Phillip Lindsay rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency
Phillip Lindsay will hit the market in March, and here are the five best free agency fits for him.
After he went undrafted and posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019, the Denver Broncos thanked Phillip Lindsay by signing Melvin Gordon last offseason. That move stalled any idea of a contract extension for Lindsay, and fueled the idea other teams could trade for him.
Lindsay will be a restricted free agent this offseason, which means the Broncos can tender him and line themselves for a decision to keep him if another team levies an offer. But he missed five games this season, as turf toe cost him games early and a hip injury landed him on IR before Week 16. He finished with 502 rushing yards (4.3 yards per carry) and one touchdown, along with seven catches for 28 yards. It seems Lindsay has played his last snap for the Broncos.
At 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds and coming off an injury-hampered season, it’s easy to say Lindsay is not physically suited to being a lead back. But he had 224 carries in 2019 (16th-most in the league), 192 carries in 2018 and 35 receptions in both seasons.
Signing Lindsay will not break the bank. Spotrac has put his market value at $8.2 million a year, a top-10 average among running backs if he got that, on a two-year deal. But it seems likely he’ll get less than that, with a one or two-year deal the most likely scenario.
In any case, here are the five best free agency fits for Lindsay.
5 teams who should sign Phillip Lindsay
5. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins surely thought they were addressing their running back situation last offseason when they signed Jordan Howard and traded for Matt Breida. But Howard was waived in November, and Breida never got on track (59 carries in 12 games). Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed ended up as the team’s top two rushers, leading the league’s 22nd-ranked rushing attack. Beyond that, Miami was 29th in the league in yards per carry (3.9).
The Dolphins may aim higher in free agency (Aaron Jones?) or turn to the draft (Najee Harris? Travis Etienne?) for a top-end running back. On the latter route in particular, Lindsay would fit in as a complementary player as Miami adds offensive pieces this offseason.