The official NFL offseason is almost here. Soon, all 32 franchises will begin the process of constructing their rosters for 2025 — but before they do, I’m going to play a game of matchmaker with the running backs who are set to hit free agency in March.
Last year’s group was full of star players, with the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, the Ravens’ Derrick Henry and the Packers’ Josh Jacobs each helping their new teams make a playoff push. This year’s bunch doesn’t have that kind of big name, but it certainly doesn’t lack in value.
So today, I’ve put together ideal team fits for six notable 2025 free agent running backs.
Aaron Jones
Age: 30
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are seeking a new head coach and general manager, and the offense is starting over at square one. (UPDATE: Per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the team is expected to hire John Spytek to fill the GM role.) With both Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah hitting free agency, whoever takes over in Las Vegas will be looking to improve a run game that finished dead last in the league in 2024. Why not bring in a guy like Jones? His leadership skills have been raved about in both Green Bay and Minnesota, and the 30-year-old running back still thrives as a dual-threat playmaker — as evidenced by his 1,546 scrimmage yards with the Vikings this season. This roster needs talent. Barring a return to Minnesota, Jones’ ability to produce — and coach up young backs Zamir White and Sincere McCormick — will aid whomever the Raiders have at quarterback, whether that’s Aidan O’Connell, a rookie or a veteran free agent.
Najee Harris
Age: 26
Denver Broncos
The Broncos haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Phillip Lindsay in 2019. Harris, meanwhile, became the third player in the past 20 seasons to hit the 1K mark in each of his first four NFL campaigns (joining Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson). Sean Payton’s offense has steadily improved over his first two seasons in Denver, and the future looks bright with Bo Nix at quarterback. What’s missing now is a run game. Harris is a physical, downhill rusher who consistently breaks tackles. That’s the type of back Payton (and Nix) would welcome.
Javonte Williams
Age: 24
Chicago Bears
Williams never lived up to his full potential in Denver. He had his best campaign as a rookie in 2021 (903 rush yards on 203 carries) but was unable to build on that over the next three seasons due, in part, to a knee injury suffered in 2022. He could use a fresh start after averaging fewer than 4 yards per carry under Sean Payton over the past two years — and Ben Johnson’s offense in Chicago feels like a great fit. The newly hired head coach will presumably be looking for a new version of Sonic and Knuckles (a.k.a. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, the backfield duo who helped Johnson field a top-six rushing attack in Detroit in each of the past two seasons). Williams could recreate that chemistry with D’Andre Swift, whom Johnson also worked with in Detroit. Swift is a versatile playmaker in the open field, while Williams can be the bruising back who wears down defenses. A strong running back tandem is where Johnson’s offense begins, and together, Williams and Swift can help take pressure off Caleb Williams, whose continued development in the competitive NFC North will be under a microscope.
J.K. Dobbins
Age: 26
Los Angeles Chargers
I don’t see the Chargers letting Dobbins walk out the door. He’s been a perfect fit in Jim Harbaugh’s run-first offense, rushing for a team-high 905 yards and nine touchdowns in his first year in Los Angeles. He missed four games with a knee injury, but this was still his healthiest season since his 2020 rookie campaign. Able to trust his body for most of the season while working behind the Chargers’ solid offensive line, Dobbins racked up 4.6 yards per carry, ninth-most in the NFL among the 27 players to log at least 175 rushing attempts in 2024. It would make sense for the Chargers to focus on building up the pass game this offseason, but it will still be paramount to retain a tackle-breaking bowling ball like Dobbins, who’ll provide a consistent rushing attack.
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Rico Dowdle
Age: 26
Cleveland Browns
Kudos to Dowdle for developing from an undrafted free agent in 2020 to the RB1 for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, becoming one of just 16 players this season to top 1,000 rushing yards. That doesn’t happen without hard work and a belief in yourself. Dowdle won’t wow you, but he’s the type to wear defenses down. From Weeks 13 through 18, he earned 186 yards after forcing a missed tackle (second-most in the NFL in that span) and had 17 runs of at least 10 yards (tied for third-most), per Next Gen Stats. He’d be a great option in Kevin Stefanski’s offense, which needs a new bell cow back for 2025, with Nick Chubb’s contract running out. Pairing Dowdle with Jerome Ford would help get this run game back on track and elevate the offense.
Kareem Hunt
Age: 29
Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt missed the beginning of the Chiefs’ run of Super Bowl appearances in his first stint with the team, in 2017-18. Unsigned after averaging 3 yards per carry in his final season with the Browns in 2023, he returned to Kansas City in September to help cover for the absence of Isiah Pacheco, who ended up being sidelined for two-plus months with a leg injury, and he stepped up in a big way, logging 728 rush yards and seven TDs in 13 games (eight starts) while the Chiefs rolled to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. K.C. would be wise to keep the veteran, who’ll turn 30 in August, on a team-friendly deal to back up Pacheco. This is a marriage that has proven to work, and the Chiefs have other areas to prioritize this offseason.