Carlos Hyde rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

1. Detroit Lions

The past three seasons have seen the Detroit Lions average 83.4, 81.9, and 76.3 rush yards per game. That’s been a finish of 32nd, 30th, and 32nd again in the league in that category. They desperately need help at the running back position as the combo of Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick obviously haven’t gotten it done.

Riddick is still a very useful back but is limited as a pure rusher. His best success is as a receiving threat out of the backfield and in the slot where his quickness and agility create mismatches. Hyde would be the most talented runner the Lions have had in quite awhile and they could finally have a fully functional offense, not riding and dying with the arm of quarterback Matthew Stafford every week.

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Adding the running game to the Detroit offense could produce deadly results. Stafford is an above average quarterback who can sling the ball all over the field. He has a very good trio of receivers in Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, Jr., and Kenny Golladay. Tight end Eric Ebron showed flashes last season.

Hyde can open up all sorts of avenues for this offense to grow if opposing defenses actually have to defend the run. They haven’t had any respect for Detroit’s running game for years(nor should they have). The Lions finished seventh in the NFL in points, crossing 400 on the season. If they can do that without any semblance of a running game, imagine what a running back like Carlos Hyde could do in Detroit and how much better the offense would be.