Top NFC Team Could Trade For New Featured Running Back

After signing running back D’Andre Swift to a major deal, nobody should be surprised if the Chicago Bears try and trade Khalil Herbert. Right now, Chicago has three starting-caliber running back in Swift, Herbert, and second-year pro Roschon Johnson. Seeing as Swift has the biggest paycheck and Johnson still has three years of team control, Herbert will likely be the odd-man out.

Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Bears could try and trade Khalil Herbert, as he’s probably going to depart following the 2024 season. The former sixth-round pick has performed well throughout his career, demonstrating an ability to make plays as both a runner and a receiver. While the Bears might not have a use for him, one other team could be willing to invest in the Virginia Tech product.

The Dallas Cowboys need a new running back, and Bleacher Report believes that America’s Team could fill that void with a Khalil Herbert trade. With this is anything but official, it’s easy to see why such a deal would make sense for both sides.

Dallas Cowboys Named Favorites In Potential Khalil Herbert Trade

The Cowboys went one-and-done in the playoffs and have done shockingly little to improve their team. Despite bringing Mike McCarthy back for another year, owner and de-facto general manager Jerry Jones has refrained from adding outside talent to the building. Tony Pollard signed with the Titans, and Dallas could trade for Khalil Herbert to be the new starter. While the current Bear might not be a superstar, he’s better than Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn.

In a typical year, one could assume that the Cowboys were planning on addressing the position in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, this crop of running backs is one of the worst in recent memory, and there’s only one or two that project to be starting-caliber backs. If the Cowboys miss out on their top target, then they could pivot and trade a late-round pick for Khalil Herbert.

Khail Herbert is not going to net a large return in a trade, which means several teams should be at least passively interested in throwing a dart on the elusive running back. Only time will tell if a deal actually gets done, but these teams feel like the most likely landing spots.

Possible Cowboys RB Draft Target

Possible Destinations

Los Angeles Chargers

Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are both hoping to build a run-first offense that opens up throwing lanes in the passing game. However, they’ll have a tough time doing that with Gus Edwards as their primary running back. Edwards is a reliable straight-line runner and short-yardage specialist, but he lacks the speed and athleticism to break plays out wide. Khalil Herbert could be the home run threat for this offense, and a trade could give Los Angeles a talented low-cost backfield.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals effectively swapped Joe Mixon for Zack Moss, but they shouldn’t count on the former Colt handling all of Mixon’s work. Moss has never been a full 17-game starter and this team could trade for a running back like Khalil Herbert to ease his workload. Together, these two can be a solid 1-2 punch for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

Cleveland Browns

In a perfect world, Nick Chubb will return to the field looking like his old self. In reality, however, that’s far from a given. Chubb suffered a gruesome injury last year and, even if he can pull off a 100% recovery, he’s not getting any younger. It shouldn’t take much more than a sixth-round pick to trade for Khalil Herbert, which is a price well worth paying considering Cleveland’s uncertain backfield.

Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Henry will be Baltimore’s unquestioned starter in 2024, but he can’t handle every single snap. Somebody will have to spell him at some point, and Khalil Herbert is a perfect trade candidate. While Keaton Mitchell showed some promise as a rookie, he’s coming off of a season-ending knee injury and the Ravens shouldn’t put too much faith in him. Mitchell and Herbert have similar ceilings, but Herbert has a much higher floor.

 Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are stuck with Miles Sanders on their roster, but they don’t have to start him. Chuba Hubbard has done well filling in as a starter, but he’s better off in a depth role. Khalil Herbert would probably be the best running back on the team, and a trade would make life a bit easier for Bryce Young.