Detroit Lions: 4 free agent running backs worth considering

Malcolm Brown

Team: Los Angeles Rams
Age: 27
Height/Weight: 5-11, 222
2020 Stats: 16 games played, 101 rushing attempts, 419 yards, 23 receptions, 162 receiving yards, 5 total touchdown
2020 Base Salary: $1,000,000

Yes, this is the same Malcolm Brown that the Lions attempted to sign in 2019. A restricted free agent at the time, Brown had the offer sheet met by the Los Angeles Rams and spent the last two years as a backup there. Here we are again in 2021, yet this time Brown is an unrestricted free agent.

Running backs tend to age a little quicker than most other players, and at 27, Brown is likely past his prime. With the Rams last year, he set a career-high with 101 carries, the first time he had ever eclipsed 70 totes in one year. That moderate level of usage may have saved Brown from some of the standard wear-and-tear that many tailbacks experience by his age.

Initially penciled in a reserve behind rookie starter Cam Akers and speedy Darrell Henderson, Brown wound up playing the most offensive snaps among the three in 2020, due in part to Akers’ injuries and Henderson’s versatility. Despite the drastically increased playing time, Brown still managed to keep his yards-per-carry average above 4.0 last year, an important metric for his position.

He’s not the fastest player on this list, nor is he the biggest or most efficient. But he’s a solid, dependable back who will pick up what’s blocked in front of him. He’s also familiar with Holmes from their shared time with the Rams when Holmes served as L.A.’s director of college scouting.

Though it’s not necessarily the best way to construct a roster, with limited salary cap flexibility, the Lions may need to resort to pursuing players that are familiar to the coaching staff and front office. Brown fits that profile and should be on their radar.

All salary cap figures courtesy of Spotrac