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When thinking of guys who would fit the mold, I'm thinking of folks who would be dual threats. Here is my my top 3 FA that I think would do a fantastic job in orange and blue.
1) Maurice Jones-Drew
Had a down year finally. He failed to reach 1000 yards rushing and registered only a 3.4 yards per carry average. In 15 games he averaged just over 15 attempts per game. To his credit he still had the likes of Chad Henne and heavy box counts to help thwart his efforts.
I'm not sure if you could rely on MJD to be a workhorse anymore, but he is still a playmaker, and one who should come cheap at the twilight of his career.
Last year Drew brought home about 7.6 million. If the Broncos could find a way to sign him on a 1-2 year deal for no more than 3 million per season, I say give it a shot!.
2) Donald Brown
Even after the laughable trade Indy made for TR 3.0, Donald Brown remained the most productive back in the Colt backfield. He's a throwback to the Manning days and has a lot left in the tank given his previous usage. Brown would make a nice change of pace back or a great #2 with Montee Ball. Last season he averaged 5.3 yards per carry and caught 27 balls.
Last year Brown made close to $2 million. Unlike Drew who might take a paycut to play for a contender, Brown is in the prime of his career and might be looking for a serious shot to be the man somewhere in the NFL.
3) Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Brown would be the cheapest of the dual threats on the running back market. He is entering his 10th NFL season after three straight seasons with less than 50 carries. His skillset could still do some damage and his veteran presence would be welcomed in any NFL locker room.
Last year Brown made about 1.05 million which would be close to the veteran minimum he would make in 2014.
Wild Card
Toby Gerhart
Toby averaged an astonishing 7.9 yards per carry last season on a very limited 36 carries. Going back throughout his young career, Gerhart has 276 attempts for 1305 yards (4.7 yards per carry). He also has some receiving skills catching almost 20 balls per season for a 7.8 average.
Last season Toby made a touch more than 900K and could expect a moderate raise depending on interest. If I were Denver, I would certainly take a long look.
My Take
I would sign MJD if the price were right, but would look very hard at Toby Gerhart especially if my other options were Donald and Ronnie Brown.
What would you do MHR?