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TOP 5 FREE AGENT RUNNING BACKS FOR JAGUARS · Duval Daily: A Jacksonville Jaguars Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jacksonville Jack Wars fans, welcome in to Duval Daily Prisoner by Genjag.com.
• 0:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Jordan Deluga, thanks so much for tuning in here Wednesday, March 4th, and we are inching.
• 0:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we are really, really close to free agency getting kicked off in earnest on Monday, March 9th with the start of the legal tampering period where teams can begin to negotiate and basically agree in principle to deals with players.
• 0:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: They won't be able to officially sign those deals with the unrestricted free agents until March 11th.
• 0:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: Wednesday.
• 0:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: 4 p.m.
• 0:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: But everything will be basically said and done for the first wave of free agency.
• 0:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: It feels like before Wednesday.
• 0:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's just kind of how things have been going lately.
• 0:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now the Jack Wars, we're going to talk about the next couple of days.
• 0:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're going to talk about a lot of the big position groups that they could potentially be losing a big player.
• 0:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: where they could add to that group, basically cheaper, quite honestly.
• 0:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: And so we're starting it off with running back.
• 0:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've looked at running back, we've talked about running back, we talked about all these different position groups already, but I wanted to give a definitive top five list after doing a lot more work on this group.
• 1:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: For the Jack Wars, running backs that I think make sensible do this again with definitely linebackers, probably defensive line as well, maybe corner back.
• 1:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: So excited for the next few days, we'll get into a mock draft on Friday too, obviously we do a mock draft every Friday here on the show.
• 1:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: And so that'll get us into pre-agency on Monday.
• 1:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's finally here, folks.
• 1:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: I cannot wait to see what the Jaguars do.
• 1:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the Jaguars are currently in the red in their salary cap space, but they have a number of very basic restructures that they can execute without even having to agree to new terms with players that can free up in excess of $30 million in cap space.
• 1:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then there's even more than that.
• 1:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: They can do if they want to.
• 1:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's all basically what do the Jaguars want to do?
• 1:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: How aggressive do they want to be?
• 1:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: and kicking the can down the road with some of these salaries.
• 2:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: And they can do sign, like they could restructure Trevor Lawrence, they could restructure Josh Heinz Allen.
• 2:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Those would be big changes and they would have to agree with those two players in their representation to do it.
• 2:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: But they could offer them big signing bonuses and kick big chunks of their basically their cap hit in 2026 down the road via signing bonus, getting pro-rated over the length of the contract.
• 2:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: We have void years, I can do a lot of different things.
• 2:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: We don't know yet what the jackwares are gonna do in that regard.
• 2:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that news, like restructures, potential cap casualties, things like that could be coming in the next couple of days, so it'll be a fluid situation, a monitor.
• 2:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: But again, right now, wanted to set y'all up with some of that information we've talked about, but if you haven't been paying attention, wanted to set you up with some of that information, and then jump into these top five free agent, running backs really excited to get into these players.
• 2:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I think all of them are pretty exciting,
• 2:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: without further ado.
• 2:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let's just dive in.
• 3:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: My number one free agent running back for the Jaguars is Rashad White.
• 3:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Outside of Travisetean.
• 3:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, I want Travisetean back.
• 3:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: I've been clear that I want Travisetean back.
• 3:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think signing him.
• 3:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: And we don't know what the number will end up having to be.
• 3:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: We don't.
• 3:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: It could be 10 million.
• 3:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: It could be 12.5, 13 million.
• 3:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: I really don't know.
• 3:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: I do think he's going to have a market.
• 3:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think that teams are going to be interested in signing him because he could potentially just be the most attractive running back, really.
• 3:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that's very possible after Jim, which we've wanted to say, Williams, got signed by the Cowboys.
• 3:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: You talk about,
• 3:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Kenneth Walker could be out there, obviously, and he's a huge, super bowl, you know, MVP and player that had a massive impact with the Seahawks.
• 3:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: If it came down to ETA versus Walker, I would pick ETA in because he's familiar with your system.
• 4:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's also a more versatile back.
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: The C-Ox had to take Kenan's Walker off the field on passing downs.
• 4:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was not a good pass protector.
• 4:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was not a good receiver.
• 4:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Travis ETA and excels him both of those and he can also have an impact in the playoffs so wait Kenan's Walker did in my opinion.
• 4:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Look what he was doing against the Buffalo Bills.
• 4:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: So...
• 4:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I would definitely be in on ETN over Walker just keep the guy you know that has a little bit more versatility and is also very explosive But if the Jack Wars were to move on from Travis ETN, Rashad White would be my top back for them because he knows this system and even though Liam Cohen wasn't his coach last year
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was basically an adapted version of Liam Cohen's system last year in Tampa, like Josh Frisard took over as the offensive coordinator and he tried to kind of run it back for the most part in a lot of ways and so Rashad White is very, very familiar with this system.
• 4:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: And to me, any running back the Jaguar sign outside of Travis, TN?
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: They need to be a lot cheaper than Travis CTN, because if you're signing someone in the same ballpark as Travis CTN, why are you not just bringing back Travis CTN?
• 5:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: I strongly feel that way.
• 5:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Takes care of the football, good pass protector, good receiver, good runner.
• 5:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he just does so many things where you so bring back Travis CTN if you're going to go in the same ballpark.
• 5:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think Rashad White would be a lot more.
• 5:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: You know, on the bargain side of things in free agency and another thing that needs to be said at running back you do have three guys in the room right now You have basal Tutan Lee Quint Allen two guys you really like and then DJ Dallas somebody you brought in late in the season Who you are already resigned to bring back for twenty twenty six.
• 5:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: So it's not like the Jaguars have to bring in a free agent running back if they lose Travis ETF
• 5:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: they could bring in another running back in the draft and call it a day.
• 5:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: But if they want someone with more experience and just basically more time on task in terms of like actually having a big role in the NFL,
• 6:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: these are the players we're looking at Rashad White.
• 6:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Again, had a really good season in 2024 with Liam Cohen.
• 6:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: He is a pretty complete back, like Travis ETN, right?
• 6:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: You talk about his ability to run the football.
• 6:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been very strong the last couple years in a Liam Cohen-esque system.
• 6:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: running the ball.
• 6:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's always been a good receiver out of the back field as well.
• 6:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: That has been his calling card at times in the league.
• 6:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, in four seasons, he has over 1500 receiving yards in the NFL.
• 6:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that's not even as a full-time starter for most of those years.
• 6:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been split in time with Bucky Irving the last couple years as well.
• 6:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then he's a good past protector too.
• 6:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been a good past protector throughout his career.
• 6:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: And just
• 6:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: Somebody who makes sense has a connection with this staff.
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: We'll be a lot cheaper.
• 6:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would not sign him over Travecy 10.
• 6:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Again, that's my opinion, but again, this list is not including Travecy 10.
• 7:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're shot whites at the top of the list for me.
• 7:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just kind of not skipping a beat with that type of signing.
• 7:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Next on the list is a couple guys who I think would be big.
• 7:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: kind of changes in the tempo of that running back room.
• 7:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: At number two, I have Tyler Algear.
• 7:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: At number three, I have Rico Dattel.
• 7:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: You could really flip those guys.
• 7:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't mind either way.
• 7:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: But both of those guys are more of the big physical throwback type running backs that have that size and that strength, that muscle mass, where to me, they could really bring a different element to the back field.
• 7:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, basal to it and he runs tough.
• 7:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: And Lee Quint Allen is an absolute dog out there.
• 7:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: But neither of those guys is going to be confused for the biggest guy as they're running back position in the NFL.
• 7:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: And Rico doubtal, he is a tough runner.
• 7:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's just been really damn good wherever he's been.
• 7:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's six foot, two, 15 runs extremely hard.
• 7:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Really, really productive last couple of seasons.
• 8:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he's been in a thousand yard rush or each of the last two years while averaging over four and a half yards per carry.
• 8:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's good yards after contact.
• 8:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I just think he's a really good back that you could
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you have injuries at the running back position and you just need to grind out a game, Rico Dattle can help you do that.
• 8:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: He can be a workhorse.
• 8:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: I also think Tyler Algier has the ability to do that.
• 8:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Um, he's even bigger than doubt.
• 8:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, he's five, 11, 220, uh, and he's a tough physical runner.
• 8:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: He comes from a system, uh, you know, Zach Robinson was his OC last year.
• 8:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think Zach Robinson has obvious ties to Liam Cohen with coming through the Sean McVeetry, but they're not going to be the same.
• 8:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, you probably have some similar verbiage and things of that nature.
• 8:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: So to me, Tyler Aljo makes a lot of sense.
• 8:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a
• 8:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: short yardage guy that gets a job done in that regard gets a job done in the red zone, scoring touchdowns, 18 touchdowns is a backup over the last four years to be John Robinson for most of that time.
• 8:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: So to me, Tyler Algier also makes a lot of sense.
• 9:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: And these two guys, I think you could just really lean on them in games and if you have injury, whatever it may be, that can be work courses.
• 9:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then at number four, I have Kenneth Gainwell, which is kind of back to the versatile back, even leaning more into the receiving back part of things.
• 9:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Kenneth Gainwell has always been a really talented receiver.
• 9:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: He has a talented receiver coming out of Memphis.
• 9:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: I like him as a runner as well.
• 9:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's quick, he's shifty.
• 9:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he has good vision.
• 9:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he just has a lot of versatility to his game.
• 9:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he'd provide, like, I think,
• 9:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: When when he was coming out of Memphis, I talked about him and I just said this guy makes offense easier.
• 9:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Point blank.
• 9:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: He makes offense easier because he's a good runner, he's a good receiver.
• 9:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think he can get the job done in past protection as well even though he's not the biggest dude out there and he also has special teams value.
• 9:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I would like I would like Kenneth Gainwell too, like all those guys a lot.
• 10:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Check a dobbins, and look, I know the injury stuff.
• 10:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's why he's number five on my list.
• 10:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: If he was healthy throughout his career, or healthier throughout his career, you can make the argument, he should be number one on the list.
• 10:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: He has the ability on the field to dynamically change your offense.
• 10:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's a really, really good running back.
• 10:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: So to me, if you were gonna sign a JK dobbins, it would be basically a no risk home run swing.
• 10:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: I like that.
• 10:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: I like a no-risk home-runton because he's going to be cheap.
• 10:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's not going to be teams clamoring to sign him and pay him a lot of money.
• 10:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're going to be scared of the injury situation, but you can handle the injury situation because you have all these guys already in your backfield, right?
• 10:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that would be, again, the low-to-no-risk home-run swing would be JK Dobbins.
• 10:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you just feel that there's no chance that he can make an impact, but if you got him healthy to the playoffs, I mean, he could help you go on a run.
• 11:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's the way I view it.
• 11:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: And there's a reason he's not number one on my list.
• 11:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's number five.
• 11:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: Other players to watch, I really couldn't get excited about anyone else.
• 11:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's different guys that could make sense.
• 11:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: I've always thought Khalil Herbert was a good zone running back.
• 11:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: He could make sense for the jacks.
• 11:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's been in a couple spots the last couple years that just weren't super advantageous for him but early in his career.
• 11:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: He made a lot of impact for the bears.
• 11:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he could be a good fit for the jacks.
• 11:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Ty Chandler, who is an explosive running back at a North Carolina, he's been in Minnesota, obvious connection with the Jaguar's current offensive staff.
• 11:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Brian Robinson, I've always just thought, was like a solid running back.
• 11:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: He could make sense potentially,
• 11:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: and then Jerome Ford I think is also pretty solid and he has some explosiveness to his game.
• 11:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: So there's a couple other guys I would keep an eye on, but my top five list I feel very confident Rashad White and then Tyler Algier and Rico Dattel in the same kind of boat.
• 12:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: I have Al Jira at 2, Doubtal at 3.
• 12:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: I could easily flip the I love Rico Doubtal's game.
• 12:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: So either way, those guys are kind of tied for the two spot and then I have Kenneth Gainwell and then the no risk come run swing would be JK Dobbins.
• 12:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let me know what you think in the comment section below.
• 12:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you enjoy the content here, please like and subscribe and y'all have a good one.