Arizona Cardinals pre-free agency roster breakdown: Running Backs

When you look at the Arizona Cardinals early 2021 NFL roster one room that needs help is easy to identify.

The Cardinals running back room is thin..you have the following under contract:

Chase Edmonds - $1,033,092 cap hit

Eno Benjamin - $805,678

Khalfani Muhammad - $780,000

Johnathan Ward - $780,000

That is… uninspiring.

When you look at the way the Cardinals offense has run under Kliff Kingsbury, they need a running back who can take the licks.

They need a running back who can touch the ball 250+ times a season and make plays in both the running and passing game.

You have four names in free agency that would fit the bill:

Aaron Jones - The great Packers running back is likely ready to cash in at about $13-15 million a year.

Chris Carson - Seahawks running back had a down season because of injury, but put up numbers in 2018 and 2019. Looking around $8-10 million a year.

Leonard Fournette - Big, powerful back has shown he can handle the load and is now looking for a shot to be the man again after a nice year for the Bucs. Looking around $7-9 million a year.

Phillip Lindsay - The young Denver Broncos running back had an injury plagued season, but he’s been dynamic as the lead back with the Broncos. Looking at around $6-8 million a year.

There’s also a number of options in the 2021 NFL Draft, but that’s something we can explore later, but it’s clear the Cardinals need some help at the running back position.