10 most improved position groups in the 2021 NFL off-season

#2 Running backs – New York Jets

Running backs

The 49ers deserve to be mentioned here for getting a sneaky-good Wayne Gallman for a million dollars and two rookies I liked quite a bit. But this really was a two-team race I would say, simply because the Jets and Falcons had the two worst groups of running backs last season.

I love the additions of Mike Davis, after what he showed as a featured back in Carolina in the absence of Christian McCaffrey last season. Louisville’s Javian Hawkins from the UDFA market could be an explosive complement to Davis.

However, I really believe when you look at a backfield, where 37-year-old Frank Gore accounted for more rushing yards than the next three backs combined, they desperately needed some juice at that position. And the best thing for them is that they gave up no more than a fourth-round pick to acquire my RB4 in the draft in North Carolina’s Michael Carter Jr.

He is a perfect fit for this zone-run heavy offense that new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is bringing over from San Francisco. Carter is somebody who could press the front side and get out to the edges and also has a superb vision for cutback lanes.

Moreover, he was the best pass-catching back in this class and has the ability to give rookie Zach Wilson a dump-off option. He can consistently make the first man miss. Yet, even before that, they signed Tevin Coleman on a deal worth a maximum of two million dollars after he was fighting through nicks and bruises last season.

However, Coleman has been working under Kyle Shanahan almost his entire career and is very well-versed in this offensive system. That would be great for this young room of RBs as long as he can stay healthy.

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Notable Mentions: Atlanta Falcons (Mike Davis & Javian Hawkins)