2020 NFL free agents: Running back

With the NFL's franchise tag deadline in the past, attention moves to the opening of the league's free-agent negotiating window on March 16.

These are the best running backs slated to hit the market.

By position
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
DL | ED | LB | CB | S
Top 100

Running back

1. Melvin Gordon

After failing to get a top contract with a holdout last year, Gordon is heading for the open market after regressing back to his previous good-but-not-great level of play in 2019.

2. Kenyan Drake*

*The Cardinals placed the transition tag on Drake, giving them the right of first refusal to match any offer he gets from another team.

After taking the top role from David Johnson following a midseason trade to the Cardinals, Drake put together the best stretch of his career. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns in eight games.

3. Devonta Freeman

Freeman hasn't produced a 1,000-plus-yard season since 2016, and he's recorded only two rushing touchdowns over his last two injury-marred campaigns (he only played in two games in 2018). When healthy, the versatile 28-year-old can contribute in a three-down role, but teams will likely view Freeman as a committee back.

4. Jordan Howard

Howard has fallen well short of the expectations set during a great rookie year in 2016. Still, he was playing well for the Eagles last year, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and adding six touchdowns before missing Philadelphia's final six games.

5. Carlos Hyde

Despite a career year rushing the ball in 2019, Hyde is still viewed as a replacement-level running back who lacks the ability to break away from defenders or make them miss in the open field.