Teams in need of a running back this offseason have one less free agent option now that the Dallas Cowboys are bringing back Javonte Williams.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday that the Cowboys have re-signed Williams to a three-year deal.
That leaves reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and New York Jets star Breece Hall as two of the top free agent running backs heading into the 2026 season.
Walker has expressed interest in returning to the Seattle Seahawks next season, although ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently reported that the Seahawks are “unlikely” to stop him from hitting free agency by using a franchise tag.
Suitors for his services could include the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars, depending on where Rico Dowdle, J.K. Dobbins and Travis Etienne Jr. end up in free agency.
The Kansas City Chiefs could also decide to seek a star running back with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both hitting free agency and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes still recovering from his torn ACL.
Hall could be a more likely candidate to stick with his current team. The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt recently wrote he feels the Jets will “probably” use a franchise tag in order to keep Hall in New York.
NFL teams will be able to sign free agents when the new league year begins March 11.
The Houston Texans could also decide to target a running back after ranking 31st in the NFL with nine rushing touchdowns last season.
The New Orleans Saints might potentially target the position given Alvin Kamara’s injury limitations in 2025 and his expiring contract after 2026.
Schefter wrote Tuesday that the Seahawks aren’t likely to tag Walker because they want to use the money to re-sign multiple free agents, extend Jaxon Smith-Njigba and pay Super Bowl taxes.
He also noted that Seahawks general manager John Schneider, since taking on his position in 2010, has only used the franchise tag twice.
The Seahawks could be in need of a running back next season, however, given that Zach Charbonnet just announced Friday the successful completion of surgery on the ACL injury he suffered during the divisional round.
There have only been three players in NFL history who have won a Super Bowl MVP award before playing for a different team the following season, and it hasn’t happened since Dexter Jackson in 2003, per CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles.
The cost of a running back tag is projected at $14.2 million for a non-exclusive franchise tag and $11.4 million for a transition tag, per Spotrac.
Both the Jets ($79.3 million in projected cap space) and Seahawks ($61.9 million in projected cap space) theoretically have the room for that tag, per Over the Cap.
Whether the Seahawks and Jets ultimately decide the franchise tag price is worth retaining their respective stars could determine how the rest of the free agent running back market shakes out this spring.
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