After 6 seasons with the Tennessee Titans, the club has decided to release RB Chris Johnson. Johnson was due to make $8 million this upcoming season, saving the Titans $6 million in cap space but he will account for $4 million in 2014.
Although this move comes after the signing of Dexter McCluster and already having Shonn Green in the backfield, Chris Johnson is arguably the most durable running back in the league. In his time with the Titans, Johnson accumulated nearly eight thousand rushing yards and over two thousand in the air. All of this was achieved while missing only one game, which came in his rookie season.
In 2013, the former All-Pro rushed for 1,077 yards and a career low of 3.9 yards per carry. To add on top of that, Johnson will be coming off of knee surgery for a torn meniscus that was performed this past January. He definitely has time to recover, if he hasn’t already. The next question is, who would be the most suitable team for a running back that has shown some struggles in recent years?
A team that has turned a sharp eye at the 28-year old rusher is the New York Jets. With the 2nd most money left in cap space at $29 mil, the Jets are looking for a solid first string running back. Chris Ivory lead the Jets with 833 rushing yards and 4.6 yards per carry while their QB Geno Smith led them with 6 rushing scores.
This could potentially set up a great situation for Johnson. His running game would be complimented by a possibly revamped Jets offense. With a very young quarterback in Geno Smith, the Jets also added Jacoby Ford and Eric Decker.
The Jets aren’t the only AFC East team that have taken a look at Johnson. Sources claim that both the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills were the closest to possibly reaching trade deals for Johnson before he was released, which is why the Titans held onto him until Friday. As to how close they were is still up in the air.