3 Free agents running backs Cleveland Browns should target

The NFL free agency market opens soon and the Cleveland Browns should target these three running backs

When you have Nick Chubb leading the charge at running back, you already have an advantage. The Cleveland Browns have this luxury and have benefitted from Chubb's excellent career already. While that's the good news for Cleveland, they have some issues with the rest of the running back room that will need to be addressed before the 2023 season begins.

The biggest stories this offseason for the Browns involve two of their running backs Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson. Both are free agents and are likely moving on. This leaves Cleveland with Chubb, Jerome Ford, who was drafted last season, and Demetric Felton as the main players in the backfield.

This will have the Browns searching for a couple of new running backs, either via free agency or in the upcoming draft. If they go the free agency route, there are several very good players that could step in as a backup and wouldn't cost too much either. Let's take a look at a few of these potential candidates.

3 Free agents running backs Cleveland Browns should target

No. 3: Raheem Mostert

Raheem Mostert had the most success in his career when he played for the San Fransisco 49ers from 2016-2021. He joined the Miami Dolphins last season as a free agent and is available again this year following a strong showing in Miami.

If Cleveland would pursue Mostert, it would be a bit of a homecoming for him since he started his career in Cleveland back in 2015. You may not remember this as he came to the Browns at the tail end of that year and was used as the kick returner. He returned 12 kicks for 309 yards. He was then released the following September prior to the start of the 2016 campaign.

His career was slow to take off, but it got churning in the right direction by 2019 when he played for the 49ers. He was used in the run-and-passing game that season, as he finished with 772 yards on 137 carries and eight touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes for 180 yards and two more scores. He saved his best for last that season, as he ran wild in the NFC Championship Game, going for 220 yards on 29 carries and a whopping four touchdowns in the win against the Green Bay Packers.

Fast forward to this past season with the Dolphins and he carried the ball 181 times for 891 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a career-high 31 receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns.

If Mostert were to come to Cleveland, he would complement the Browns Nick Chubb's running style similar to the way Kareem Hunt has these last few seasons. Mostert wouldn't cost the Browns much either, maybe a couple million per season, if they went after him when free agency opens in a couple of weeks.

No. 2: Boston Scott

When you were watching this season's Super Bowl, did you catch Boston Scott of the Philadelphia Eagles? The running back had some nice plays and is a free agent this offseason. Scott may not be the most recognizable name out there, but he's had a very good NFL career — used mostly in a backup role. He's a small guy in stature, standing at 5-foot-6 but could be used in both the run and pass game.

He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 draft by the New Orleans Saints. Scott never played in a game there as he was cut and signed to the practice squad several times before being picked up by the Eagles, where he's been ever since. In that time, Scott has rushed for 1,209 yards on 282 carries and scored 16 touchdowns. He's also caught 67 passes for 514 yards and one touchdown.

He does have the experience of playing in the playoffs a few times while in Philly. In this past postseason, he carried the ball 15 times and scored two touchdowns. He also caught one pass in the Super Bowl where he almost scored a touchdown.

Scott wouldn't be expected to start games in Cleveland but instead, continue to do all the little things like getting a handful of carries and a few receptions every game. He'd also come at a very low cost,, so Cleveland should consider Scott as a replacement for players like Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson.

No. 1: Jamaal Williams

This past season, Jamaal Williams had the best campaign of his career when he played for the Detroit Lions. He finished with 1,066 yards and an impressive 17 touchdowns. While he might be the least likely to come to Cleveland via free agency, he'd be a solid backup to Nick Chubb.

Prior to this past season, he was also utilized more in the passing game. He's caught 160 passes for 1,191 yards and eight touchdowns since he started his career in 2017 with the Green Bay Packers. This year, he ended up starting nine games and carried the ball 262 times. So he was used a lot by the Lions and didn't disappoint.

It was the most production displayed by Williams in his career as he wasn't used as much or in the role he had with Detroit. In his other five seasons, he was consistent in getting anywhere from 107 to 153 carries in a season and rushing 500 to 600 yards. He was also catching 25 to 35 receptions for 200 to 300 yards.

If Cleveland could get those types of numbers from him if he came here on a free-agency deal that would be a great pick-up. The price tag for Williams is projected at $3 to $4 million so he'd be the priciest of the free agency options we've presented.

The free agency window opens in a few weeks and Cleveland will likely be buyers of one of these players. There are other running backs available as well including Rashaad Penny, Samaje Perine, Miles Sanders and Jerick McKinnon so stay tuned.