The 2025 NFL free-agent class has big names at the skill positions. Here is a look at the running backs available to move and the dynasty impact of their free-agent status.

Running backs have risen in import, especially this season. The success of older free agents and the position in general bode well for the 2025 free agent class. One additional note is the likely strong incoming rookie class (more than 2024) added to the positional depth and team optionality.

Tier 1

• Aaron Jones
• Najee Harris
• J.K. Dobbins
• Nick Chubb

Aaron Jones' history of vibrant highs and missed games made him expendable by Green Bay. Minnesota will be an interesting case for Jones as Cam Akers is also a free agent. Najee Harris has shown a lack of ceiling thus far in his career and Pittsburgh is in a similar situation as Minnesota with both of their top running backs slated for free agency. J.K. Dobbins has revived his injury-marred career in 2024 and is slated as one of the more appealing free agents in a deep class. He is the youngest of the Tier 1 options. Nick Chubb has the most to gain or lose with how the rest of 2024 transpires. Chubb is understandably getting back up to speed following a significant knee injury last year. However, the optics have been that of an older running back attempting to find his mojo again. Without an uptick closer to vintage Nick Chubb in the closing weeks of the season, Chubb could easily be a Tier 2 option instead of Tier 1.

Tier 2

• Jaylen Warren
• Jordan Mason
• Cam Akers
• Javonte Williams
• Rico Dowdle

Tier 2 consists of quality depth with potential starting upside in a best case. Jaylen Warren is on the older side for a running back coming out of his rookie contract and 2024 has been marred by being in Najee Harris' shadow plus Warren's injury thus far. Jordan Mason auditioned as a starter for half of the season before Christian McCaffrey returned. Half of Mason's starts were borderline elite while the other half were baseline efforts. Rico Dowdle's season as the starter has been derailed by Dallas falling off the tracks and now losing Dak Prescott. Cam Akers could be an impact down the stretch run of the season if Aaron Jones misses time, entering a key free agent offseason himself. Javonte Williams has largely disappointed in his significant bounce-back attempts of late and could be considered Tier 3 by the NFL in free agency. Williams might have the biggest range of outcomes in free agency from a clear starting opportunity to being a clear backup of this list.

Best of the Rest

• Kenneth Gainwell
• Alexander Mattison
• Khalil Herbert
• Kareem Hunt
• Trey Sermon
• Samaje Perine
• Ty Johnson
• D'Onta Foreman
• Chris Rodriguez Jr.
• Dare Ogunbowale
• Elijah Mitchell
• Jeremy McNichols
• D'Ernest Johnson
• JaMycal Hasty
• Emanuel Wilson
• Ezekiel Elliott
• AJ Dillon
• Jeff Wilson Jr.

The depth options in the 2025 free agent class are pronounced. When factoring in a strong incoming rookie class as well, most of the 'best of the rest' will be scrambling to find RB2/3 roles to begin the season more than challenging for RB1 spots or guaranteed a primary backup job. Life and roles change fast for ancillary running backs in the NFL. The most interesting names of the list include Elijah Mitchell considering his career peak combined with injuries, Khalil Herbert after being traded to Cincinnati and if he has a chance to shine later this season, and Kenneth Gainwell who has been one of the stronger change-of-pace backs recently but blocked behind D'Andre Swift and Saquon Barkley.

Potential Cuts, Restructures, or Retirements

• Miles Sanders
• Jamaal Williams
• Gus Edwards
• Zack Moss
• Raheem Mostert
• Austin Ekeler

With Chuba Hubbard's new contract and Jonathon Brooks poised for greater health, Miles Sanders is a glaring cut candidate in the offseason to save more than $5 million in cap space for Carolina.

Jamaal Williams looks done, and the Saints can save half of his cap hit ($4.6 million) by moving on in the offseason. Even if the team is worried about Kendre Miller's propensity for injury, a cheaper option can be had with a wealth of free agency or even a Day 3 pick to supplement the depth chart.

Gus Edwards is a baseline older veteran at this stage of his career with minimal receiving upside. His $4.25 million cap hit next year is suspect to revision at a minimum, and he is a prime candidate to be released and struggle to find an RB2 job next season.

Zack Moss lost the lead role to Chase Brown and is owed nearly $5 million next season with barely 30% of that as dead cap. The Bengals can easily get cheaper if they are comfortable with Brown as the lead back (or projected lead back) in 2025.

Raheem Mostert has less than 25% of his cap hit as dead cap for 2025 and overtly lost the lead job (or even a strong committee role) to De'Von Achane this season. At 33 years old for next season, Mostert is expendable with Jaylen Wright set to rise in Miami.

Austin Ekeler has been a pleasant surprise this season, being the receiving-centric sidekick to Brian Robinson Jr in Washington and providing spot starts when needed. At 30 years old, erosion can happen quickly from impactful to irrelevant. Ekeler is not the highest odds of a cut candidate, but his dead money sits at a mere $1.5 million, less than 30% of his total cap hit.

Potential Incumbent Benefactors

• Trey Benson
• Ty Chandler
• Kimani Vidal
• Kendre Miller
• Will Shipley
• Ray Davis
• Isaac Guerendo
• Audric Estime
• Dylan Laube

Check out all of Chad Parsons' content at Footballguys.