2023 Running Back Depth Chart: You Choose

[Rigotz]

With Devin Singletary set to become a free agent, I thought it might be interesting to highlight available free agents and provide a variety of options via poll.

 

If you don't see an option you like, please add in the comments.

 

I'll go first. I think we need a running back with pass blocking and short distance skill set, with some pass catching ability as a bonus.

 

These players are available in late rounds and free agency, but I'm picking a known commodity and adding Samaje Perine at an estimated $3M/Yr.

 

What's your choice?

 

(All free agent market value projections taken from Spotrac)

[iccrewman112]

Perine. 
 

low cost, can get tough short yardage (very powerful low pad runner). Can pass protect and catch the ball.

 

Cook brings the speed and cutting ability. 
 

I think they compliment each other well.

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

Mostert and its not close, he's a stud and we can hurt a division rival.

[Rigotz]

A few other options I didn't include in the poll, but might be considered:

 

- Tony Pollard ($9M)

- Miles Sanders ($7.2M)

- Mark Ingram ($2.5M) 

- D'Ernest Johnson ($2.5M)

- Darrel Williams ($1.5M)

- Jeff Wilson ($3M)

- Dontrell Hilliard ($2M)

- Kenyan Drake ($2M)

- James Robinson (RFA $3.8M)

 

[Virgil]

If our offensive line gets better, I’m good with Cook and Hines

[FireChans]

8 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

With Devin Singletary set to become a free agent, I thought it might be interesting to highlight available free agents and provide a variety of options via poll.

 

If you don't see an option you like, please add in the comments.

 

I'll go first. I think we need a running back with pass blocking and short distance skill set, with some pass catching ability as a bonus.

 

These players are available in late rounds and free agency, but I'm picking a known commodity and adding Samaje Perine at an estimated $3M/Yr.

 

What's your choice?

 

(All free agent market value projections taken from Spotrac)

Why wouldn't you just roll with Cook and Hines and an UDFA or two? Perine is an absolute JAG.

 

If we draft another RB, it may actually kill me.

Edited February 2, 2023 by FireChans

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

The more I think about it, the further into this era we get….I think I want a pretty legitimate philosophical and mentality change. I know it won’t happen and I’m sure I’m wasting my words. I want to shift to extreme balance. I want to see what this team looks like with an exceptional run game. I know it won’t be popular, I know exactly what everyone will say. I think our only path to a championship, is with current Josh Allen skill set and a dominant run game. Considering everything. I think that’s our best path to finishing one of these things off. I don’t want to be the chiefs at this point. I want us to be the Eagles. I want a dominant, tone setting physical style on both sides of the ball. And I want an all world RB to take a ton of the load and attention off of our QB. This throwing every down isn’t for me and in Buffalo weather, it’s not sustainable. We aren’t going to beat the chiefs and bengals at their A game. They are better at that than us. Let’s branch off and be the team that’s different and have both an excellent passing and excellent rushing game. Make the other team defend the entire field, every snap, every game. Not just air raid. I want a top 5 RB in the nfl to be the A#1 going forward. Don’t worry about what people think.

[frostbitmic]

D'Onta Foreman comes from Carolina does he not ?

[FireChans]

6 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

The more I think about it, the further into this era we get….I think I want a pretty legitimate philosophical and mentality change. I know it won’t happen and I’m sure I’m wasting my words. I want to shift to extreme balance. I want to see what this team looks like with an exceptional run game. I know it won’t be popular, I know exactly what everyone will say. I think our only path to a championship, is with current Josh Allen skill set and a dominant run game. Considering everything. I think that’s our best path to finishing one of these things off. I don’t want to be the chiefs at this point. I want us to be the Eagles. I want a dominant, tone setting physical style on both sides of the ball. And I want an all world RB to take a ton of the load and attention off of our QB. This throwing every down isn’t for me and in Buffalo weather, it’s not sustainable. We aren’t going to beat the chiefs and bengals at their A game. They are better at that than us. Let’s branch off and be the team that’s different and have both an excellent passing and excellent rushing game. Make the other team defend the entire field, every snap, every game. Not just air raid. I want a top 5 RB in the nfl to be the A#1 going forward. Don’t worry about what people think.

The Eagles are dominant because they have a dominant defense AND run game. They also DON'T have a top 5 RB. Maybe not even a top 10.

 

The time to build as the Eagles is over.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

27 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

A few other options I didn't include in the poll, but might be considered:

 

- Tony Pollard ($9M)

- Miles Sanders ($7.2M)

- Mark Ingram ($2.5M) 

- D'Ernest Johnson ($2.5M)

- Darrel Williams ($1.5M)

- Jeff Wilson ($3M)

- Dontrell Hilliard ($2M)

- Kenyan Drake ($2M)

- James Robinson (RFA $3.8M)

 

I'd take a shot at Sanders 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Put the money into the O-line. 

Cook, Hines, and a couple cheap free agents are fine. 

[Process]

Hines is a must cut with his current contract. I don't see why he would take a paycut, but hopefully he does.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

29 minutes ago, FireChans said:

The Eagles are dominant because they have a dominant defense AND run game. They also DON'T have a top 5 RB. Maybe not even a top 10.

 

The time to build as the Eagles is over.

Why? Why would you not keep working? We are about to drastically overhaul the defense personnel wise

[Rigotz]

13 minutes ago, Process said:

Hines is a must cut with his current contract. I don't see why he would take a paycut, but hopefully he does.

He currently has zero guaranteed money for next year in his contract.

 

I wouldn’t assume he’s cut. It’s in both the Bills and his best interest to try to restructure the deal first.

[Solomon Grundy]

I voted to draft but only if Bijan Robinson is there. If not, then punt the pick for more

[transient]

I voted other and was instructed to specify that fact (you're welcome).

[14774]

Improve the O-line and actually use the FB we have. 

[LABILLBACKER]

Cook is RB1 getting 60+% of touches. Hines and Perine split the rest. Do not draft any RB's but pick up 2-3 udfa guys to compete for a possible 4th spot. Pay that 4th RB the league minimum, put him on ST and dump Jones.

[Pete]

18 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I voted to draft but only if Bijan Robinson is there. If not, then punt the pick for more

Bijan is the player the Bills need the most from this draft IMO.  In other words, I believe Bijan would make the Bills better than any other in this draft

[FireChans]

29 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

Why? Why would you not keep working? We are about to drastically overhaul the defense personnel wise

Keep working?

 

Here's how the Eagles built this Super Bowl team.

 

They have a QB making 2% of the cap.  They have a really good WR2 who is a star on a rookie deal. They have a WR1 who they traded a FRP for and signed to a mega deal. They have a RB1 on a rookie deal.

 

They have the best RT in football being paid accordingly.  Darius Slay, who they traded for, is making 11% of their cap on his mega deal. Bradberry is on a 1 year deal.

 

They have an aging group of ProBowlers (Kelce, Cox, Graham) who all took shorter term contracts for one last ride.

 

What similarities do you see between them and us heading in 2023?  They WENT for it this year. This offseason, Kelce and Cox will likely retire, Graham will be voided, and they will lose a bunch of their guys.

 

We don't have the cap space or luxury of a star-studded cast. Slay/Bardberrys' is better than our CB's.  Josh is better than Hurts, but he may not be $50M better than Hurts. Every single OL player on their team is better. Their DL is better. Their WR group collectively is better. Their RB group is better.

 

The only place we are better than the Eagles today is QB, WR1 and FS.  That's why they are in the Superbowl, and we are talking about cheap OL signings in FA.

 

"Just build a great team" isn't a strategy. It's a pipe dream.

 

 

Edited February 3, 2023 by FireChans