NFL Analysis
2/6/25
8 min read
2025 NFL Free Agency: Best Fits For Top RBs On The Market
We might never see a free-agent running back class like we did in 2024. There were multiple Pro Bowl running backs available, including an All-Pro in Saquon Barkley. Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and Aaron Jones are just a few other examples of running backs leaving their initial teams and finding success elsewhere.
But which running backs could have a big impact in 2025? And where might they land? Here are the top five running backs expected to hit the market and potential destinations:
One Free Agent Each Team Should Sign This Offseason
Best Fits for Top Free Agent RBs
Najee Harris: Los Angeles Chargers 
Contract Prediction: 3 years, $24 million
The “top” running back on the market is Najee Harris, the former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2021 NFL Draft. Harris has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons in the league, but he just isn’t a dynamic running back, and his lack of big plays will limit his market.
The good news for Harris is that he is durable, reliable, and consistent. Harris has never missed a game in his NFL career, and he has totaled at least 1,200 yards from scrimmage every year. Teams searching for consistency from their running backs will love Harris.
The Chargers could be one of those teams that would make sense for Harris. J.K. Dobbins is a free agent and hasn’t stayed on the field for most of his NFL career. Gus Edwards turns 30 in April and is a prime cut candidate after a down 2024 season. Harris isn’t the most exciting option for the Chargers, but he would prove to be an upgrade and has shown the ability to play all three downs.
Adding Harris, along with an early draft pick, could significantly upgrade the Chargers' running back room. With Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman always emphasizing the run, adding a viable back like Harris seems like a strong option.
Aaron Jones: Chicago Bears
Contract Prediction: 1 year, $7 million
Aaron Jones left the Packers during the 2024 offseason to join the divisional rival Minnesota Vikings. He had a solid season with the Vikings, but he is set to earn another payday this offseason. Could Jones stay in the NFC North and join his third team in three years? The Bears will have a new-look offense with Ben Johnson in charge and could want a veteran to help complete the transition.
D’Andre Swift is on the roster after signing a nice deal last offseason, but he averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per rush and an underwhelming 43.9 percent success rate. Swift played under Johnson in 2022 and did have some success, but the Lions were comfortable letting him walk in free agency the next year. Who knows what the relationship is between Swift and Johnson, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bears wanted a better between-the-tackles runner as their feature back.
Jones racked up more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage last season, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He has never averaged under 4.5 yards per carry during his eight-year career and should continue to be efficient in the right offense. The Bears will be aggressive in adding offensive talent, but signing Jones to a reasonable deal could raise the floor of this unit.
Rico Dowdle: Pittsburgh Steelers
Contract Prediction: 2 years, $10 million
It seems pretty unlikely that the Steelers will retain Harris, but they could still use a veteran running back to pair with Jaylen Warren. The Steelers wanted to be a run-heavy team, and Harris was the type of running back who could carry a big workload.
Warren has not been that player yet in his career, and in fact, there were times last season when Cordarrelle Patterson was getting touches ahead of Warren. It’s also worth mentioning that Warren is a restricted free agent, but the expectation is that he’ll be back on a second-round tender.
There is no doubt that running back is a massive need for Pittsburgh, especially given its unknown quarterback situation. Mike Tomlin wants to have a physical, downhill rushing attack, but Harris just didn’t create enough big plays. Pittsburgh is pretty likely to add a running back sometime during the NFL Draft, and this is a good class to do so. However, it needs a viable option going into that weekend.
Rico Dowdle could be a good low-budget option for Pittsburgh after posting a solid season as a full-time starter for the Cowboys. Before the 2024 season, Dowdle had a combined 96 carries in the first four years of his career. He racked up 1,328 yards from scrimmage in 15 starts last year for the Cowboys. He wasn’t even a full-time player until November, when the Cowboys finally acknowledged that he was the best back on the roster.
In his final 10 games of the season, Dowdle averaged 4.7 yards per carry and averaged more than 95 yards from scrimmage per game. Dowdle finished the season with a 53.6 percent success rate, seventh-best in the NFL among all qualifying running backs.
Dowdle is a no-nonsense runner who rarely loses yards and does a great job of bouncing off contact. He’s not a home-run hitter, but he is a between-the-tackle star who would fit well into Arthur Smith’s offense.
Look for the Steelers to draft a running back sometime on Day 2, but don’t be surprised if they are attracted to a player like Dowdle in free agency as they try to replace Harris.
Nick Chubb: Kansas City Chiefs
Contract Prediction: 1 year, $3 million
It sure feels like the Nick Chubb era in Cleveland is over, and the Browns could be headed entirely in a new direction if Myles Garrett gets traded. Chubb suffered another devastating knee injury in 2023 and did not return until later in the 2024 season.
The four-time Pro Bowl back played just eight games last season, averaging only 3.3 yards per attempt. Prior to the 2024 season, Chubb had a career average of 5.3 yards per carry. It’s clear the knee injury zapped him of his explosiveness, and he’ll turn 29 near the end of the 2025 season. There clearly isn’t much tread left on the tires, but some teams could talk themselves into a healthier version of Chubb this offseason.
The Chiefs feel like the perfect destination for Chubb for a variety of reasons. Kareem Hunt is set to become a free agent, and he’ll turn 30 before the start of next year. It’s possible the Chiefs could re-sign him as he had one of the league’s highest success rates among running backs (55.5 percent). However, Chubb would give them even more size and power at the running back position, which they covet for short-yardage situations.
Chubb can’t be a feature back at this stage of his career. Still, pairing him with Isiah Pacheco for one season does make a lot of sense. The Chiefs wouldn’t need to use him up during the regular season and could try to save his legs for another postseason run. And for Chubb, it would give him a legitimate chance to win a Super Bowl, running behind one of the league’s top offensive lines.
Javonte Williams: Dallas Cowboys
Contract Prediction: 1 year, $2 million
The Cowboys would love to re-sign Dowdle this offseason. But after he ran for more than 1,000 yards in his first season as a starter, there is a (good) chance that Dowdle will get more money in free agency than the Cowboys can offer.
Dallas is expected to select a running back sometime during the first two days of the NFL Draft, but it can’t afford to go into that weekend with nothing on its depth chart.
The Cowboys have just one running back under contract: Deuce Vaughn. He is a former sixth-round pick with just 17 career carries. He was a healthy scratch for most of the 2024 season, and he isn’t someone Dallas is counting on in any shape or form. That is where Javonte Williams could be of service.
Williams is not a flashy back, nor is he a big name that will get people excited in Dallas. However, he is an NFL running back who has shown the ability to play on all three downs and can be a capable starter in the right situation. Through four seasons, Williams has caught 158 passes for 966 yards and five touchdowns. He is a good pass blocker and has just six career fumbles, which will certainly endear him to coaches.
The biggest knock on Williams is that he has seen his yards per carry drop in each of the first four seasons in the NFL. He averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season, but it’s worth noting that Sean Payton asked him to carry the ball often in short-yardage situations. He wasn’t overly effective in general, but that did significantly decrease his yards per rush.
Williams is just 24 years old and has only 764 career touches in the NFL, so there is a chance that his best football is still ahead of him. Don’t look for him to earn a big paycheck in free agency, as there are more exciting and dynamic options available. Instead, expect him to be a bridge to a rookie and be part of a running back-by-committee approach again on his next team.
