Going into free agency, the running back position was perhaps the most intriguing subplot of the NFL’s busiest period of wheeling and dealing.
Never before had we seen so many big-name rushers hit the open market at the same time, with no less than seven Pro Bowl RBs changing teams in the opening salvo of free agency.
So which moves have caught the eye? And which come with question marks ahead of the new season? Here’s a ranking of the big deals so far.
1. Saquon Barkley (New York Giants to Philadelphia Eagles)
Possibly the most surprising deal of the batch, as Barkley went from one of the faces of the franchise in New York to jumping ship to one of their bitter rivals.
And he will likely be a good fit, as he will give the Eagles offense another explosive outlet and will benefit from a strong offensive line.
The move is a good one for Barkley himself, as the $37.5million, three-year deal he has been handed by the win-now Eagles is just about as good as it gets for a running back not named Christian McCaffrey.
2. Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans to Baltimore Ravens)
Some moves just feel right, don’t they? Derrick Henry’s hard-hitting downhill style just feels like a perfect fit for the Ravens.
Henry has just turned 30, so we’ll have to see if eight years of bell cow running in Tennessee catches up with him this year, but all the ingredients are there for him to make an impact and add another level to the effective Baltimore running game.
3. Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders to Green Bay Packers)
Jacobs immediately fills the gap left by Aaron Jones in Green Bay. He may not be as versatile as Jones, but he is more of a physical presence, which is something the Packers can work with.
It’s also a team-friendly deal, that gives the Packers a get-out clause after year one which would have cost them $14.8million.
4. Aaron Jones (Green Bay Packers to Minnesota Vikings)
Jones will immediately improve the Vikings backfield and joins an offense that will need the help, given the exit of Kirk Cousins.
5. Joe Mixon (Cincinnati Bengals to Houston Texans - trade)
We’ll include this one even though it was a trade, with the Texans landing Mixon for a seventh-round draft pick. At 27 years old, Mixon should have plenty to offer still, with the former Pro Bowler bringing plenty of experience - including a Super Bowl run - to a very young Texans side.
6. D’Andre Swift (Philadelphia Eagles to Chicago Bears)
Swift had an effective season last year, when he went to the Pro Bowl and passed the 1,000-yard mark in Philly.
The Bears are likely to bolster the offensive line in the draft to help out their quarterback - whether this is Justin Fields or Caleb Williams - and that should also boost Swift’s numbers.
7. Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys to Tennessee Titans)
A solid, but perhaps unspectacular move. The Titans get themselves a younger model after saying an emotional farewell to Henry, with Pollard needing to show that last year was not the start of a downward trend.
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