Mark Ingram Free Agency Fits: Bills, Colts, Cardinals

Former Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama, Mark Ingram has endured an up and down NFL career up to this point. The once first round pick has not had many opportunities to showcase his talents in a pass happy New Orleans offense until this season. In nine starts Ingram totaled 965 yards and nine touchdowns for the Saints.

Ingram’s health has been a concern throughout his NFL career missing numerous games due to different injuries. A team could get a significant boost for cheap with the addition of Mark Ingram to their backfield. He has shown promise at spots through his years in New Orleans but people want to see what he can do outside a predominately passing offense. Here are some teams who could be interested in Mark Ingram.

Buffalo Bills

Mark Ingram could be the perfect fit for Rex Ryan and his ground and pound offense. C.J. Spiller is a free agent and Fred Jackson is flat out old. Ingram is an ideal fit for Rex Ryan and Greg Roman’s between the tackles running scheme. Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman will mainly focus on the run game in Buffalo and adding a new weapon like Ingram in the backfield could be beneficial.

Buffalo has plenty of cap space and Rex Ryan has shown he is not afraid to let his teams spend money on running backs. If Ingram were to join Buffalo and stay healthy the Bills got themselves a steal. Ingram would fit perfectly alongside Rex in Buffalo.

Indianapolis Colts

The Trent Richardson experiment has failed horribly for the Colts. Indianapolis needs to improve their running game if they want seriously contend for years to come. Ingram would fit that mold well. The Colts have plenty of cap space and are going to have to address the run game. A running game will only benefit Andrew Luck and the Colts. Indianapolis needs a running back who attacks the hole and gains yardage, something that Trent Richardson did not do.

Ingram can be the running back they thought they were getting with Richardson, a tough, hard nosed runner who doesn’t shy away from contact. An effective running back could really make this team scary and a Super Bowl contender for years to come. If Ingram can provide anything positive, it would be an upgrade to what they had in Richardson.

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Arizona Cardinals

Andre Ellington sustained multiple injuries last year and showed he wasn’t very effective as a every down back. With the addition of Mark Ingram Arizona could form a thunder and lightning duo in their backfield. Ellington is a much better third down back then he was starting. Ingram could add the positive run game Arizona desperately needed last year while having a passing option in Ellington as a backup.

The Cardinals were second to last in rushing yards so adding Ingram will only improve on that. Arizona needs to address the rushing game in some way with the cap space they have. Bruce Arians is one of the league’s best coaches and getting a hold of Ingram could be the best thing to ever happen to the former Heisman Trophy winner.

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