Isaiah Crowell, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Undrafted out of college, Isaiah Crowell signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent and appeared in 16 games each of his four years with the organization, from the 2014 season through the 2017 campaign. He started four contests for the Browns as a rookie, carrying the ball 148 times for 607 yards and eight touchdowns. He became the featured back in the Browns’ offense for the 2016 campaign, and started all 16 games for Cleveland, rushing for a career-high 952 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He started all 16 games for the Browns again in 2017, rushing for 853 yards on 206 carries for a pair of scores.
He parlayed that success to a contract with the New York Jets, signing a three-year deal in March of 2018 worth $12 million dollars. As the season began he split time with Bilal Powell in the Jets’ backfield, and despite rushing for 102 yards in New York’s season opener against the Detroit Lions – and a franchise record 219 yards in a Week 5 victory over the Denver Broncos, he did not start for the Jets until Week 8. He suffered a toe injury during a Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills, and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
Exactly a year after signing his deal with the Jets, the team released him, having acquired Le’Veon Bell via free agency.
Free to go elsewhere, Crowell signed with the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders on a one-year deal. Unfortunately, he never saw the field for the Raiders, tearing his Achilles last April.
When healthy, Crowell has a very impressive blend of power, burst and vision as a ball carrier. While he is best suited as more of a downhill runner in a gap/power scheme, he can also function in a zone-blocking offense as he can make quick reads with his eyes, put his foot in the ground and make that “one cut and go” read that is necessary in such a blocking scheme. His record-setting day against the Broncos highlights what he brings to the table, including some impressive change-of-direction moments:
Isaiah Crowell's Huge Day w/ 231 Total Yards & 2 TDs #Raiders pic.twitter.com/oICmRRspE6
— The Don (@RaiderGuru) March 28, 2019
It is unlikely that a team would look to make him the featured back in their offense, but Crowell can immediately be a team’s number two back with the ability to contribute in both gap/power and zone running schemes. An ideal fit for him might be with the Buffalo Bills, where he can serve as the “thunder” to Devin Singletary’s “lightning.”
(Unless, of course, the ageless Frank Gore serves in that role once again).