Former fifth-round draft pick running back Kenneth Gainwell will become a free agent after the postseason. According to one source, as many free agents as the Philadelphia Eagles have, they believe Gainwell could be one of those not returning to the roster. Originally selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, the former Memphis product came into the league hoping to be a reliable halfback, teaming with Darren Sproles as the roster’s consultant. He had somewhat a decent rookie season, recording 68 carries for 291 yards, five touchdowns while adding 33 receptions for 253 yards and a touchdown.
However, even though he found some success in the 2022 postseason helping Eagles in the Super Bowl loss, it was never enough to be a capable starter. After that, Gainwell got off to a slow start, receiving criticism for the underperforming season, but still recording 84 carries for 364 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Since Saquon Barkley will become the starter for the long term after signing a deal with the Eagles this past offseason, this opens opportunities for others like rookie Will Shipley to emerge as the backup.
While the Eagles may want to bring in Gainwell for one more year until Shipley adjusts to the league, it might not happen as he could have an interesting market this March.
Sunday Could Be Last Game For Kenneth Gainwell entering 2025 as a Free Agent – Chargers, Chiefs Among Possible Next Teams
Possible Next Fits
Los Angeles Chargers
Nobody loves the the ground game more than head coach John Harbaugh, however, they may prioritize the passing attack for quarterback Justin Herbert. The Chargers are solid but nowhere near spectacular since they were a first-round exit in the 2025 playoffs. However, the team will be in the market for a new running back, and if J.K. Dobbins doesn’t come back, they should sign Gainwell for relief. Gus Edwards is still on for one more year so perhaps, they could release him in favor of bringing back Dobbins to team with Gainwell since he had more of an efficient 2024 campaign.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs were without their starting running back Isiah Pacheco and had to scramble for answers midseason. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn’t the same but that could’ve been because he was without Pacheco to boost his momentum to cut outside to find the next reliable man in the aerial attack. Veteran Kareem Hunt was a solid temporary option but it might not be enough for the longevity of the team’s ground game. Pacheco will need backup either way to keep him fresh for the playoffs for years to come, so maybe Gainwell could be nothing more but a reliable chain-mover to do just that.
Baltimore Ravens
Just like the Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens will need some backup help since signing Derrick Henry, who’s been impressive in helping boost the momentum for Lamar Jackson. However, Keaton Mitchell coming back in the lineup didn’t make a difference in what the Ravens are looking for. Gainwell is no superstar like Barkley but he wouldn’t need to be as he can just be another body to help in red zone possessions.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have their faith in quarterback Bryce Young just like running back Chuba Hubbard who they’ve extended this past year. The bad news for Carolina is they’ll be without rookie Jonathon Brooks longer before seeing how he fits into this offensive scheme. The team will likely trade Miles Sanders this upcoming free agency so they could use a Gainwell as a temporary replacement until Brooks is back to full health.
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