Buffalo Bills: 4 running backs to consider in free agency

2. Mark Ingram

Mark Ingram is one of the older free agent running backs on the market. He will be 29 years old at the start of next season and has played eight seasons in the NFL.

That may make it seem counterproductive to move on from McCoy, only to bring in someone close in age. Yet Spotrac has Ingram’s projected annual value at only $4.4 million, and predicts a two-year deal at that number.

Ingram is coming off a down year, but also missed the first four games due to a suspension. He has had at least six rushing touchdowns in each of the past five seasons, but it must also be noted he has played in a dynamic offense down in New Orleans.

I could see Ingram coming to Buffalo in a similar role as to what the team imagined for Chris Ivory, who could also be cut at a discounted cost. If Ingram is only making around $4 million, that is not bad at all.

An interesting scenario would be keeping both McCoy and Ingram, cutting Ivory, and drafting one of the top ten running backs. It would allow two veterans to carry the load while the younger player learns behind them both. This would assume the team moves on from Marcus Murphy, who is going to be 28 years old.

It may be tough to convince Ingram to come to a team on the rise after spending so many years in New Orleans, but once again it could come down to the Bills being able to pay him the most.