Who signs running back Mike Tolbert in 2016 NFL free agency?
The Carolina Panthers came so close to reaching the NFL Zenith, but were denied a Super Bowl victory by the Denver Broncos. For Mike Tolbert, that would have been the pinnacle of his career with the team. Now that he’s hit the running back magic age of 30, what kind of market will there be for the Panthers FB/RB?
Vitals
Age: 30
Notable stat:Â 44 career touchdowns
All-Pro teams: 2 (2013, 2015)
Pro Bowls: 2 (2013, 2015)
Contract comparison
Tolbert is an unrestricted free agent after playing out his four-year/$10 million contract with the Panthers. The challenge in evaluating Tolbert is the fact that he doesn’t have a lot of comparisons in the open market. He’s really more of a full back than a true running back, and quite a few NFL teams have gone away from utilizing a fullback entirely. The fact that only certain teams even have a need for his position, will depress his market value significantly.
Estimate: 2 years/$6 million/$4 million guaranteed
Will he stay?
Tolbert has been clear that his preference is to stay in Carolina if he’s given that opportunity. The Panthers will be interested in bringing the former Coastal Carolina star back, but it’s going to have to be at the right price. He’s getting up there in terms of age and mileage so the team will want to ink him to a relatively short contract.
The fact that he coughed up two fumbles in the Super Bowl isn’t going to help endear him to the Panthers in contract talks either.
If he leaves…
Any team with a hole at the fullback position will want to talk to Tolbert. He gives you solid production at that spot and can even provide some cover for the tailback position as long as it isn’t for an extended period of time. Ultimately, Tolbert is only going to be interested in a team that provides him an opportunity to win immediately.
Look for teams with a real chance of making next year’s Super Bowl to be involved if he leaves Carolina. In particular, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks seem like solid fits for the versatile halfback.
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