3 free agent running backs for the Buffalo Bills after Jamaal Williams signed with Saints
By Kevin Devine
The running back market developed quickly Wednesday afternoon leaving the Buffalo Bills with fewer options to replace Devin Singletary, who has been a mainstay in their backfield for the past four years. Last season Singletary rushed for 819 yards on 177 carries for a healthy 4.63 yards per carry. He also showed added versatility catching 38 passes for 280 yards and scoring six total touchdowns.
The problems for “Motor” in his years in Buffalo have been efficiency in the red zone, where he has never scored more than seven touchdowns in a season, and ball handling – having 10 fumbles in four seasons. Last season alone he lost 3 fumbles.
Adding a bruising short yardage back who can secure the football, pick up short first-downs and touchdowns with regularity, and take some of the wear and tear off of QB Josh Allen is a must, whether in the draft or through free agency. As the Bills are already leaning on second-year RB James Cook, it makes sense that they would look to add one RB through free agency to bring a veteran presence to a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations in 2023.
Two of the Buffalo Bills top targets came off the board in the matter of a few hours on Wednesday evening with Jamaal Williams agreeing to a 3 year $12 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, followed shortly after by Miles Sanders agreeing to a four-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Either of those two would have provided an obvious upgrade on short yardage and especially within the red zone for the Bills.
With Jamaal Williams and Miles Sanders no longer options, let’s look at 3 remaining free agent running backs who could be on the Buffalo Bills radar.