5 elite NFL running backs (Saquon Barkley!) who will likely avoid the franchise tag before free agency

This year’s NFL free agency will get started before you know it next month, and there might not be a position group as stacked as running back this year.

Five of the NFL’s best running backs who probably won’t receive the franchise tag and could very well hit free agency in March if they do not negotiate new deals with their teams.

It’s not often you get this many Pro Bowl-caliber running backs hitting free agency at the same time, and NFL teams needing a quality starter will have some fantastic options available to sign if they start testing the waters.

Let’s take a look at who these five players, at various stages of “no” in their franchise tag status, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.