Dozen NFL running backs switch teams in 2024 free agency

National Football League Free Agency officially started on Wednesday. Here are a dozen NFL running backs who switched teams.

Josh Jacobs

It is uncommon for the Green Bay Packers to make a huge splash when it comes to free agency. In the NFL offseason, they did just that by signing Josh Jacobs of Tulsa, Oklahoma to a four-year deal worth $48 million. Jacobs has spent the last five seasons with the Raiders, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2022. In 2022, Jacobs led the NFL with 1653 rushing yards and 2053 yards from scrimmage. In 2023, he had 805 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and had 37 catches for 296 receiving yards.

Saquon Barkley

The two-time Pro Bowler from Bronx, New York has spent his entire NFL career with the Giants from 2018 to 2023 before switching NFC East teams and joining the Philadelphia Eagles for a three year contract worth $37.75 million. In the years Barkley was selected to the Pro Bowl, he surpassed 1300 rushing yards twice as he had 1307 in 2018 and 1312 in 2022. Also in 2018, Barkley led the NFL with 2028 yards from scrimmage and was the Offensive Rookie of the Year. This past season in 2023, Barkley had 962 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns, along with 41 catches for 280 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

D’Andre Swift

The native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is joining the Chicago Bears on a three-year deal worth $24 million. He previously played three seasons with the Detroit Lions from 2020 to 2022, and one year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Last season in Philadelphia, Swift was selected to the Pro Bowl. With the Eagles, he had 1049 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, with 39 catches for 214 receiving yards and one touchdown catch.

Tony Pollard

The native of Memphis, Tennessee is joining the Tennessee Titans on a three-year deal worth $21 million. Pollard has spent the last five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022, when he had a career-high 1007 rushing yards. In 2023, Pollard had 1005 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 55 catches for 311 receiving yards.

Devin Singletary

The native of Deerfield Beach, Florida is joining the New York Giants on a three-year deal worth $16.5 million to replace Barkley. Singletary has spent four seasons with the Buffalo Bills from 2019 to 2022, and one season with the Houston Texans. Last season in Houston, Singletary had 898 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, and 30 catches for 193 receiving yards.

Derrick Henry

The Baltimore Ravens have the most explosive running quarterback on their roster in MVP Lamar Jackson, and now they have one of the game’s most electrifying running backs. Derrick Henry of Yulee, Florida is a four-time Pro Bowler (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023) and 2020 Offensive Player of the Year with the Titans. In 2019 and 2020, Henry led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He had 1540 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in 2019, and 2027 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2020. In 2023, Henry had 1167 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns with the Titans, and 28 catches for 214 receiving yards.

Antonio Gibson

The native of Stockbridge, Georgia signed a three-year deal worth $11.25 million with the New England Patriots after playing the last four seasons in Washington. In 2023, he had 65 rushes for 265 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, along with 48 catches for 389 receiving yards and two touchdown catches.

Austin Ekeler

The native of Lincoln, Nebraska signed a two year deal worth $8.34 million with the Washington Commanders after six seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. Known for his ability to score multiple ways, Ekeler led the NFL with 20 receiving and rushing touchdowns in 2021, and 18 receiving and rushing touchdowns in 2022. This past season, Ekeler had 628 rushing yards and five touchdown rushes, along with 51 catches for 436 receiving yards and one touchdown. The touchdown catch was for 39 yards from quarterback Justin Herbert in a 30-13 Chargers win over the Chicago Bears on October 29.

DeeJay Dallas

The native of Brunswick, Georgia signed a three-year deal worth $8.25 million with the Arizona Cardinals after playing the last four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2023, Dallas had 10 rushes for 36 rushing yards, and six catches for 26 receiving yards, as Dallas played behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.

Zack Moss

The native of Hialeah Gardens, Florida played three seasons with the Buffalo Bills from 2020 to 2022, before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts at the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline. He signed a two-year contract worth $8 million with the Cincinnati Bengals. This past season with the Colts, Moss had a career season with Jonathan Taylor not playing a complete season. He had 794 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, along with 27 catches for 192 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Moss’s touchdown catches came in two Colts wins. The first touchdown catch was for 17 yards in a 22-19 Colts win over the Baltimore Ravens on September 24, and the second touchdown catch was for 16 yards in a 30-13 Colts win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 16. Both touchdown catches came from Gardner Minshew II, who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Aaron Jones

The native of Savannah, Georgia is staying in the NFC North. After seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Jones signed a one-year deal worth $7 million with the Minnesota Vikings. A Pro Bowler in 2020, Jones led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2019. This past season, Jones had 656 rushing yards and two touchdowns, along with 30 catches for 233 receiving yards and one touchdown. Jones had two touchdowns (one yard touchdown run and a 35 yard touchdown catch from Jordan Love) in a 38-20 Packers win over the Chicago Bears on September 10, and a three-yard touchdown run on November 5 in a 20-3 Packers win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Gus Edwards

The native of Monrovia, Liberia signed a two-year deal worth $6.5 million with the Los Angeles Chargers. The last five seasons Gus Edwards has played with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2023, he had 810 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, along with 12 catches for 180 receiving yards.