2016 NFL free agency: Who will Matt Forte sign with?
Where will Matt Forte sign in 2016 NFL free agency?
It’s hard to imagine Matt Forte suiting up in anything other than a Bears jersey next season; after all, the eight-year veteran out of Tulane has played his entire career in Chicago. But after losing time to youngsters Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey in 2015 and turning 30 last December, the two sides mutually decided to go their separate ways this offseason. Forte still claims to have plenty of gas left in the tank, and could be a useful addition to a number of teams searching for a reliable pass-catching back and true locker room leader.
Vitals
Age: 30
Career rushing average: 4.2 yards/carry
Notable stat: Rushed for over 1,000 yards in five of eight seasons as a pro
Pro Bowls: Two
Contract comparisons
Forte spent the past four seasons playing under a $30.4 million contract that averaged him about $7.6 million a year. Since he’s a running back on the wrong side of 30, he’s not likely to come anywhere close to those numbers this offseason, and Forte knows that. He’s reportedly stated that he’s less interested in the money at this point in his career and instead more focused on playing for a championship contender.
Still, the veteran running back figures to command a salary somewhere in the range of $3 to $4 million at least. For comparison, Frank Gore made about $4 million this past season in Indianapolis, his first year as a Colt. Gore is a couple years older than Forte, but he’s a good example since both men played their entire careers with one team before being let go after 30.
Estimate: Three years/$13 million/$6 million guaranteed
Where will he end up?
The popular pick is the New England Patriots, though it’s unclear whether Bill Belichick would be willing to pony up even $3 or $4 million a year for a running back with eight years of wear-and-tear on him. The Patriots have a history of turning other teams’ trash into treasure (Randy Moss, Corey Dillon), and Forte fits the mold of the sure-handed passing back that has long been a staple in New England’s offense. The problem here is that with Dion Lewis returning from an ACL injury and James White coming on late in the season, the Patriots don’t really need a passing back so much as they need a big back for early down work — someone to potentially replace LeGarrette Blount, who is also a free agent.
Forte could also end up with New England’s division rival in the
. Both of New York’s top running backs from last season, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell, are expected to test free agency, and at least one will likely leave the Big Apple. Forte would be a fine replacement, particularly should Powell be the back that exits town.
Another trendy landing spot is Green Bay. Though the idea of seeing Matt Forte in Packers’ colors is probably enough to turn the stomach of most Windy City sports fans, it’s not a bad fit; Forte would get the chance to play on a contender, he wouldn’t have to move very far geographically, and the Packers would give the disappointing Eddie Lacy some legitimate competition for the starting job. James Starks is also an unrestricted free agent this summer, and if he bolts for greener pastures, the Pack would be very thin at the position. The only thing standing in the way of a Forte-to-Green-Bay deal could be GM Ted Thompson’s historical disdain for supplementing his team in free agency.