In just days, the NFL will begin their 2023 league year, and players with expiring contracts will be able to sign with new teams if they so choose.
For the Miami Dolphins, they have 31 players from their 2022 roster that are set to hit the market, as restricted, unrestricted or exclusive rights free agents, including running Raheem Mostert.
Mostert, 31, followed head coach Mike McDaniel to Miami last year after spending over five years as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. The two had a particularly close connection due to McDaniel’s role as run-game coordinator before his elevation to offensive coordinator in 2021.
Prior to his time with the 49ers, Mostert played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, as well as a quick stint with the Dolphins previously.
In 2022, Mostert played in 16 games for just the second time in his career, putting up a career-high 891 rushing yards on 4.9 yards per carry, while finding the end zone three times. He also was effective in the receiving game, catching 31 passes for 202 yards and another two touchdowns.
While he’s past the dreaded 30th birthday for a running back, Mostert doesn’t exactly have the miles on his legs that other backs do. He’s rushed only 465 times since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Purdue in 2015. That’s just 116 carries more than Derrick Henry, who led the league in attempts, had just this season.
At the same time, Mostert has dealt with a number of injuries, which is what’s kept him off of the field. However, when he’s out there, he’s one of the most efficient backs in NFL history. He doesn’t have the required number of carries, but if he did, his career 5.4-yards-per-attempt average would be tied for fifth all-time.
The Dolphins don’t have a single running back on the roster, at this time, so they’ll need to make a couple of signings or draft picks to fill the roles. They haven’t been known to sign high-priced free agents or use top draft selections on the position, so Mostert would be a strong option for re-signing. Miami could probably entice him with a two-year contract that pays him less than what they gave to Chase Edmonds last year ($6.05 million annually).
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