Isaiah Crowell has found a new home. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the running back has agreed to a three-year deal with the Jets. It’s a three-year, $12M deal for Crowell, but it could be more like a one-year, $4MM pact, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) explains. The tailback has a $2MM injury guarantee which becomes fully guaranteed next March. After that, he’s due $4MM cash each year.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini tweets Crowell’s deal includes cap charges of $2 MM in 2018, $5 MM in 2019 and $5 MM in 2020, and includes a $3 MM signing bonus. His 2019 base salary ($4 MM) becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2019 league year.
Despite the presence of Bilal Powell, the Jets had previously been linked to several running backs (including Dion Lewis and Orleans Darkwa). They ultimately landed one of the top free agent options in Crowell, who was listed 41st overall (third among running backs) in Zach Links’ ranking of the top-50 free agents.
The 25-year-old has shown flashes during his brief career, including a 950-yard campaign in 2016. This past season, the former undrafted free agent out of Alabama State ran for 853 yards and two touchdowns on 206 attempts (4.1 yards per carry). He also hauled in another 28 receptions for 182 yards. Despite the modest numbers, Pro Football Focus wasn’t thrilled with his performance, ranking him 47th among 58 eligible running backs. While Crowell performed poorly in the receiving and blocking metrics, the rushing numbers are a bit more encouraging.
Crowell could conceivably slot into the top of the running back depth chart, although he’ll face some competition in Powell. The 29-year-old has rushed for at least 700 yards over the past two seasons, so the Jets have two solid options they can turn to. The team is also rostering Elijah McGuire, Jeremy Langford, Akeem Judd, and Jahad Thomas.
there’s the big free agent the Jets wanted….
Well at least they are spending some of that money. He should be a good fit for them. I’m actually surprised we haven’t heard Hyde get brought up at all. Wonder who will sign him.
Good riddance, Mr Underachiever.
He averaged roughly 4 yards a carry in Cleveland, I don’t really see how he underachieved. It doesn’t help that teams are most likely stacking the box and daring whichever QB was thrown out there to beat them.
And he was a college free agent. How can a CFA RB with 3,900 combined yards and 22 combined TD’s in four years be considered an underachiever?
Wasted salary cap on this move.
Hard to waste cap room when they’re struggling to even entertain FAs.
Still no reason to be careless for a backup RB. Can always draft a RB, too.
“Can always draft a RB, too.”
Personally, I think that bit of conventional wisdom is BS.
Exactly two running backs drafted since 2014, when Crowell entered the league, have gained more yards on the ground than Crowell: Todd Gurley and Devonta Freeman.
Exactly one drafted back with four years of experience has averaged more yards on the ground per year than Crowell: Freeman. With three years of experience, two: Gurley and Melvin Gordon.
Crowell’s pretty damn good, and it’s not so easy to replace a pretty damn good back, with either a draftee or a college free agent.
he would have been backing up Barkley.
With the Giants?