Ezekiel Elliott and 5 free-agent running backs the NY Jets could sign

The NY Jets don't have many pressing roster needs as they sit just a few weeks out from the 2024 NFL Draft, but one under-the-radar position that could be addressed is running back.

Breece Hall returned from injury and established himself as one of the best players at his position in the NFL. Hall finished fourth among all players in total scrimmage yards and should be seen as a focal point of the Jets' offense moving forward.

That said, the team doesn't have much depth and insurance behind him. Israel Abanikanda was used sparingly as a rookie and didn't impress when given the opportunity. That's why it would make sense for the Jets to sign a cheap veteran running back to serve as Hall's primary backup.

There are still quite a few intriguing and logical targets remaining on the market as well. Here are five veteran running backs — yes, including Ezekiel Elliott — the Jets could still sign in free agency.

5. The NY Jets could sign Latavius Murray

Running backs with the longevity of Latavius Murray are a rare breed in today's NFL. Originally a sixth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Murray has appeared in more than 150 career games over the last decade-plus in the league.

While the 34-year-old clearly isn't the player he used to be, he still proved he can fill a valuable role in 2023. Murray was the Buffalo Bills' primary backup behind James Cook last season, rushing for 300 yards and four touchdowns on 3.8 yards per carry.

This comes one season after he was the Denver Broncos' leading rusher under Nathaniel Hackett in 2022. Murray is a solid pass blocker and effective short-yardage back — both of which the Jets could use.

He's not someone who's going to take away many snaps from Hall, but he fills a role that Abanikanda doesn't right now as a short-yardage, third-down back. Murray would be a quality addition.

4. The NY Jets could sign Rashaad Penny

Rashaad Penny was a victim of the numbers game in Philadelphia last season, appearing in just three games after being buried on the depth chart. But when healthy, Penny has proven he can play at a very high level.

The former first-round pick has a career average of 5.6 yards per carry and was one of the most efficient running backs in football between 2021 and 2022. He rushed for 749 yards and six touchdowns on an NFL-best 6.3 yards per carry in 2021.

Unfortunately, after a hot five-game stretch to begin the 2022 season, Penny suffered a broken fibula which cut what was shaping up to be a Pro Bowl campaign short.

Penny never got a fair shake with the Eagles last season, but his numbers with the Seattle Seahawks are very impressive. Health remains his only prominent red flag.

3. The NY Jets could sign Kareem Hunt

Veteran running back Kareem Hunt re-signed with the Cleveland Browns last season following Nick Chubb's season-ending injury. Hunt split time with the young Jerome Ford, and while he finished the year with nine rushing touchdowns, his efficiency was quite bad.

The former Pro Bowler rushed for just 411 yards on a putrid 3.0 yards per carry. The underlying analytics don't paint a pretty picture, either, as Hunt's -0.75 RYOE (rushing yards over expected) ranked second-worst among all qualified running backs.

Hunt can still be productive as a short-yardage, goal-line back, but his days as an explosive big-play threat appear to be in the past. There are likely better options for the Jets on the open market.

The Jets ignored Dalvin Cook's declining efficiency metrics last year, relying on name value and box score production. Here's to hoping they don't make the same mistake again with Hunt.

2. The NY Jets could sign J.K. Dobbins

Few players have been as snakebitten with injuries over the last few years as J.K. Dobbins. The former second-round pick burst onto the scene as a rookie, leading all running backs with 6.0 yards per carry in his first NFL season.

That has proved to be the peak of Dobbins' career to this point. A torn ACL suffered in the final preseason game of 2021 sidelined him for the entire year, and he would go on to play in just eight games in 2022 as a result of another knee injury.

The hope was that Dobbins would return healthy in 2023 after another year of rehab. Unfortunately, the Ohio State product suffered a torn Achilles in the first game of the season, another devastating season-ending injury.

It's hard to know what Dobbins even has left in the tank at this point, but he reportedly grew quite close with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers over the last few months as the two spent time rehabbing together.

That alone makes him a logical buy-low target for the Jets.

1. The NY Jets could sign Ezekiel Elliott

Many Jets fans might have some form of PTSD when it comes to aging former Pro Bowl running backs after what happened with Dalvin Cook last year, but there are reasons to believe Ezekiel Elliott is a different situation.

Elliott clearly isn't the All-Pro talent he used to be, but that doesn't mean he can't still fill a valuable role for the Jets. The eight-year veteran remains an effective short-yardage and third-down back.

Elliott is a reliable pass catcher, dropping just two of his 65 targets last season. He's also a quality pass blocker and someone who can grind out tough yards between the tackles. That's the exact type of running back the Jets should be looking for.

Elliott complements Breece Hall's skill set in a way Cook never did, and while his efficiency numbers have definitely declined, he's still someone who can fill a role in the Jets' offense for the right price.