What is the best destination for Phillip Lindsay?

By: Jake Rajala

The undrafted running back Phillip Lindsay enters free agency at an interesting point in his career. Lindsay is 27 years old and coming off a career-low season in rushing yards (249). Lindsay will likely not have the opportunity to cash in on a new home in free agency, but It also isn’t expected that the 2015 Pro Bowl RB will be jumping up and down to reunite with the familiar Texans squad.

Lindsay may have not have evolved into the Broncos Hall of Fame RB Terrell Davis, but he can still hang his hat on two productive seasons in 2018 (1,037 rushing yds, 9 rushing tds) and 2019 (1,011 rushing yds, 7 rushing tds) in Mile High City. Lindsay was also on pace for a 1,000+ yard rushing season in 2020, as he obtained 502 yards in 8 games. He still has a few years left in the tank, as he’s only played four years in the big league.

I fully expect the inspirational story of Lindsay is far from finished and it will end on a good note. The question is: where will Lindsay land in his next chapter? Well, here are the most likely landing spots for the Texans quick RB.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills have Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, the ascending Gabriel Davis, and Dawson Knox. Yet, they still have a mediocre rushing attack led by Devin Singletary. The Bills third-year RB had a career season with 870 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. It’s still imminent that the Bills add more juice at the RB position.

The combination of Lindsay and Singletary would help the Bills offense really open and allow them to yield their will on opposing teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bills were dominant in time of possession last year (fifth in NFL), but there’s room for improvement in big moments. Another quality RB for the Bills mafia would help Allen’s workload become lighter and have a lesser risk of facing injury. Allen had 122 rushing attempts in 2021, which was more than Russell Wilson’s career-high rushing attempts in a season (118). Lindsay could help Allen in numerous ways and he would be chasing a Lombardi trophy immediately in Buffalo.

Denver Broncos

Lindsay could be listening to “roots” by Imagine Dragons leading up to the free agency period. He may be fascinated about going back to his home in Denver. There’s a need for Lindsay’s talent in Denver, too. The Broncos starting RB Melvin Gordon is a free agent in 2022 and it doesn’t look like they will bring the Wisconsin product.

They will be on the lookout for a RB to join Javonte Williams (903 yards, 4 touchdowns) in 2022. It wouldn’t only be poetic for Denver to Lindsay, but he’s arguably the best RB on the board for them in free agency. Lindsay may look to reunite with his ex-team on a prove-it deal and then look to cash in on a big deal during the 2023 offseason.

The Broncos and their new head coach Nathaniel Hackett (former Packers Offensive Coordinator) have been attempting to acquire Aaron Rodgers. They clearly appear to be very aggressive for another Super Bowl victory in the near future, too. If they are trying to recreate the offense they once held with Peyton Manning, they will look to add as much ammunition as possible and come out guns blazing in 2022.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers have lots of moolah (second-most in cap space) and Justin Herbert (5,014 passing yards), but they could use more explosion at their RB position. The Herbert-led Chargers offense was 21st in rushing YPG last season. They need more ammunition if they want to ground and pound their way against Patrick Mahomes twice a season for the next decade.

Austin Ekeler is a special player in the run and pass game (20 total touchdowns in 2021), but they need an upgrade behind their lead ball carrier. Justin Jackson only knocked out 364 rushing yards and two touchdowns in LA.

The Chargers could dream and afford to pair Ekeler and Lindsay together. The Chargers need a spark to get over the hump and Lindsay could certainly bring that extra spice. Herbert would have to take a big step forward with Lindsay and Ekeler, as the top RBs would easily formulate the top rushing tandem in the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals could look to add some swag this offseason, as they are AFC Champions and the NFL team with the fourth most cap space. They were 23rd in rushing yards last season and it’s clear Joe Mixon doesn’t want to be a one-man-band. The Bengals could be a very attractive destination for Lindsay. They have Joe Burrow, Mixon, and the 2021 Offensive Player of The Year Ja’Marr Chase. They certainly don’t need any WR help outside of Chase (Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd), but the running back talent behind Mixon could be improved. Samaje Perine registered 246 yards and 1 touchdown for the AFC victors last season. He will also be a free agent, so it appears that they won’t be jumping up and down to bring him back. They could happily aim to slot Lindsay in as the second RB.

Lindsay most likely wouldn’t start in Cincy, but he could be a big contributor as fresh legs in Zac Taylor’s offense. If the Bengals can improve their rushing attack then Joe Burrow should be getting teed off on a lot less. The Bengals gave up more sacks than all 31 teams last season. It’s also safe to say that an improved running game against the Rams would have helped them protect Burrow better, who was sacked by Von Miller twice and Aaron Donald twice.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks have seen the rise of Rashaad Penny (749 yards, 6 tds in 2021) but their backup running back Chris Carson is coming off neck surgery and a 2022 free agent. They could seek an upgrade with Lindsay in 2022. The Seahawks were Top 3 in rushing attempts in 2017 and 2018, but they have been outside of the Top 20 in rushing attempts in each of the last two seasons.

They may not have Marshawn Lynch performing beast quakes, but they can certainly aim to get back to mowing down defenses and helping Wilson with a more balanced effort. Wilson wasn’t necessarily running an insane amount of times when they were running the ball down every team’s throats in 2017 and 2018 (67 attempts in 2018/second-lowest in career). They don’t need their 33-year-old QB to carry their rushing attack on his legs, as well.

The Hawks need more talent on offense and they could get creative with adding a speed demon in Lindsay. Pete Carroll will have to get creative with offseason targets at RB/WR, as looking at pricey WRs is not on the table. Cordarralle Patterson would also be an interesting value target, as he can play RB and WR. The Seahawks had a down year in 2021, as they were last in the wild NFC West. The cap-strapped Seahawks need to figure out a way to get over the hump while retaining their future Hall of Fame QB.