Green Bay Packers

Eddie Lacy could wind up being a nice bargain in free agency

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:46 p.m. ET

Fansided, Sayre Bedinger/FanSided via NFL Mocks

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy could wind up being a nice bargain on free agency. Taking a look at what he needs to do to get back on track…

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy was already coming off of a down 2015 season before battling injuries in 2016 and basically wiping out his free agent value moving forward.

After two seasons to start his NFL career in Green Bay with over 1,000 yards rushing in each season and 24 total touchdowns, it appeared as though the former Alabama back was well on his way to NFL stardom before 2015 hit. In the 2015 season, Lacy saw his carries go down, rushing for just 758 yards and three touchdowns.

Then came 2016, where Lacy played in only five games, rushing for 360 yards. Lacy’s next touchdown will be his first since the 2015 season.

However, dating back to the 2015 postseason, Lacy has been running the ball quite well, at least on a yards per carry average. In the 2015 playoffs, Lacy averaged 6.3 yards per carry on 24 touches out of the backfield. He came out in 2016 and averaged 5.1 yards per carry in the Packers’ first five games, including a couple of really nice performances in wins against the Lions and Giants in which he ran for 184 yards on 28 total carries.

With Lacy set to hit free agency in March, I think he could be one of the best bargains available. Of course, my guess is that the Packers would like to find a way to keep him. After all, no one in the league knows Lacy better, and with his ankle issues flaring up and issues with his weight coming and going, the depth of knowledge of his situation is to the Packers’ advantage.

Still, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Green Bay let Lacy shop around a bit come time for free agency to start, and he could easily find himself the featured back again somewhere else. Imagine Lacy behind the offensive line of the Oakland Raiders, for instance…

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There will be suitors for Lacy, who will be 27 at the start of next season. He may not get a lucrative deal on the open market, but he could sign relatively on the cheap. That’s why I titled this article the way that I did, because I feel like Lacy could wind up being a nice little bargain in free agency.

Perhaps it’s unrealistic to expect Lacy to return to his 2014 form, but that back is in there somewhere. If he’s in shape and healthy, this guy is a top flight back. Heck, even when he’s not in premiere shape, he’s been doing a good job and showing superior quickness for a back that looks about 250 pounds in pads.

If I’m an NFL front office, I’d be contacting Lacy’s agent to find out what kind of shape he’s in, and what the price point might be for him. He could be a steal.