The regular season has come to a close, and most teams have already begun the complicated process of preparing for the 2023 season. In the coming months, we'll be covering the impending free agents most capable of shifting the balance of power in the NFL.
The Player: Miles Sanders
The running back position isn't quite the focus of attention it used to be, but stars can still be difference-makers on the right offense. Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowler Miles Sanders was sensational for the league's third-highest-scoring team in 2022, tallying 1269 rushing yards at an efficient 4.9 yards per carry in a Pro Bowl season. For his career, he has totalled 3708 rushing yards at an impressive 5.0 yards per tote. He's not an every-down bell cow (who is anymore), but he's a productive and dynamic back without many miles on his body.
The Fit:
Sanders is a versatile back with good speed and fair size. He would fit in well with any offense that wants a balanced attack. Though his pass-catching has not been a major part of his game in recent years, he has proven excellent when called upon: he totalled 509 receiving yards at an excellent 8.1 yards per target as a rookie. He could be Dalvin Cook or Josh Jacobs in the right offense.
The Cost:
Sanders is a good candidate for the Eagles' franchise tag, which would cost the team $10.091 million. Fortunately for Sanders, the Eagles have other free agents competing for their attention. Unfortunately for Sanders, teams aren't handing out big money to running backs unless they're the franchise's biggest star. Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Mixon's four-year, $48 million deal is probably a fair starting point, but it'd be difficult to justify paying Sanders more than Tennessee Titans superstar Derrick Henry's $12.5 million/year or Minnesota Vikings four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook's $12.6 million per year.
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