The Atlanta Falcons are considering parting ways with running back Devonta Freeman this offseason, which does not come as much of a surprise given how Freeman's last two seasons have gone.
He played in just two games in 2018 due to a groin injury, and this past year, he rushed for just 656 yards and a couple of touchdowns while averaging a meager 3.6 yards per carry.
However, Freeman is still just 27 years old, so there is hope he can turn things around in a new environment.
Here are three teams who should take a look at signing Freeman if the Falcons cut him:
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs just won the Super Bowl, so they don't exactly have a ton of holes that need patching. However, one area where Kansas City could use some help is in its rushing attack.
Yes, Damien Williams delivered when it mattered, but he was a roller-coaster ride during the regular season, and while LeSean McCoy was effective in limited action, the Chiefs may end up moving on from him in free agency.
Freeman would be a perfect pickup for Kansas City and could also fill a poor man's Kareem Hunt role, giving Patrick Mahomes a dual-threat halfback out of the backfield.
Obviously, it's questionable as to how much Freeman has left, but he is a running back who can hurt defenses both on the ground and through the air, as evidenced by this past season when he caught 59 passes.
The Chiefs may just end up giving Darwin Thompson more burn in 2020, but Freeman is an option they should consider if the opportunity presents itself.
2. Detroit Lions
The Lions actually expressed interest in Devonta Freeman at the trade deadline, but were unable to reach an agreement with the Falcons.
Now that Freeman could potentially become a free agent, Detroit could just sign him outright, and you have to think that it will at least kick the tires on the idea.
Thanks to another injury to Kerryon Johnson, the Lions' run game was brutal in 2019. To paint a picture of just how bad Detroit's rushing attack was this past season, Johnson led the team with 403 yards.
Again, based on how Freeman has looked over the last couple of years, I'm not sure he will be a cure-all for the Lions' problems running the football, but he could possibly revitalize an otherwise dead ground game.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The good news for the Buccaneers is that Ronald Jones finally began to show some promise at the end of his second season. The bad news is that he totaled just 724 yards on the ground in 2019 and did not exactly get much help from Peyton Barber.
It's no secret that Tampa Bay needs a running back, even if it's just someone to supplement Jones as he grows.
Devonta Freeman could be that guy, and he is someone that the Bucs are awfully familiar with having played against him twice a year in the NFC South (well, when Freeman was healthy, anyway) since he entered the NFL in 2014.
The Buccaneers' offense is an interesting case, because they have a couple of dynamite receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and question marks everywhere else.
Freeman may be a potential solution to one of those problems.
Follow Us
Subscribe