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Tennessee Titans should target running backs set to hit the market

By Will Lomas

Jan 3, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) with the ball in the third quarter. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 38-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) with the ball in the third quarter. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 38-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Doug Martin and Matt Forte are both set to hit NFL free agency in a couple of weeks, and indications are that both of them will sign with other teams. The Tennessee Titans should make a strong play for either one of them but for different reasons.

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Let me preface this by saying, I know that free agent running backs scare most teams and rightfully so. However, the lack of a top-10 caliber running back has hampered this team since 2010 when Chris Johnson started his hard decline.

The Titans have already said that they are committed to being an aggressive team that dictates the pace of their games and with two very good running backs hitting the market, they need to dig into their very deep pockets and make a fair but enticing deal to both of these guys.

Matt Forte

Proposed deal: 2 years/$15 million, $3.5 million guaranteed per year

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    • While everyone should know Matt Forte because of just how good he is, let me remind you. Forte averages over 1,050 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards per year.

    While he isn’t the youngest running back on the market, he is a proven leader and someone that was very hard for that organization to lose. He is still a dynamic player that can do anything you ask and who can be used on all three downs.

    The deal listed makes him a top-5 player in guaranteed money and a top-10 player in salary per year. It also gives the Titans a short term gap player who will be playing for his final contract (in 2018) so he isn’t going to slack off.

    On top of that, it gives Marcus Mariota someone who has seen every defense in this league and who has honestly beaten them all too. He is a reliable player who should end up with 2,000 yards in his time with Tennessee.

    Meanwhile, they can draft a player like Jalen Hurd (some NSFW language in those highlight videos) from Tennessee in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and allow him to adjust to the speed of the NFL before giving him a full time role.

    Doug Martin

    Projected salary: 4 years/$33 million,  $3.5 guaranteed per year

    This is a huge deal on paper, but rightfully so. If you don’t know, Doug Martin played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this year, and so Jon Robinson knows exactly how to build and offensive line that can block for him successfully.

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    Not only that, but he knows what kind of a person Martin is. While he didn’t draft him, he did spend two years with him and there is no way that a front office man as thorough as Jon Robinson didn’t heavily vet him heading into this year.

    If they give Martin a deal like this, then it is because Robinson is convinced that his slow 2013 and 2014 seasons were due to injury and a lack of an offensive line rather than a talent or work ethic issue. Not only that, but with all of his connections in Tampa Bay, there is no way that he won’t check in with all of his former coaches knowing that there are likely to be some big staff moves coming into next year.

    As for Martin himself, he has had an underrated career so far too. He was 2nd in the league in rushing this year behind Adrian Peterson and he has a career 4.4 YPA average. In both of his full seasons, he has had a long run of 70 or more yards showing that he can be a home run threat as well as an every down back.

    This is a guy that you shouldn’t be afraid to build your running game around, especially with a GM like Robinson who should know everything about him before signing him. Again, if he gets a big contract from the Titans it is because they have plenty of money, need a running back and he was thoroughly checked out.

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