For years, the Detroit Lions rallied behind their elite running back tandem. The one-two punch of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery kept pounding its way on the ground and wearing down opposing defenses, boasting an unmatched combination of speed, explosiveness, and toughness.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and this partnership won't be the exception to that rule. Montgomery looks like an obvious trade candidate after losing so much ground in the second half of last season, and he didn't sound too happy with his diminished role. With that in mind, we're going to take a look at three potential free-agency options for the Lions to find a suitable RB2.
3 Running Backs the Lions Should Target in Free Agency
1. Najee Harris
Najee Harris' first year with the Los Angeles Chargers was a massive disappointment. A season-ending injury limited him to just three games, 15 carries, 61 rushing yards, and no scores. That being said, he's just 27 years old, and he's expected to be fully recovered by the time training camp begins. The upside is there, and the Chargers may not want to keep him around after watching Omarion Hampton perform as a rookie.
Harris has failed to live up to the hype following his impressive college career, and the bulk of his production came more as a result of volume than efficiency. That being said, he's a bruiser who can do some damage between the tackles, and he can be a solid option in short-yardage or goal-line situations. He's solid in pass protection as well. On the downside, he might be a little expensive, with Spotrac projecting his value at roughly $5.2 million a year.
2. Tyler Allgeier
Tyler Allgeier was so good this year that the Atlanta Falcons had to get him on the field, even with Bijan Robinson also on the roster. He had 143 carries for 514 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 14 receptions and 96 receiving yards on 16 targets. Now, it's time he finds another team to get a bigger role outside of Robinson's shadow. He's earned that after the past couple of seasons.
Allgeier is already used to sharing touches. He's a physical downhill runner with great patience and vision, and alternating him with the shifty and speedy Gibbs will help keep opposing defenses on their toes. Gibbs gets them tired, and Allgeier punches his way down the field. Wash, rinse, repeat. To make him an even more appealing option, Spotrac projects him to make just $1.8 million next season, so he'd also be a salary cap-friendly addition to a team that may not have that much money to spare.
3. Kenneth Walker III
Kenneth Walker III has been used to running his own team, but the Seattle Seahawks already have a suitable replacement in Zach Charbonnet. So, as good as he is, Mike Macdonald's team might feel more than comfortable letting him walk away in free agency to hold onto a running back who's still on a rookie deal. That way, they can use their money to address other issues on their roster.
Walker is a true workhorse. He's been the main guy in Seattle for now, and getting him for a projected $2.1 million is the ultimate bargain. We're talking about someone who's coming off averaging 4.6 yards per carry, turning 221 carries into 1,027 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He's topped the 900-rushing-yard mark in all but one of his seasons in the league, has two 1,000-yard seasons, and has scored at least five touchdowns in every single year he's been a pro.