NFL Free Agency is drawing nearer, and the Arizona Cardinals could be in the market to sign a running back to complement James Conner.
James Conner got it together in 2022 and he put up a solid season. But he was also slow to get going last year and injuries took their toll early. Further, there are no surefire names behind Conner who could step up if he goes down with another injury. So chances are, general manager Monti Ossenfort will turn to free agency to see if he can find a back to spell Conner.
Don't expect Ossenfort to sign a back who played lights out last season. Instead, he will go with someone who spent time as an RB2 and in some cases, an RB3 with potential to move up the depth chart. Here are five backs Ossenfort may go after, ranked from fifth to first.
Ranking 5 running backs the Arizona Cardinals can sign
5 - Alexander Mattison
In four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Mattison rushed for 1,670 yards, 4.1 yards per carry, and 11 touchdowns. Not eye-popping numbers, but they are solid enough to warrant consideration as a stopgap fixture behind Conner.
Mattison is also smaller than the 230lb Conner, which gives the Arizona Cardinals a bit of a change of pace. While he's been moderately productive in this league, as the numbers above show, he likely wouldn't be Ossenfort's first choice in the desert since the GM might be looking for someone better equipped to start for an extended time if Conner again struggles with injuries, though Mattison is better than what the Redbirds currently got.
But if all else fails, he could go with Mattison, who would be an immediate upgrade over the likes of Darrel Williams, who played in just six games last season, Keaontay Ingram, Ty'Son Williams, and Corey Clement. If Ossenfort opted to sign Mattison, expect a short-term deal.
4 - Kenyan Drake
What? Kenyan Drake back in the desert for Round 2? Farfetched as it sounds, Drake actually makes for a solid RB2 at this point in his career. In 12 games last season that featured five starts, Drake showed he still had it in him with 109 carries, 482 rushing yards, and four touchdowns.
Better yet, his 4.4 yards per carry was his highest since 2019, when he first arrived in the desert. Drake also logged 17 receptions on 26 targets, 89 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.
Given his age (29), don't expect Drake to stick around long for a second stint in Glendale if Ossenfort believes he's a good fit for the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. Instead, look for him, much like Mattison, to be a stopgap before Ossenfort can either draft a back to fulfill the role for 2024, or to sign another one this time next year.
3 - D'Ernest Johnson
We already mentioned Johnson in a previous article, but he deserves some elaboration here. If the Arizona Cardinals are looking for a fresher pair of legs, Johnson has them, as he's only totaled 141 carries for 738 yards (5.2 YPC), and 3 touchdowns in his career.
In fact, Johnson barely played in 2022, logging just seven touches (four rushing, three receiving). So why would he be listed at #3 here? You need to go back to 2021 to see just how effective Johnson is, as he snagged 100 carries that season for 534 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games, and two starts.
While you may argue Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski built his system around the run, it's also safe to say the Cards may wind up adopting elements of that system. They want to build an offense that fits quarterback Kyler Murray's strengths, and that's going to involve a lot of running plays.
And with new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing having coached under Stefanski, it's highly likely he will also seek to build a running back-friendly environment in the desert. So if Johnson comes, expect some sound numbers from fifth-year back.
2 - Samaje Perine
The one downside is that Perine, like Conner, is a larger back, so there would be little variation in style. The upside, however, is that Perine has shown time and again that he can be an effective role player in the NFL.
He also knows what it's like to play for a team that has rapidly evolved, having spent the greater part of four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Perine rushed for over 245 yards in each of the last three seasons in Cincy, and he also averaged 4.4 yards per rush in that span.
Perine is also dangerous in the passing game, with 76 receptions over the previous three seasons, with 65 of them coming in 2021 and 2022. Last year, he logged a career-high 38 catches, with career-highs in receiving yards (287), and receiving touchdowns (4). Overall, if the Arizona Cardinals want someone who can run and catch, Perine could be a prime target.
1 - Kareem Hunt
And finally, we got Kareem Hunt, who remains one of the NFL's most effective RB2s. During his four seasons in Cleveland, Hunt may have played second-fiddle to Nick Chubb, but he still managed to eek 841 rushing yards in 2020, showing he can be reliable if someone like James Conner went down with an injury.
Hunt is also the likeliest back on this list to split carries with Conner if the Arizona Cardinals were to come calling. He would give the Redbirds the greatest chance to have a set of fresh legs on the field at all times, assuming him and Conner stay healthy and play in a timeshare role at the position.
Hunt will be just 28 when the 2023 season rolls around. And since he's spent most of the last four years in a part-time role, he still has a lot of tread left to give. Whoever signs Hunt is going to have a spectacular RB2, and even a solid RB1 if he's thrust into the role.
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)