The NFL is now through three weeks of the season after an exciting slate of games on Sunday and after some teams dealt with issues at running back, there is a chance that free agent Michael Turner could get some interest, as could free agent wideout Brandon Lloyd after what happened to the San Diego Chargers and Malcom Floyd.
The Browns already made their move by signing Willis McGahee after the Trent Richardson trade, opting not to go for Joe McKnight or Turner or even someone like Beanie Wells. McGahee was coming off of a knee injury with the Broncos when they cut him, but the Browns felt comfortable signing him instead.
Turner is one of the most notable names left on the market after the New York Giants signed Brandon Jacobs to help after David Wilson's fumbling issues, but unlike McGahee, Turner did not get a tryout with the team. The Giants also tried out former Cardinals running back Beanie Wells but opted to bring in Jacobs as a mentor to Wilson, as he was familiar with the playbook and the offense after playing with the team for a number of years and winning two Super Bowls.
The Giants felt they needed to add a veteran running back after David Wilson lost two fumbles in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and that came after he did the same with one fumble last year in the season opener against Dallas. Wilson is still being used in a major role for the Giants, but the team was not comfortable moving forward without a veteran on the active roster after losing Andre Brown to a broken leg in the preseason, a crucial injury for the Giants.
Turner was released by the Atlanta Falcons earlier in the offseason as a financial move and because the team felt his skills were declining as a feature back in the NFL. Turner is getting old for a running back and he is also coming off his worst season with the Falcons after he rushed for just 800 yards and that is likely why he still remains a free agent. Turner could fit in a few different places that needs a solid veteran running back and while he is older, he still was one of the most productive players at his position for a time in the NFL.
Turner rushed for nearly 1,700 yards in his first season with the Falcons and he went over 1,300 in three of his five years with the team. Turner has been very durable in his career and has played in all 16 games in four of five seasons while playing for the Falcons and even with his low of 800 yards last season, he still had a nose for the endzone and scored 10 rushing touchdowns. Turner has scored double digit touchdowns in each of his five seasons with the Falcons and any team that has issues down at the goal line should take a look at him.
Jonathan Dwyer was another free agent running back that was on the market, but after leading the Steelers in rushing last season, the team decided to sign him back after dealing with injuries at the position. The Steelers lost rookie Le'Veon Bell to a foot injury and with LaRod Stephens-Howling getting injured as well the team decided to sign Dwyer, taking him off the market. McGahee was released by the Broncos and he could be a solid addition for the Browns.
