Teams around the National Football League that are in the market for a starting-caliber running back this offseason will have quite a few options. While the class of the best running backs in free agency doesn’t offer a Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley-caliber talent, there are several 1,000-yard rushers up for grabs this spring.
Let’s dive into our NFL offseason predictions for where the top running backs in NFL free agency land.
Travis Ettiene: Arizona Cardinals
Travis Etienne isn’t returning to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2026. The club is currently projected to be 11 million over the cap and has more pressing needs than its former first-round pick, especially with the emergence of Bhayshul Tuten. While the Kansas City Chiefs are a popular landing spot for Etienne, we don’t see Brett Veach getting into a bidding war for one of the top running backs in NFL free agency. That does, however, feel like something the Arizona Cardinals would be willing to do. Arizona won’t be able to find itself a viable starting quarterback this offseason, but it can improve its rushing attack. The move here would be signing Etienne to take over as the RB1, with Trey Benson as a complementary piece, and using the third overall pick on an offensive tackle to improve the run blocking for Etienne.
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Javonte Williams: Dallas Cowboys
A return to the Dallas Cowboys feels inevitable for Javonte Williams. He found a home in the Dallas offense this past season, delivering a career year with over 1,300 scrimmage yards and 13 total touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He won’t necessarily find a major payday on the open market, given the number of starting running backs available, so he might as well stay with the system he excelled in. We could see the two sides agreeing to a two-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $7 million per season, providing a viable path for Dallas to terminate the contract in 2027 with a small dead cap hit.
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Kenneth Walker III: Seattle Seahawks
Even if you take away the Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker carried the Seattle Seahawks offense down the stretch and looked like one of the best running backs in the NFL during the playoffs. It’s not a bad idea to use the franchise tag on him, even if it costs around 14.5 million fully guaranteed for the 2026 season. However, we suspect that Seattle will use the transition tag to see what the market is willing to offer the standout running back. Ultimately, with the ability to match, we expect Walker back in Seattle next season.
Related: Insider Sheds Light on Kenneth Walker’s Future with Seahawks
Rico Dowdle: Houston Texans
After rushing for 1,000 yards and averaging 4.6 yards per carry in 2024 with Dallas, Rico Dowdle had to settle for a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers for the 2025 NFL season. He opened the campaign as a backup before an electric five-game stretch–650 rushing yard (130.4 rush ypg) and 6.3 ypc–made him a fixture in Carolina’s offense. However, Dowdle finished the regular seasona veraged just 3.2 yards per carry and 42.6 rushing yards per game in his final eight contests. He’ll have to settle for another one-year deal in NFL free agency. We like the Houston Texans as a fit, where Dowdle will have the opportunity to challenge Woody Marks for the starting job and at the very least be a 1B in a backfield committee.
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Breece Hall: Washington Commanders
There are already NFL rumors swirling this offseason that the Washington Commanders intend to be big spenders. One way that general manager Adam Peters can support third-year quarterback Jayden Daniels is by providing him with a top-flight running back. Breece Hall’s three-down skill set would be a nice complement to Washington’s offense, giving Daniels a reliable checkdown option with elite YAC ability and a perennial 1,000-yard rusher who can handle 16–20 touches per game.Hall gets paid and it would be easy for him to see how this also gives him a shot to finally play for a contender.
