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The 5th Down: 2026 Free Agent Running Back Predictions · The Poi N Soy Podcast

• Keoni McKeague: Welcome back to the podcast. I'm your cohost, Kearney McKeegan. With me today on the FitDown is my boy from the FitDown, Jared Schruer. Say what's up to the pod, Jared Shirai: What a- Keoni McKeague: So we are here to talk some NFL free agency news. I know it's a bit early, but we are not talking fantasy wise. So this would just be strictly NFL fantasy stuff that's coming out right now. The franchise tag deadline did just pass. So we'll see which of those players did get tagged. And today's podcast will be highlighting the running back position. So we'll get into all of those in just a little bit. Best landing spots for both of us here on the pod. And before we do that, have to give a shout out to our partners over at W Energy. Fantastic tasting energy, all of the energy you need to get through your day, you head on over to w.gg or use the W Energy app and our promo code, is POI and SOI, that's P-O-I-N-S-O-Y for 10 % off your order. Boog, let's talk some NFL football. Jared Shirai: Feels like it's been a minute. Keoni McKeague: Yes, it has. I will also say ⁓ beforehand, we apologize for not having a pod last week, but I was on vacation. So I'm back and we're going to be talking some NFL football this week. ⁓ We did just get some random breaking news. I know this is a running back spot, but we did just find out that Stefan Diggs to be cut by the Super Bowl playing New England Patriots after only one year with the team. So interesting cut. You know, I thought he did pretty good for them. You know, at some moments, ⁓ maybe something internally happened, but. ⁓ Yeah, maybe it was a weird one, but anyway, we'll talk about that when we get to the wide receiver position, probably next week. This week, we're talking about this year's free agency class for the running back group. This will obviously. Change a little bit as we get draft news and all that sort of stuff, but this isn't, you know, for the running back position, this isn't necessarily a very deep class. Jared Shirai: and maybe some toxicity or something going on in the locker room. That's a that's definitely a weird one. Keoni McKeague: They don't expect more than maybe one or two guys in this class to be like top tier and even then I mean it pretty much falls off super steep after Jeremiah Love who is the top prize this year. But we'll talk about him in just a second. So first and foremost I'll pull up the graphic here that we have for the people at home. ⁓ This one will be highlighting the teams from sort of the most needy to least needy. from the running back position and then some of the top ⁓ available running backs this year. So if you look over here we have the Kansas City Chiefs as probably the top team ⁓ in need of running back. We saw what their running back group did last year. It wasn't great. They're expected to possibly release Isaiah Pacheco. So we'll see if that ends up coming to fruition. The rest of that group all free agents. I mean outside of Breshard Smith who's still under contract for his rookie contract ⁓ But either way not a lot of signs or flashes of anything great They're seemingly in line to possibly draft Jeremiah love But they have one very big roadblock in front of them in the New Orleans Saints who draft one pick ahead of them and have shown interest in Jeremiah love so Assuming that does happen, assuming the New Orleans Saints do end up taking Jeremiah Love and the Kansas City Chiefs are stuck looking at their free agent options. Here are some of the top prizes. We've got Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker and Aaron Jones. Actually, I'll break it down real quick for the people at home as well. So if you're looking at the graphic here, the top area that we have there are the top available free agents. So they're wide open, unrestricted. Aaron Jones was just released Travis Etienne and Kenneth Walker both free agents without getting the franchise tag ⁓ So those are our top most available guys then we got Bruce Hall who was franchise tagged But seemingly could be traded to a team if they had enough interest the two sides are working through that right now So we'll talk about whether or not we feel like that could be a fit somewhere if somebody's willing to make the trade for him below that we have two guys who you know veteran guys who are on the cutting block. ⁓ Both have been rumored to be released within the next week or so. And for one of them, he's coming off of a major injury. The other one, not so much in James Connor and Alvin Kamara, but, you know, long time player for the New Orleans Saints has talked about the possibility of retirement, but also talked about the possibility of playing with a contender this next year. So he's another possible free agent in this upcoming group. And then the rest of these guys sort of You know, not super high on the priority list, but we got Rico Dotto, J.K. Dobbins, Brian Robinson Jr., Najee Harris, Joe Mixon and Tyler Alger, who are unrestricted free agents this offseason. And then, of course, as the aforementioned Isaiah Pacheco, who's expected to be cut, Nick Chubb, who has already been cut, and then Rashad White, who is likely going to be cut. So Boog, looking at all these options, who do you want to see or who do you think is the best fit for the Kansas City Chiefs here? yeah, for this upcoming season. Jared Shirai: I mean, it can't get any worse than what they had. So I would either say if you can't get a top tier guy, I'm going with either James Connor or Alvin Kamara. I feel like either one like. Connor kind of fits that. I would say it kind of fits that Kansas City running back build that they like. think he's coming off of that. I think he'd be a really good piece for them to have. in a sense of, you want this guy to have a breakout season. They need a little rejuvenation, especially with the waiting game on Pat Mahomes. So for me, I think I would go more James Connor than Alvin Kamara just because you want a vet, but you also want a guy who's actually, I don't want to say more established just because that's all they had out there. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jared Shirai: You know, in Arizona, but I mean, you know, he can take the workload, you know, he'd take the punishment despite his injury and whatnot. But if they're moving on from Pacheco. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. he has Yeah, and he has done it on multiple teams. So I mean, yeah, that's a very good point ⁓ Yeah for me. I mean, I'm gonna assume that they take a big swing here ⁓ Earlier this morning. We also found out that they're trading Trent McDuffie their start corner back to the Los Angeles Rams for a Hall of Picks and I'm assuming they're gonna be doing a little bit more of that ⁓ as far as like cutting down on Jared Shirai: Yeah. you Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: unnecessary salary that they can kind of work to maybe get themselves open. I believe they have a good amount of cap space this off season. to me, running back has got to be their top priority, especially when you're looking at a situation where you may have to be starting wherever is your backup QB and or maybe starting some other random vet QB. So if I was looking at the options and if I was picking a team that I thought Jared Shirai: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: makes the most sense for them as an organization, somebody that could, you know, lead their team ⁓ into sort of the future of whatever this, you know, team is supposed to be looking at. You know, I actually really like the fit of Travis at the end with the squad, ⁓ you know, with the Jaguars seemingly not franchise tagging him and him being a free agent. I think he's just underappreciated as a running back. And I think what he does on the field ⁓ and what the Kansas City Chiefs need Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: Makes a ton of sense. They're going to need some pass catching out of that backfield. And I think he's, you know, probably one of the best pass catching running backs available out there right now. So I'm going to put Travis at the end as my pick for the Kansas City Chiefs running back position. So moving on from there, we have the New York Jets who are obviously a team. They did franchise tag, Breeze Hall. So there's there's there's this sort of caveat with, you know, us talking about Breeze Hall in this conversation. Jared Shirai: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: And with the jets in this conversation in general, but If you know if it doesn't work out for Breesaw or better yet if they do end up do you think that there's a possibility the jets end up just you know Trying to force him to stay because obviously with the franchise tag they can match any offer that he's gonna You know try to go out and get ⁓ He has to play with them basically for this next year unless they do trade him. So do you think that ultimately they end up just Jared Shirai: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: trying to ride it out with Brice Hall or do think they do try to trade him and then maybe bring in one of these other guys? Jared Shirai: I think they're gonna try and ride it out. I mean, the biggest thing is gonna be literally them trying to see what kind of trade bait I guess you could get for him. But if I feel like the asking price is gonna be so high that he's gonna have to end up staying. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. The other part of it that I'm sort of, like for me personally, that I was going say is like, given, you know, he's going to want to go somewhere. think for a team that's going to be interested in trading for him, they're not going to want to give up much knowing full well that he could not sign a deal this year, leave on the franchise tag next year and, know, be out from the team. ⁓ and, know, so. Yeah, I think ultimately I agree with you. think this year, 2026, it sucks for Breeze Hall because you'd like to see him somewhere else. But I think he's going to end up with the Jets again. So moving on to the Jacksonville Jaguars. So they obviously are not going to be bringing back Travis Etienne. They have Bichow Tutin as you know, their number two over there. you know. Jared Shirai: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: Things have been rumbling. That team has been making waves as far as like their interest in other running backs. ⁓ Who that is, they don't know. Liam Cohen. But Liam Cohen has been on record saying that he does like the committee approach. So he does like the idea of pairing Bichal Tooten with another ⁓ running back. And I'm gonna assume the notion was that ⁓ both Bichal Tooten and Travis Etienne are similar in ilk as far as like they can both ⁓ receive out of the backfield and you know obviously are you know talented at running back or running running as well but I'm assuming that's the reason why maybe they're looking for more of a workhorse or more of somebody who can take more punishment I'm not even sure what they're going to be looking for but is there anybody out here that stands out as a candidate for you to fit that team? Jared Shirai: Brian Robinson Jr. Keoni McKeague: ⁓ yeah, I actually like Tech Comp, Jared Shirai: I think that that's gonna be great. You know, we've seen him do it in Washington. Didn't get as much of luck this past year because you he went and played behind CMC. But find him a new home, find him a committee back. And I think he's your workhorse guy. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's a that's a very good point. Yeah, I mean, I I think that they're they're going to be a team that is going to be pushing all the chips in. And as I like work my way through a lot of this list, it was hard to like pick out who I think fits what certain thing. Yeah, as far as like a powerback kind of guy, I got it. I think I'm to be right there with you. I think that. Brian Robertson Jr. Does make a ton of sense ⁓ Actually, you know what just to just to give a different take on this I'm gonna I'm actually gonna go with Tyler Alger ⁓ Yeah, I think that Tyler Alger is somebody that ⁓ Super underappreciated because he was always behind B. John Robinson I think that if they give him a shot to be the RB one with by Chautau and still playing the same role that he was ⁓ Jared Shirai: Yeah Tyler, you here? Okay. Keoni McKeague: I think Tyler Alger can be a workhorse back for that team. And with that team being one of the ones that, you know, has a growing, you know, wide receiver or growing throwing offense and growing team in general, I like the I like the fit of a younger Tyler Alger with the Jacksonville Jaguars timeline. ⁓ Yeah. So moving on to the Tennessee Titans is a team that, you know, had the the dual of Tony Pollard and ⁓ Geez, I have his head in my face and I had him on my team. Tony Pollard and goodness, Tai-Jay Spears. And that didn't really work out for them. So we're looking at the possibility of a brand new running back group. Robert Salah is obviously here and he's a guy who ⁓ is coming from a 49ers team that has always kind of had an emphasis on a dual running back deal. anybody out here who stands out as a candidate for you to land with the Tennessee Titans as their new workhorse running back. Jared Shirai: Man, that's tough just because you're not good. Keoni McKeague: True. Jared Shirai: I I think... Hmm. think I'm gonna go in kind of your direction with Tyler Ajeer for this team. Keoni McKeague: I should like to pick, yeah. Jared Shirai: Kind of for the same reasons, know, underappreciated does get the job done has opportunity to be the RB one really stand out the way he needs to and with the young or rebuilding of this team, I think it's a great start for some for somebody like him that will get that opportunity as well as for the organization to kind of lean on his his veteranness of being behind beyond that all that time. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, could not agree more. ⁓ Geez, yeah. mean, assuming they can't really bring in anybody that they really want to bring in. mean, you know, I'm sure they would love the likes of like a Travis Etienne or Kenneth Walker, but those guys probably are landing there. Aaron Jones is probably not somebody you bring in unless you have, you know, an ideal situation of maybe like a rookie or somebody that you're working on to. ⁓ Jared Shirai: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: play alongside of him kind of And as for some of these other guys, know, James Connor, I do really like, I think he could be an interesting fit for the team. ⁓ I'm actually just going to go the opposite of what we did in this last one. I'm going to go with Brian Robinson Jr. because I do feel like the familiarity with Robert Sala. I mean, he was just his defensive coordinator this last year in San Francisco. Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: So maybe he poaches him and brings him over to Tennessee to be the new workhorse running back. I mean, obviously there's familiarity there. He knows what he can do. We'll see if that translates to a marriage and free agency. So moving over to the Denver Broncos. This is a team that, you know, seemingly had a pretty good running back core, but J.K. Dobbins is a free agent this off season. He's coming off of an injury that wasn't necessarily, ⁓ you know, seasoned ending or actually I can't remember if it was season ending. It was like season ending in the sense that he wasn't playing, but it wasn't. I don't remember if it was like one of those really, really bad injuries. Was he playing in the playoffs? I can't remember now. Jared Shirai: Yeah. I don't think so. I think it was R.J. Harvey the whole time. Keoni McKeague: Okay, because yeah, so he's coming off an injury seemingly was, you know, usurped by R.J. Harvey in his role for Sean Payton's offense. ⁓ But, you know, never say never. Maybe he goes back. Maybe he doesn't. But do you see anybody else here that could fit that Bronco system ⁓ and, you know, fit into this new Sean Payton offense that we have? Jared Shirai: can kind of see them taking a big swing here. ⁓ I would say something like a Kenneth Walker if they can take a big swing. ⁓ I do think but this is hard because I want like I think having that two back committee the way they do they did Walker and Charbonne. I think that would be good because RJ Harvey as good as he was looked at times really really bad and he needed help. Keoni McKeague: Mmm, wow. Jared Shirai: or needed breaks or they needed somebody else. So I would say they take a swing and they got so far in the playoffs. And I think the missing piece would be a type of running back that Kenneth Walker is. Plus he's a champion, you know? I mean, why not? Why not take that swing? Exactly. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Yep. Bring that championship caliber over to that, that Denver Broncos squad. ⁓ yeah, I'm to go with somebody that has some familiarity, obviously with the head coach and I'm going to go with Alvin Camaro. I think that if he gets released from the New Orleans saints, Denver makes a ton of sense as far as a team that he'll have some, it'll probably give them a pause for retirement. If he is actually contemplating retirement, he gets to play with his old head coach. Jared Shirai: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: in Denver in a team that is going to be competing. And I think that's going to rejuvenate his career a little bit because seemingly he sat while healthy a lot of last year. So it's kind of like a weird year for Alvin Kamara. So I'm to put Alvin Kamara with the Denver Broncos and moving on to the New York Giants. Now, this one comes on the head of. Geez, I always say the wrong one. John Harbaugh announcing that he does want his running back group to be a committee approach, even though they have Kam Skattable. Jared Shirai: Yeah, he did. Keoni McKeague: This likely means that they're going to bring in some veteran guy to help, you know, bring him along or, you know, help him out a little bit. Bug, who for you makes sense with the New York Giants as that veteran guy? Jared Shirai: I'm contemplating between the two because like they've been there. But it's kind of the Aaron Jones and Alvin Kamara. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Jared Shirai: Aaron Jones, you he's been around. I feel like he gave a lot. But then like you talk about Kamara and like that veteran leadership that he'll bring. But I don't know if New York's a destination that would make him not want to like really retire. You know what I mean? So I think I'd have to go Aaron Jones here. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. retired yeah yeah that's a good point yeah Nice. I was like, that's going to be one of those ones. I'm like, I, could fit in a lot of different places. I definitely have one in mind, but you know, we'll get there where we get there. ⁓ as far as New York and the giants and having a workhorse, to be honest, the, the first player that comes to mind here for me is a guy that probably would have got comp to camp scatter. Boo coming out of, or coming into the league and his initial couple of years. Jared Shirai: Yeah, he can fit in a lot of systems. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Um, and that's James Connor for me. Um, a guy who can be a mentor, a guy who was often stated as being a guy who might've, you know, needed to take it a little easy every now and then because he was, you know, running himself ragged, uh, with the Steelers when he first came into the league and obviously was trying to earn his spot. So there's all that. I think he can kind of speak to Kam Scadaboo as far as like a veteran, uh, voice. And I think that it makes sense for him to go to a John Harbaugh system where Jared Shirai: Nice. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: You know that similar to like with the Steelers and Harbaugh with the Ravens. It's like it's all about culture. So it makes sense for a guy like, you know, James Connor to end up there ⁓ mentoring Kam Skataboo. So moving on to the Washington commanders, this one seems like to me, this seems like a kind of a big spot. Like if you want to go here, you know, you're going to take over that workhorse back row. They have nobody in that group that really stood out last year. ⁓ Everybody seemingly kind of. pooped the bed at one point or another, you know last year whether it was that you know, what is his name? Jakore Kroszki-Merritt or You know any of the other, know random running backs that they had on their team Everybody couldn't seemingly hold down the starting role for this team and disappeared when it mattered most so Who do you want to put on to the Washington commanders as the top dog? Jared Shirai: Yeah. ⁓ I have to just because I don't know what the Washington commanders are like looking to do in this offseason. That's the hard part. You know what mean? Like, do they want to go off their running back? Do they want to shore up their wide receiver like room? Because I feel like when Jayden's when he's healthy, it's going to be like he needs targets. ⁓ But I think because they want to probably shore up both running back and that. Keoni McKeague: Yep. Jared Shirai: They're not going to take as big a swing on the top running backs. So I think I'm going to go Ricodardo. Keoni McKeague: Rico D'Auro. ⁓ I actually like that pick. That is not one. Yeah. Jared Shirai: Like he's not like super top tier because you know, but he did have a really good year this past year. ⁓ He did it. He's been doing it every year pretty consistently. They gave away the one guy that probably should have just been their franchise guy running back for the rest of the his years. But yeah, exactly. So I think you go and you get somebody like Rico who, who he's got that dog. He'll work for you. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. They learned that lesson very well. Yeah, I agree with that. I went with my for my pick for this one, obviously them being the team that they are with Jaden Daniels and sort of I'm going to I feel like they're a team that's going to feel like they're like a piece or two away from really turning things around and kind of becoming that, you know, powerhouse, not powerhouse. I know I was calling that. That's a little too much. But like that strong team that they were a year ago with Jaden Daniels being at his full strength. So Jared Shirai: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: ⁓ I went with a running back that they can afford because they're going to have some of the most captives off season and that's Kenneth Walker. Jared Shirai: Hmm, I like it. I like it Keoni McKeague: I like I like his fit with them brings championship caliber mentality. He adds to a room that's already going to have a bunch of other Seahawks on the squad. Bobby Wagner has already announced that he's returning. So we'll see that familiarity there. Hopefully that means that he will not only get paid, but he'll get to compete with this team into the future. So that's going to be my pick for Kenneth Walker going to the Washington commanders. We got the Minnesota Vikings and this one was I mean. It wasn't really a destination that I felt like was going to need a running back until now. They kind of need a running back because they let go of Aaron Jones. Obviously, they still have Jordan Mason under contract. So ⁓ again, this one will come on the heels of what Kevin O'Connell has stated. He wants a workhorse or excuse me, he wants a running back committee group for his team. ⁓ That's what makes his offense work. That's what makes his teams, you know, go, go, go. So. Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: Who do we want to add as a veteran to this group ⁓ to make Kevin O'Connell's offense complete, I guess. Jared Shirai: JKDOM, no just kidding. Alvin Kamara. Keoni McKeague: Alvin Camaro, ooh, I like that. Jared Shirai: I'm going to go with Alvin Kamara. I think that would be a ⁓ destination for him. Like you said, you want that veteran. Like you said, he was healthy and he sat so much last season that I think he still has that drive in him and he wants to prove people wrong. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Jared Shirai: And what better way to do it than go to Minnesota, ⁓ alongside whoever, whatever quarterback they decide to go with, you know, hopefully it's JJ and help mentor that young kid as well while he's there, like not just to be the workhorse back and be a committee back, but also help the quarterback because that kid needs all the help he can get right now. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I agree wholeheartedly. ⁓ You know, my answer is probably going to be based on the idea that they do go out and get Kyler Murray, who has been rumored to have heavy interest in joining the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Vikings have heavy interest in signing him. And I agree with you. think that you kind of want somebody who can complement what Jordan Mason can do. ⁓ Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: But you also, like I said, you do want somebody to help mentor this team, move them along. But I mean, when you have a group that has Jay Jeddas and Jordan Addison receiving core, I mean, you kind of don't need a whole bunch out of this running back group. ⁓ Jeez. And if I'm looking at this group of gentlemen to my right here and players that I think could. Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: make a solid impact on this team and I'm totally not stalling or anything hmm Jared Shirai: Ooh, I know who I want to change my answer to. Keoni McKeague: You know, the one that I mean, the one that stands out to me as a player that can play in the cold and as a player that might be just like a reclamation project with Kevin O'Connell, considering that we already have Jordan Mason on board and you know that he's probably going to be RB one. I'm to go with Najee Harris here. I was like, I think that Najee Harris makes sense for that system. He's a bigger back. ⁓ He can kind of do things that Jordan Mason cannot do, which is like running straight up the middle where Jordan Mason's more of a cutting guy. ⁓ Najee Harris is kind of like a two or three yards guy. So I like the fit of those two together. You know, we'll see how that did you want to change your answer? You said you had a you had somebody want to change your answer to. Jared Shirai: Yeah, up the gut. I was thinking like you said like played in the cold and stuff like that, dude. I thought you were gonna go Pacheco Keoni McKeague: Yeah. ⁓ no. I was like, I was like, I know, know now she's been up north with the AFC and I know he enjoyed his time in L.A. But I think that he may have played his last game as a charger, you know, way long before his career with them even really started. So moving on, ironically, to the Los Angeles Chargers, who now will have a space ⁓ in that backfield with Najee Harris hitting free agency. Jared Shirai: Yeah. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: They obviously have their number one in Omari and Hampton. So somebody we're looking at here is going to know that they're going to be the number two ⁓ in this running back room. Boog, who stands out to you as that guy for this team? Jared Shirai: I really think it's gotta be Pacheco. Keoni McKeague: That's I was just gonna say the same thing. What's your reasoning? Jared Shirai: I mean, it's just like he was a like you said it. They they want a running back committee committee committee and that's literally what he was with cream hunt, you know, when he was out there. ⁓ He's. He's he just works, he'll work for you. I think that's the one of the biggest things for me. I think he needs a rejuvenation as well. That's honestly what like the words that you used for ⁓ like, Najee Harris was literally what I thought you were going to pick Isaiah Pacheco because everything that Najee Harris needed in Minnesota is what I think Isaiah Pacheco needs out in LA. And I think he'll enjoy his time while he's out here. Like, you know, it's just. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, I mean, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Jared Shirai: I just feel like it's a good fit. don't really have like the best reasons for it. did like when I just saw, okay, they're getting rid of Najee. Like I think this is such a great place because Hampton has come out of his shell this past season and kind of took over. And I think Pacheco could come in knowing that, hey, yeah, it might be the RB2, but hey, I've kind of already been the RB2 this whole time. So why does it even matter? Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Yeah, I agree wholeheartedly. ⁓ I mean, my reasoning really just comes from the fact that if he does get cut, he's going to be in the same division as the Chiefs. He gets a chance to run through them twice a year. think he's that type of guy. ⁓ And to be honest, it's time for the Chiefs to just move off of him. But this gives him a better, you know, another chance to change things up. And like you said, gets to run alongside of Marion Hampton, ⁓ gets the Jared Shirai: Stick it to him. Keoni McKeague: compete with Amari and Hampton, which is even better because we get to see two solid running backs. I think Amari and Hampton is a little bit better and higher upside obviously because he's younger. yeah, we get to see two guys actually compete in training camp and try to earn their spot in a Jim Harbaugh led backfield. So yeah, I like that fit there as well. Nur Orlean Saints, who now are without the starting, I mean, this is assuming they're going to release him, which has been heavily rumored and Jared Shirai: Yep. Keoni McKeague: ⁓ the likely outcome for a player who I believe if they cut him they can save you know just a tremendous amount of cap space. ⁓ Without Alvin Kamara the only other running back on this squad of note is Kendre Miller who did have a really good showing so this is you know assuming that Kendre Miller is still in the mix somehow. Boog who do you have with this team or do you even have them signing any of these guys? Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. I think they have to sign one of these guys, if I'm being honest. Like, Tyler Shuck is going to probably be the quarterback. They don't really have a wide receiver room. And these are the running backs that you kind of want to go after. ⁓ But I'm trying to think who would want to go here. I think I'm going to take a page out of your book. I think I'm going to put Najee Harris here for the rejuvenation reasons, same reasons used. I think it'll be a good home for him to just start anew through this division, through a team that's still kind of looking for their identity and he can be like a good focal point for them as well. Keoni McKeague: Ooh. Mm-hmm. Jared Shirai: I think he still has it in him to where he can lead on top of just be a part of a new system upbringing and be a part of the rebuilding process of everything too. ⁓ Keoni McKeague: Yeah, I don't disagree with that. I'm probably going to just a little, little bit of a cop out because my player isn't going to be on here on this group of players that we have listed. But I want to put this, you know, pseudo heart here in place of my oh, never mind. Can't do it there. Never mind. I can't I can't can't move it in there anyway. Jared Shirai: as it's like 10,000. Size is too big. Just put it over it. I'm okay with that. Keoni McKeague: I was like, I was like, I'm just gonna get rid of this one. It's gonna bother me now. How do I get rid of you? You don't want to leave now? Okay, was like, geez, get, get off the page. But yeah, I'm gonna go with Jeremiah love. I mean, I think it makes too much sense for this core. They're obviously going to be looking for somebody that can ⁓ who they can build around with in this kind of new sort, New Orleans Saints ⁓ build of a team that they have going on here. ⁓ You know, I wanted to say that maybe the Chiefs ended up with Jeremiah Love in this situation, but truthfully, I think that they end up drafting Jeremiah Love and that ends up being their big free agent acquisition for the off season. ⁓ And they'll just kind of run out with Love and Miller and kind of see what they have with the two of them. Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: They're not in any rush to, you know, make anything happen really big in this next year. ⁓ and I, I just think that that makes too much sense. As much as I think that they need a starting running back, think you draft Jeremiah and then, you know, figure out whether or not you have a thing with him, ⁓ when you do. So that'll be my pick for the New Orleans Saints. I know that was a bit of a cop out, but that's, that's going to be my best fit for them. Jared Shirai: I mean, I think that's a really good get because like you said, you were talking about it before when we first started this. You were saying that because we started with the Chiefs, say the only roadblock for them getting love was going to be the Saints. So it makes sense that you picked them. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's going to be the team I'm going to say is going to draft him at pick number seven, I believe is what they have this year. So. Oh, OK, and the Chiefs are nine. Gotcha, gotcha. moving on to the Carolina Panthers, we have a team that was surprising this year. They had a, you know, a duo of running backs that was actually pretty good. They had Chuba Hubbard there, obviously. You Rico Dotto, who was, you know, popping. But Rico Dotto is gone. Jared Shirai: They are pick eight, pick eight. Washington seven. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: and he is not wanting to come back. Apparently he wants the opportunity to be the guy and he did not get that opportunity with the Carolina Panthers. So who do we see if there is somebody here amongst this list of free agents that could be the second guy to Chuba Hubbard in Carolina? Or is there not anybody here that you could see? Jared Shirai: Let me see. Honestly, I think because of the kind of year that he had, I feel like JK Dobbins would be a good fit here. Keoni McKeague: It's actually a nice pick. I like that pick. Jared Shirai: I think, I think like just knowing that he still has it coming off that what that sort of injury ⁓ knowing that he won't have to like be the full workhorse because I mean, I don't know if his body can truly take it anymore. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yep. Mm-hmm. Jared Shirai: But I think running alongside Chuba Hubbard will be the nice one-two punch that this backfield needs. And he's not as greedy as I guess you could say Rico Dotto is, where he wants more touches and everything. Every running back wants more touches. But I think he's a little more okay in the sense of ⁓ being more of a committee back right now. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, I actually really liked that. I was like, ⁓ I'm gonna go with Rashad White here. ⁓ I think that always kind of been the RB to with, you know, the teams that he's been on. ⁓ He was one for like a little while, but then he got usurped by Bucky Irving in Tampa Bay, and now he's a free agent. So I think he might pick a spot where ⁓ he can kind of have a bigger role. And I think that Jared Shirai: Thanks. Keoni McKeague: With Chuba being sort of the workhorse back, he can have sort of the receiver back roll. ⁓ Even though Chuba's solid at that as well, think Rashad White is better than he is at that role. And with the Panthers being who they are and with Bryce Young being who he is, a lot of rollouts on that team, a lot of running back usage. I think that makes sense for Rashad White as somebody who's a longtime RB2. moving on to the Seattle Seahawks. Now this is a team that does not have the necessary cap space to go out and get one of the big dogs. Seemingly would like to have said money and are saving a good amount of that money without Kenneth Walker. But we'll have Zach Charbonne as the pseudo RB1 for this team. Seemingly must believe in him a whole ton to get rid of this year's Super Bowl MVP. ⁓ Boog, who can you see that can compliment Zach Charbonne and replace Jared Shirai: For real. Keoni McKeague: I guess not replace, you know, yeah, jump into this situation that the Seahawks have created for themselves. Jared Shirai: I mean, ain't nobody ever gonna replace that guy. ⁓ think like I'm gonna take a page out of your book and I think I'm gonna take Rashad white honestly because like he is and has been in RB2 I think I like the fact like how you said that he does want maybe a bigger role maybe he can carve it out here and I do think he wants to compete for a championship again like Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jared Shirai: actually be there so this would be a really good fit for him in the sense of he already knows what it's like to be an RB2 he'll work his butt off for you hopefully try to win an RB1 spot but if it's the committee the way they were they're kind of doing committees especially out in Seattle with ⁓ Walker and Charbonneau Richard White will get his time as well as he'll have another good opportunity to to win a Super Bowl Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I agree with that. ⁓ For me, the guy that stands out here as somebody who I feel like as a veteran makes a ton of sense, probably going to come very cheap for this team and are probably is going to be looking to compete ⁓ after, you know, not ⁓ competing in the last couple of years and having a bunch of drama with his situation with the team. Joe Mixon, ⁓ I think his play style makes a ton of sense. Compliments Zach Charbonneau very well. ⁓ And like I said, brings the veteranness and we'll get a chance to actually compete with the Seahawks team that is ready built already. mean, you know, you got Charbonneau to take most of the hits and you can use Joe Mixon sparingly to be sort of the change up guys. So I like that, that fit of Joe Mixon over here in Seattle. Moving on to the Cleveland Browns. This is a, again, a young rookie running back who is already their workhorse starter guy, but they've been quoted as being a team that wants to run a committee back approach this year, even though Quinchon Judskins had himself a hell of a season. ⁓ And Jerome Ford wasn't quite up to snuff. So that fit obviously became a little awkward for the team. But Boog, who do you have here for the Cleveland Browns? Jared Shirai: I'm trying to think who would fit into that that mesh that that mess that's in Cleveland. I mean. Keoni McKeague: ⁓ yeah. Jared Shirai: I feel like they're going to butt heads, I feel like this is a Rico Daudo kind of team. I don't know what it is about it, but I just feel like it's a Rico Daudo kind of team. know it's hard to say that I want to pick him because it's like you said about him, he does want a bigger role and if he has to be a committee back, it's probably not going to happen. But if I'm really, really picking and this is maybe not out of spite, but I think Najee Harris goes to the Browns. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. I actually like that. I actually like that big. Jared Shirai: I think Najee Harris goes to the Browns. Cause you know, that's your boy, right? From Pittsburgh. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. ⁓ shoot. ⁓ no. Okay. I mean, technically you put him on the scenes as well, I was just like, he's like, he can be on the Browns now. Yeah. Jared Shirai: So. ⁓ Yeah. I just feel like those are the two targets that they're gonna get. Cause I feel like, like you said about the Saints too, if they have the draft pick, they're gonna take love. So, so that's why I was looking for. Keoni McKeague: Mm hmm. Yeah, let's go. Let's just. Let's cover your pick and just just go love love for here. Boom. Love love for the Saints. Boom. That's probably who they're going to draft. mean, I think they've been rumored like of offensive lineman because this is but I was like, this is a pretty deep offensive line group. So I think that they could stand to draft in the second round and be fine. Jared Shirai: Yeah, love it, love it. Because that's probably who they're going to draft at the end of the day. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: ⁓ And they also have a really good offensive line at this point. Not a really good, should say a really young, growing offensive line. So ⁓ to me, it makes sense. And for the Browns, I agree. Yeah, that's a good pick. was like, because now you would want a little bit of revenge against that team. Ironically, I'm going to pick somebody who I also was also in the division at some point and will be looking for a new home. And that's Jackie Dobbins. ⁓ I just think that, you know, being a raven, former raven. Jared Shirai: Nice. Keoni McKeague: Getting to play in that division and maybe, you know, showing that team up and also the possibility that he could start because, you know, who knows what happens with Quinchon Judkins and whether or not that guy holds down his starting spot. But even though he did look really good last year, I'd like the idea of J.K. Dobbins being there to be a change up to what Quinchon Judkins does as a powerback. J.K. Dobbins being more sort of a side to side type of guy. So. Jared Shirai: He did. Keoni McKeague: Moving up to the Chicago Bears. This is a team that has been a very, strong team. Looked really good this last year. They're not necessarily in need of a team. This comes on the heels of the rumors that Deandre Swift may end up getting traded. And if that does happen, do you see anybody here that could fill that Deandre Swift role, considering that they also have Kyle Menunggai on that squad. Jared Shirai: I think, like, because when you made the Joe Mixon shout, I think this is my Joe Mixon, my Joe Mixon, like, area. I think I'm going to take him here. When you made that shout there, I was like, okay. I was like trying to think what home I wanted him to go to and the way you explained it and just like, he's a nice compliment to the Mulan guys play style. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. Jared Shirai: So I think this will be a good rejuvenation for him in this brand new offense that's been only around for a year. And it's proven to be very successful with Caleb Williams emerging as well as the offensive playbook that they've been using. So it's great. I think he'll really thrive here on his comeback tour. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I agree horribly. I think if they, if they do, if they do move off of Deandre Swift, which is, you know, this is all conjecture. It's all based on the what if they do cut him. I think that Nick Chubb makes a ton of sense here. ⁓ Low cost, especially with a team that already put a lot of money into the group last year. It makes a ton of sense as a second guy to Kyle Menunggai, complimentary guy, a little bit bigger than Menunggai, but you know, fits sort of the Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: The that Ben Johnson likes to run which is this sort of Sonic and Knuckles thing. Now you will have your Knuckles to your Sonic. So I think that Nick Chubb is much more of a head down, right up the gut type of guy. Whereas Kalmanongai is sort of your speedier side to side type of guy. the final one here, and I will say the final one because the last few are more so teams that could. Jared Shirai: Yeah. Keoni McKeague: get a player if there was somebody that seemingly because they do have really good starters on their teams already. So there's Arizona Cardinals. This is a team that obviously just like is rumored to be letting go of James Connor. Had Trey Benson who was up and down when he was starting. It doesn't really have anything after that. Does anybody out here stand ⁓ to be sort of that? I don't know. It's funny because those who say that James Connor to this team because ironically, they're I mean, they don't have James Connor right now. But yeah. Jared Shirai: mean, Nick Chubb. Keoni McKeague: Yeah, it's like any XYZ guy that could, you know, play one role or the next role in the other role for this team. Yeah, it's for myself. I saved one player specifically for this team because I thought he made the most sense for them, especially with the way that that team is directionally going. And I went with Rico Daudo. I think Rico Daudo would have a chance to start. Jared Shirai: Has to be right. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: Or at least prove that he's better than Trey Benson if he wants to start I like the idea of him with that Arizona Cardinals offense. I like the idea with him sort of ⁓ Yeah, just adding a run game to a team that didn't really have a run game ⁓ when James Connor went down I should say So yeah, that's gonna be my pick for the Arizona Cardinals now bug here are the teams that are listed here that don't necessarily need a running back but can you know maybe steal one of these guys or lure them away from whatever team has like maybe you know some of these veterans sometimes it comes down to just you know a team that you want to you want to compete with or maybe there's a group that you want to be with or whatever it might be ⁓ but that's the Cincinnati Bengals the Pittsburgh Steelers they are actually real quick Cincinnati Bengals who obviously have Chase Brown as they're starting running back Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: The Pittsburgh Steelers who obviously have Jaylin Warren as the starting running back. The Las Vegas Raiders who obviously have Ashton Gentry. The Buccaneers who have the obvious Bucky Irving. The Dallas Cowboys who did just re-sign Javante Williams. And then of course the San Francisco 49ers with Christian McCaffrey. But anybody here that you could see maybe pulling away. It doesn't have to, you can be a repeat of somebody you already used because we've already used everybody from the list here outside of maybe one name. I'm not sure who. Jared Shirai: Thank I I have one name and it's ⁓ Etienne. I can see Etienne probably going to the Bengals. Keoni McKeague: ⁓ got you. Ooooo Jared Shirai: I think that would be a great comp ⁓ because you know, Chase Brown disappears in games, right? And to play alongside like Jamar and Tee and Burrow, if Burrow does stay, you know, because we heard about the unhappiness there. But I think you insert him into this offense and it just makes it that much more dynamic. Because like you said, when you talked about him, he's very underappreciated. He's probably underrated for a lot of people. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Jared Shirai: And so I feel like he'll get a lot of use as well as he'll have a really good emergence having a joker as your quarterback and having that wide receiver tandem that can go off at any moment. Keoni McKeague: Yeah. Yeah, I'm going to I'm going to reuse a name here because well, I'm just going to stick with the Bengals because there was a player that I felt like could end up with the Bengals. But that's more of a if he decides he just, you know, wants to be part of an organization that he's familiar with. And that's Joe Mixon. mean, go back to a team that treated you better than the one that you're currently on. Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: I mean, the fits there, they already know how to use them. Well, Joe Barrow obviously would love to have Joe mix it back in that building. So I'm to put him into that group. And then as far as like my other kind of sneaky pick, it's going to be Aaron Jones, who is my final guy that I didn't use. And I actually have him going to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A lot of noise around that one makes a ton of sense. They have Aaron Rodgers. They have. Jared Shirai: Uhhh... Okay. Keoni McKeague: Mike McCarthy as the head coach. So basically it's the Green Bay Steelers right now. ⁓ I mean, Aaron Rodgers is not officially signed, but the rumors are, you know, he's going to be coming back. So I think that that gives Aaron another weapon, somebody else that he can rely on. And I think that for Aaron Jones, his familiarity, it's, it's solid playing time because you can compliment what Jalen Warren does very well. ⁓ And I don't think he's going to come. expensive at all. So even if it's a one off deal, that's kind of my, you know, pitch for why I think Aaron Jones could be a Pittsburgh Steeler this next season. Yeah, this next season. Does anybody else? Yeah. Jared Shirai: Nice. I think for me because we've seen the waste of him sitting behind their star player, it's gotta be B-Rob. ⁓ I wanna say by Robinson Jr. to Tampa Bay would be a really nice area for him to be at. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. oooo Yeah, complimenting Bucky Irving, that would actually be a pretty good ⁓ pairing right there. Ooh, I actually liked that one. Yeah. Jared Shirai: Yeah. Yeah. I was like thinking like he was in a like a really bad situation and that trade and everything and we know how good he is. That is just a waste if he does stay in San Francisco with the release releasing of Rashad White. Literally they need another running back there and I think Brian Robinson because Bucky Bucky might get hurt and we know Brian Robinson can hold down the load for the whole season if he needs to. So. Keoni McKeague: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I agree with that. I was gonna say if I had actually I have a couple more I guess I was like I was gonna put I was gonna say I was like Najee Harris to me makes a ton of sense with the Dallas Cowboys familiarity there with George Pickens. He was already rumored to be going there this last offseason and then you know I think Jim Harbaugh or yeah Jim Harbaugh gave him a call and told him about how he almost drafted him and all that sort of stuff and he ended up in LA instead so. Jared Shirai: Mm-hmm. Keoni McKeague: I think Dallas makes a ton of sense. reunion with George Pickens makes a ton of sense. And I like that fit there. ⁓ Ironically, as far as like the rest of these teams. Jared Shirai: race. Keoni McKeague: Like the Raiders make sense as a destination for a team that could ⁓ go on and sign somebody. Jared Shirai: Pacheco to the Raiders just so he can stick it to the Chiefs twice a year. Guys, I mean, that's the same reason why we use them for the Chargers too, Keoni McKeague: action. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was like, that's not a bad, that's actually not a bad shout. I'm gonna ride with you on that one. It's funny, we put him on the Chargers and the Raiders. You know what I was gonna say though, was like, and as far as the Niners, I feel like if he liked the situation, I just think it makes sense for B-Rob to go back there. I mean, to me, he's one of the guys that, yeah. Jared Shirai: Hahaha Yep. They need somebody, man. You never know. Yeah. I'm with that, I'm with that. Keoni McKeague: I was like, he makes sense what he does compliments Christian McCaffrey. I would like to see him starting somewhere, but you know, if there is a pseudo second destination that makes sense for me as a team that he could go to like. Yes. Yeah, exactly. I mean. Jared Shirai: Yeah. ⁓ Yep. I'd like to see them use him more. I think that for me, that's, I mean, I want both of them on the field at the same time, if I'm being honest. Keoni McKeague: You're running the risk of Christian McCaffer getting injured, especially coming off of him. Yeah. Running him ragged, bro. Yeah, like absolutely ragged. So it doesn't make any sense for that to continue the way it has been. So I like that idea. But yeah, I think we can leave the rest of this as is. And those are our predictions for the 2026 free agency class of running backs. ⁓ Book. Jared Shirai: Exactly, if you're just running him 70-30 or 80-20. Yeah. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: Do you have any last minute thoughts for the people at home before we bounce onto this one? Jared Shirai: Nah, this is fun. mean, like, you're talking to like, like you said, super early edition of NFL talk, but it's like, it's fun. Yeah. Keoni McKeague: Free agency. Yeah. Free agency did just start. So that was that was the other that was the other thing I kind of forgot to mention is ⁓ today was it is today. No. Monday. Monday was the start of an NFL free agency so teams can start talking and doing all that kind of stuff. So we'll kind of see you know whether or not these guys ultimately end up signing. Yeah. This will be a very interesting time. And for those who are itching for some fantasy football talk. Yeah. ⁓ Jared Shirai: See what happens. Keoni McKeague: That's going to be coming soon. We're going to have an edition of this that will be fantasy related, I think, because we got a lot of a lot of positions to get through before we even get to that. But then once we get to that, it'll be a lot of fantasy stuff through the summer to get us ready in primed up for next year's fantasy draft. So anyway, with that said, let me get back over to the studio here. All right. Yeah. So with that said. Jared Shirai: Yeah. No. Keoni McKeague: I think that'll do it for us here on this pod. So it has been a pleasure. It's been a joy from all of us here at Poy and Soy. Good vibes and love. Bang, bang. Jared Shirai: Shoots.