DeMarco Murray is a superstar. The Dallas Cowboys reaped Murray’s talent for the past four years while he was on a rookie contract, and now the jig is up. Murray is set to become an unrestricted free-agent after churning out a league-best 1,845 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns.
Murray has two consecutive seasons of 1,000+ yards to his name and a career 4.8 yards per carry average. However, Murray might be looking for a new home in 2015, with the Cowboys tight against the salary cap. Dallas also has receiver Dez Bryant to sign, a proposition which could cost in excess of $100 million. In the league’s current state of pass-first and pass-second, Murray falls behind Bryant on the priority sheet.
If Murray indeed hits the free-agent market, there will be no shortage of teams hoping to sign him. It should be stated Murray does have a few red flags. The 26-year-old is coming off a campaign with an NFL-high 392 carries, the most since Larry Johnson in 2006. Murray has also only played one full 16-game season and still has a fumbling problem, losing four in 2014.
Still, the calls will be coming fast and furious to Murray’s agent. One team which figures to be interested is the Indianapolis Colts. General manager Ryan Grigson went all-in when he traded for Trent Richardson in 2013, sending a first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns. The deal has been a disaster for Indianapolis, with Richardson amassing 977 yards in 29 games, averaging a putrid 3.1 yards per carry.
Richardson’s days appear over with the Colts after he was suspended two games following their loss in the AFC Championship for personal reasons. The suspension also voids $3.18 million of guaranteed money, making a release even more likely. Additionally, Indianapolis fired running backs coach David Walker, and has a projected $33.25 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.
Murray would have to be intrigued if the Colts come calling. Indianapolis plays in a dome and its division opponents all hail from warm-weather cities, meaning good field conditions. The Colts are also a Super Bowl contender every year because of Andrew Luck, whose presence will also give Murray light boxes to run against.
Another team to keep in mind are the Oakland Raiders. Oakland has $56.1 million in cap space, second only to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Murray is from Nevada and might be interested in going West. The Raiders are rebuilding but have a talented young quarterback in Derek Carr and a solid head coach in Jack Del Rio. Oakland might be willing to outbid the competition for a cornerstone such as Murray.
Also keep an eye on the Atlanta Falcons. General manager Thomas Dimitroff is on the clock after a pair of disappointing seasons and has a penchant for signing high-profile backs in Michael Turner and Steven Jackson. The Falcons have a bevy of offensive firepower with quarterback Matt Ryan along with receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones. With over $23.5 million in projected space, Atlanta could make the splash with Murray.
