The Los Angeles Rams moved on from Todd Gurley on Thursday, releasing the star running back in a cap-saving move. They now have a hole atop their depth chart at running back, which will need to be filled.
There are countless options out there, both in free agency and in the draft. The Rams even have a good player already on their roster who could take Gurley’s place.
Here are seven possible replacements for Gurley in the Rams backfield.
Darrell Henderson, Rams
Henderson is the clearest replacement for Gurley, since he’s already on the roster and was a third-round pick in 2019. The Rams even traded up to draft him, showing just how highly they think of the Memphis product.
He didn’t get many opportunities as a rookie last year, but he did look good against the Bengals when he rushed for 49 yards on 11 attempts, also catching two passes for 20 yards. Henderson is a talented running back who can also catch passes out of the backfield, but his pass blocking needs work – an important trait in Sean McVay’s eyes.
Henderson should get the first crack at replacing Gurley in 2020, given his similar skill set and fit in a zone blocking scheme.
Zack Moss, Utah
The Rams met with Moss at the combine, showing interest in the former Utah Ute. He’s a powerful runner who’s drawn comparisons to Marshawn Lynch, displaying excellent balance and vision in the hole.
What Moss lacks is breakaway speed and explosiveness. He ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and posted a 4.37 in the 20-yard shuttle, neither of which were among the best times at his position at the combine.
The Rams clearly like his game, though, and they don’t have a powerful back like him on their roster, so perhaps he could be a target early on Day 3.
Cam Akers, Florida State
Akers is a speedy back with good size at 5-foot-10, 217 pounds; he looks the part of an NFL back. He ran a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash, which is plenty fast, and also put up 20 reps on the bench press. Akers is a great receiver, too, catching 30 passes last season for 225 yards and four touchdowns.
Landing Akers would probably require the Rams to use their third- or fourth-round pick on him, but if they don’t feel good about having Henderson carry the full workload, Akers would be a nice partner in the backfield.
Joshua Kelley, UCLA
Kelley is another running back the Rams met with at the combine, which makes him a possible target on Day 3. He probably wouldn’t be the top choice to replace Gurley if the Rams did draft him, but he could help share the load with Henderson, or at the very least be a backup if Malcolm Brown is cut, too.
Kelley is a physical runner who would likely be the Rams’ short-yardage and goal line back, just as Gurley was.
Carlos Hyde, free agent
Hyde showed last season that when healthy, he can be a productive player in the NFL. He finally played all 16 games, racking up a career-high 1,070 rushing yards for the Texans at a healthy average of 4.4 yards per carry. Given the landscape of the running back market, he wouldn’t break the bank or cost very much, but he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank despite being 29 years old.
If signed, Hyde would likely vault to the top of the Rams’ depth chart, even ahead of Henderson and Brown. If the Rams are looking for a veteran with experience, Hyde should be on their radar as a free-agent option.
Lamar Miller, free agent
Miller is nothing if not consistent, gaining between 872 and 1,099 yards on the ground in each of the last five years before missing the entire 2019 season. Other than last year, he had been durable and played at least 14 games every year since 2013.
Miller is a slasher who would fit nicely in the Rams’ scheme, allowing him to hit the hole with one cut and get upfield. Another veteran who wouldn’t cost very much, Miller would bring experience to the Rams’ backfield that’s led by Henderson right now.
Devonta Freeman, free agent
Freeman was cut by the Falcons after a terrible 2019 season. He gained only 656 yards on 184 attempts (3.6 yards per carry), scoring two touchdowns on the ground. He’s always been a capable receiver, though, and still caught 59 passes for 410 yards last season.
Freeman wouldn’t count against the compensatory pick formula and while he has similar traits to Henderson, he’d be a nice addition to the roster. Durability is a concern, but if healthy and with a good offensive line, Freeman could get back to the way he played from 2015-2017 as a dual-threat weapon.
