It's been clear for a few years now that teams don't place a premium on running backs. They don't draft them high, they don't pay them a lot in free agency, and they don't make any special effort to retain productive ones. DeMarco Murray, Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson are the biggest names who might change teams in the offseason, but not the only ones.
Among the dominoes are Reggie Bush and Justin Forsett. Bush has been productive in Detroit but battled injuries all last year. Forsett had a breakout season with the Ravens but is 29 years old.
The linked article indicates the Lions aren't committed to bringing back Bush, and really, why would they? Joique Bell and Theo Riddick should work just fine as a tandem. It suggests they might be interested in Forsett, but that seems unlikely -- he'll be looking for starter money coming off his big season, and Detroit doesn't really need one.
Forsett returning to Baltimore makes the most sense. Bush could appeal to any number of teams as a third-down back.
Most likely, the biggest names will be signed first, with older or non-franchise type backs having to wait their turn. Murray and Ingram first, Peterson if he shakes free from Minnesota. But there's also Ryan Mathews, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, and C.J. Spiller.
Spiller is quite frequently linked to the Jets, which makes sense. They're going to release Chris Johnson, and Chan Gailey now runs New York's offense; Spiller had a great season under Gailey in Buffalo. Of course, Spiller might also want to land a job where he's not likely teamed with a back as capable as Chris Ivory. Maybe some team views him as a featured guy, giving him the opportunity to finally live up to his top-10 draft status.
A lot of very capable running backs will wind up in new homes a month from now.
--Andy Richardson