum or a hair above it. It could be a low-risk, high-reward deal that could pan out well. He’s an all-around back who could help in New England.
4. Lamar Miller
As a rookie fourth-round pick for the Dolphins, Miller didn’t play much with Reggie Bush in front of him. However, he took advantage of the following three seasons on his rookie contract that saw him total 2,930 yards and 19 touchdowns in his four years in Miami. In 2016, he signed with the Texans to become one of the highest-paid backs in the league. Miller rewarded Houston by being the fifth leading rusher from 2016-2018.
Miller’s 2019 ended before it even started with a torn ACL in the preseason. He would be another option that would likely be cap friendly to New England. An ACL tear used to be the end of a running back’s career, but that’s not the case anymore. Miller could return back to his former self – a flexible player that excels in the run and pass game – and if he did, the team that signs him could get a solid running back for less than market value.
5. Kenyan Drake
After Drake was selected in the third round of the 2016 draft, he was thrust into a depth chart that had Jay Ajayi, the league’s fourth-leading rusher. In 2017, when Ajayi was traded to the Eagles, Drake stepped in, but he never got the full workload, carrying the ball only 133 times in his second season. The coaching staff and front office continued to bring in other backs (Frank Gore, Kalen Ballage, etc.) instead of just letting Drake be the guy.
Last season, Drake was traded to Arizona after eight games. He saw his numbers skyrocket from a 3.7 yards per attempt to 5.2. With the Cardinals, he scored eight rushing touchdowns compared to the zero with Miami. To many, this proved that Drake has the ability to be an above-average running back in this league, he just needs the opportunity.
He can run for 1,000 yards and bring in over 50 receptions. That alone should be reason enough for a team to be in on Drake. The lone issue will be the price tag. Teams noticed what he did last year when given a shot, and they’ll be looking to bring him in, including the Cardinals who were the first team to believe in him. If the Patriots were to bring Drake in, the move would indicate a shifting in New England’s faith in Michel, which is not completely out of the question, as Drake would likely be the first back on a depth chart.
It’s unlikely that the Patriots make a big splash in the free agent running back pool, but there are quite a few options that could improve the team. Look for them to potentially add some inexpensive pieces to really bolster the depth at the position.
