2025 NFL Free Agency: Projected Landing Spots for Top Running Backs

NFL Free Agency is just days away and the market for running backs this year is rather limited. We’ll be looking at the top 6 running backs available on the market and their projected landing spot. 

Najee Harris Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers

The first year of the Jim Harbaugh era should be seen as a success with the Los Angeles Chargers going 11-6. The biggest problem for the Chargers was the lack of support from the playmakers around Justin Herbert. J.K. Dobbins was injured for a quarter of the year, but he did have a few big games that appeared as if he was in line for a monster year that ended up fading by the end. Gus Edwards didn’t step up to the plate and the Chargers released him to make some cap space ahead of free agency opening up. The best young running back not in the draft is Najee Harris and we’re expecting him to land a multi-year deal in Los Angeles. Harris will be one of the few core building blocks that the Chargers will invest in this offseason to help set the team up for success in years to come. 

Aaron Jones Landing Spot: Denver Broncos

Not many teams are willing to take a risk on a running back who is entering their age-31 season, but Jones proved he’s still got it with a career best season for rushing yards with 1,138. Jones also had 408 yards receiving in 2024. With the Vikings moving on from Darnold, we don’t expect them to bring Jones back either and rather opt to go younger. A spot where we can see Jones continue to perform even at his age is in Denver, a team desperate for a quality running back. Jones can help take some pressure off of Bo Nix to allow him to not risk injury with running so much while they focus on getting a running back later in the draft to develop or get someone in 2026 or 2027. Jones would be a solid temporary holdover for the Broncos. 

J.K. Dobbins Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings

In 4 years in the NFL, Dobbins has only managed to play in a total of 37 games as his career has been riddled with injuries early on. Dobbins saw a resurgence in 2024 and had the best season of his career in Los Angeles. Los Angeles doesn’t plan to bring Dobbins back for 2025 and let him go to the open market. A team that can take a flyer on a young back trying to get things back on track after an effective 2024 campaign is the Vikings. The Vikings don’t have the draft capital to land a top back, so they should look to free agency to see if someone like Dobbins can fit into the picture.  

Javonte Williams Landing Spot: New England Patriots

The Patriots aren’t committed to Rhamondre Stevenson with his turnover troubles. They brought in Antonio Gibson for some competition but that didn’t alas too much. The Patriots need to have a better player compete for touches with Rhamondre. We think that’s Javonte Williams who can try to get his career back on track. Williams has dealt with some injuries, a committee in Denver, and needs to be in a committee again before we trust him to be a starter and New England checks those boxes. 

Nick Chubb Landing Spot: Cleveland Browns

After a gruesome injury that ended his 2023 season and put him out for half of the 2024 season, Nick Chubb is still not 100%. This was Chubb’s second major injury to his left knee of his career and one we don’t think he will ever get back to full form from. Chubb is never going to be starting worthy again, but we know he doesn’t want to end his career with missing half a season. It’s likely that Chubb signs a one or a two year deal to stay in Cleveland where he’ll end his career being a fan favorite and entering the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor.

Rico Dowdle Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys

After 3 years riding the bench, Dowdle finally got the opportunity to be the #1 guy in Dallas. Dowdle did fine for stepping in, but it wasn’t enough for Dallas to lock him in before free agency begins. Dallas is likely to bring him back after other teams pass on him. The Cowboys best plan is to draft Ashton Jeanty and bring Dowdle back in as a solid backup.