Bills Should Sign Ex Rams RB Darrell Henderson Jr., New Analysis Says
As the Buffalo Bills look to finally get over the hump and reach the Super Bowl in 2023, a new article suggests that the team could still benefit from adding another running back before the campaign begins.
No, it's not four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook, the older brother of Bills' running back James Cook. Instead, Pro Football Focus says that the Bills would be wise to sign veteran free agent Darrell Henderson Jr.
"2022 second-round pick James Cook looks to be the leader of this backfield going forward, but the Bills still need an early-down bruiser who can lower his shoulder and fall forward behind a good push from the offensive line," PFF writes. "Buffalo is now one of two teams in the NFL with more than $300 million in cash spending for 2023, so while adding James Cook’s brother Dalvin or another wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins would be flashier, a more under-the-radar move could be more prudent."
Henderson Jr. split the 2022 season between the Los Angeles Rams and Jaguars, but never got a carry in Jacksonville's offense. In four seasons with the Rams, Henderson averaged 4.4 yards per carry and totaled 1,742 rushing yards.
Could adding Henderson Jr. to a running back room that already includes the younger Cook, Damien Harris, Latavius Murray and Nyheim Hines benefit the Bills? Maybe.
But if the Bills are truly intent on limiting how frequently they rely on quarterback Josh Allen to run the ball -- at least in the regular season -- getting greedy at the running back position might make some sense. And for as much as the Bills appear to have improved their depth at the position, if they could add the older Cook, that might be the move that pushes them over the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals in a loaded AFC.
There's been some speculation that Dalvin wouldn't want to take carries away from James, a second-round pick that ran for 507 yards on just 89 carries in his rookie season. But would joining the division-rival New York Jets or Miami Dolphins and potentially helping to keep his brother out of the playoffs be that much better? From here, pairing up the Cook brothers -- even if it's only for a season -- would be exciting and finally alleviate some of the pressure that's been heaped on Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
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