Tevin Coleman is headed for free agency. Any takers? He’s shown some playmaking ability the last four years for the Falcons.
At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Coleman is taller and leaner than the typical tailback – built more like a wide receiver. If you’re looking for low pad level and tackle-breaking ability, this isn’t your back. As a higher-cut guy, Coleman could also have problems staying healthy.
He’s probably best utilized as part of a one-two punch, with is how they used him in Atlanta. Most commonly, he was a change-of-pace behind Devonta Freeman, but when Freeman missed 14 games last year, they were still reluctant to hitch the wagon behind Coleman. Ito Smith proved to be a decent enough option out of the backfield, and Coleman was on the field for more than two thirds of their offensive snaps in only one game all year.
But Coleman isn’t nothing. Get him some space and he can rip off big plays. He’s one of only two running backs who’s had a run over 50 yards three years in a row.
And Coleman can be an effective pass catcher. Over the last three years he’s averaged 11.1 yards per catch. Since 2015, 35 running backs have been targeted at least 100 times in the passing game, and Coleman has been the most effective of all of those backs.
Jerick McKinnon and Dion Lewis signed nice free agent contracts last year. I would think Coleman is in line to land a similar kind of deal.
| RUNNING BACKS, YARDS PER PASS PLAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tgt | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Yd/Tgt |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 123 | 90 | 996 | 11.1 | 11 | 8.1 |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 226 | 166 | 1,695 | 10.2 | 10 | 7.5 |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 205 | 162 | 1,535 | 9.5 | 9 | 7.5 |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 229 | 174 | 1,636 | 9.4 | 6 | 7.1 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 172 | 135 | 1,199 | 8.9 | 6 | 7.0 |
| Kyle Juszczyk, Bal.-S.F. | 132 | 100 | 905 | 9.1 | 2 | 6.9 |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 205 | 136 | 1,392 | 10.2 | 7 | 6.8 |
| Jalen Richard, Oak. | 156 | 124 | 1,057 | 8.5 | 3 | 6.8 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 119 | 95 | 802 | 8.4 | 3 | 6.7 |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 206 | 149 | 1,385 | 9.3 | 10 | 6.7 |
| Tarik Cohen, Chi. | 162 | 124 | 1,078 | 8.7 | 6 | 6.7 |
| Chris Thompson, Was. | 171 | 129 | 1,127 | 8.7 | 7 | 6.6 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 237 | 187 | 1,518 | 8.1 | 11 | 6.4 |
| Frank Gore, Ind.-Mia. | 101 | 79 | 646 | 8.2 | 6 | 6.4 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 200 | 160 | 1,271 | 7.9 | 4 | 6.4 |
| Darren Sproles, Phil. | 106 | 74 | 660 | 8.9 | 4 | 6.2 |
| James White, N.E. | 281 | 203 | 1,731 | 8.5 | 15 | 6.2 |
| Devontae Booker, Den. | 134 | 99 | 815 | 8.2 | 1 | 6.1 |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 121 | 91 | 721 | 7.9 | 4 | 6.0 |
| Ty Montgomery, G.B.-Bal. | 127 | 92 | 756 | 8.2 | 1 | 6.0 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 159 | 117 | 943 | 8.1 | 3 | 5.9 |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 131 | 94 | 762 | 8.1 | 6 | 5.8 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 156 | 125 | 905 | 7.2 | 5 | 5.8 |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 180 | 143 | 1,042 | 7.3 | 3 | 5.8 |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 119 | 92 | 678 | 7.4 | 5 | 5.7 |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 212 | 167 | 1,199 | 7.2 | 7 | 5.7 |
| DeMarco Murray, Ten. | 114 | 92 | 643 | 7.0 | 4 | 5.6 |
| Dion Lewis, N.E.-Ten. | 126 | 108 | 708 | 6.6 | 4 | 5.6 |
| Jerick McKinnon, Min. | 121 | 94 | 676 | 7.2 | 4 | 5.6 |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 187 | 135 | 1,023 | 7.6 | 5 | 5.5 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 125 | 92 | 668 | 7.3 | 3 | 5.3 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Cle.-NYJ | 123 | 89 | 653 | 7.3 | 0 | 5.3 |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 108 | 72 | 568 | 7.9 | 1 | 5.3 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 107 | 84 | 461 | 5.5 | 4 | 4.3 |
| Carlos Hyde, 3 tms | 137 | 96 | 546 | 5.7 | 3 | 4.0 |
—Ian Allan