RB Chris Johnson regrets picking Jets over Ravens in 2014

With the choice between the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, former Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson chose poorly. And he knows it too.

While NFL free agency is a great opportunity for players to earn big contracts, especially for those coming off their rookie deals, it’s all too often a lesson in hindsight. Not every player makes the right decision, with some choosing more money over a better situation. That was the case for former NFL running back Chris Johnson, who tweeted his regret for not signing with the Baltimore Ravens following the 2013 season.

Johnson is right to regret his decision. After rushing for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns with the Tennessee Titans in 2013, Johnson entered free agency for the first time in his career. With the New York Jets and Ravens both showing interest, Johnson chose poorly. He ended up starting just six games of the 16 he was active for, splitting carries with Chris Ivory in New York. He accounted for just 663 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown before being cut the next offseason. Though Johnson bounced back slightly with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, he ultimately never reproduced the stats he had with the Titans.

For Baltimore, they turned their attention to journeyman running back Justin Forsett instead. Forsett had his first and only Pro Bowl season, rushing for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 44 passes for 263 yards. The performance earned Forsett a contract extension before flaming out with the Ravens three games into the 2016 season.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but it’s easy to see how the speedy Johnson would have fared well in Baltimore’s scheme. After using running back Ray Rice as both a rusher and receiving threat to great results for the previous five seasons, Johnson could have been used in a similar fashion. It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility Johnson would have earned a Pro Bowl nod and had one of his best seasons, propelling him to a stronger finish to his career.

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