NFL free agency 2024: There will be RBs with star pedigree available for Dolphins

It was suggested to Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert in Orlando recently that he might recruit fellow Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry.

"Oh, yeah," Mostert said, smiling before an AFC Pro Bowl practice. "I think that'd be a good complement. I need to go talk to that guy."

Mostert was in no way disparaging fellow Miami running backs De'Von Achane, Jeff Wilson or Chris Brooks.

It's just that Henry — a powerful, physical monster — is a rare breed.

(And Mostert is always a good-natured interview subject.)

It turns out there are lots of established, talented running backs about to be free agents. Would the Dolphins pursue one of these available stars?

“There is never that sense of complacency with any phase," Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said at the NFL scouting combine. "I think we did make some substantial improvements in the run game, which was something that a year ago at this press conference, I was probably talking about that we needed to do, and that doesn’t stop.

"I think running the football is a way to dictate the terms more than anything in football. One team has the ball, the other team doesn’t. It’s the orchestration of offense that’s the least risky in terms of turning the ball over. That’s something we’ll continue to try to evolve. Our minds are always open."

Grier has never, ever wanted to pay big for a running back.

But Grier always monitors the sales racks.

And some of these guys who are available may come at a bargain price.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel wants to run the ball. It does not matter if Tua Tagovailoa is making $23 million in 2024 or if he secures a new deal worth more than $50 million a season.

Miami has so many potential holes to fill — center, left guard, right guard, defensive tackle, edge rusher, linebacker and safety.

Oh, is that all?

But it cannot be discounted that Grier and McDaniel may eventually see a running back at a price they just can't pass up.

Mostert, Achane and Wilson — like almost all running backs — have had some injuries. And thus, like any team, one can never have enough running backs.

Wilson can also be let go with a $2.9 million cap savings and only a $782,500 cap hit. So his spot on the roster is not necessarily safe.

Here are some of the top free agent running backs Miami could theoretically engage as early as next Monday:

Derrick Henry

Age: 30

Spotrac Estimate: $10.3 million per season

Skinny: Henry matched a career-low with 4.2 yards per carry last season. And he has more than 2,000 NFL carries. If willing to accept a reasonable one- or two-year deal, Henry would bring a power element Miami hasn't possessed in years.

Saquon Barkley

Age: 27

Spotrac Estimate: $9.9 million per season

Skinny: Barkley averaged only 3.9 yards per carry last season. And he's had some injuries. But my goodness would it be fascinating to see what McDaniel could do with Barkley's undeniable talents.

Josh Jacobs

Age: 26

Spotrac Estimate: $10.5 million per season

Skinny: Tua's former teammate at Alabama. He averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry with the Raiders last season. But he posted 1,600 rushing yards just two years ago. And he has 46 rushing touchdowns in five seasons.

Tony Pollard

Age: 26

Spotrac Estimate: $6.5 million per season

Skinny: Pollard has back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. And he's averaged 4.8 yards over a five-year career. A strong pass catcher, Pollard may best be used as part of an efficient running back stable.

Austin Ekeler

Age: 28

Spotrac Estimate: $7.4 million per season

Skinny: Ekeler had a career-low 3.5 yards per carry last season. He's had 990 carries over seven seasons with the Chargers. A good pass catcher, Ekeler is a bit less explosive than he once was.

D'Andre Swift

Age: 25

Spotrac Estimate: $6.7 million per season

Skinny: Swift had a career-high 1,049 rushing yards for the Eagles last season, after spending the first three years of his career with Detroit. A dynamic rusher and proficient pass catcher, Miami passed on Swift in the 2020 draft, selecting cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.

Ezekiel Elliott

Age: 28

Spotrac Estimate: $2.7 million per season

Skinny: Elliott has 2,000 career rushes and clearly is not the player he once was in Dallas. His yards-per-carry has decreased for three straight years. This is a big-name player who would mostly add depth at this point in his career.

J.K. Dobbins

Age: 25

Spotrac Estimate: $2.1 million per season

Skinny: Dobbins tore his Achilles in Week 1 of last season, so this is a medical-dice-roll-upside-play. When healthy, Dobbs is a stud, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Dobbins might have been a Dolphin if Baltimore didn't snag him at Pick 55 in 2020, one spot ahead of Miami, which chose Raekwon Davis.

Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.