Leon Washington

Cut by the Patriots, Washington is likely to catch on elsewhere as a return specialist.

Returning from a gruesome compound leg fracture, Washington received just 27 carries with his new team in Seattle last year, though he did post a 6.3 YPC mark, and he also returned three kickoffs for scores. Washington is typically viewed as a situational back, but it would be interesting to see what he could do with a bigger workload, especially one more year removed from his injury. It’s not like Marshawn Lynch is anything special, and Justin Forsett is best used sparingly.

Entering last year, Washington looked like one of the league’s more underutilized backs with plenty of potential. While hardly a workhorse, he was given a career-high 12 carries per game before suffering a gruesome compound fracture to his leg in Week 7. While he had yet to score a touchdown, Washington entered that game on pace to finish the season with 1,232 total yards, so his production clearly warranted the added touches by the new Jets’ coaching staff. Still, Washington was traded to Seattle during the offseason — practically given away for just a fifth round pick. One reason is Washington’s impending status as a free agent, the other is that there’s a very real concern about the injury, which required a metal rod being placed into his leg. If he can buck the odds and return to his old self in 2010 (unlikely), Washington would be a huge sleeper in Seattle’s backfield. But there’s plenty of competition there, and he’s likely to lose a step after fracturing both his tibia and fibula.

Washington averaged 5.9 YPC, was highly effective as a receiver out of the backfield and scored eight touchdowns last season, but for some reason, the coaching staff thought that merited a measly 76 carries. Washington got double-digit rushing attempts during just two games in 2008. With a new coaching regime in New York that figures to be more run-heavy, Washington could be seen as a sleeper with the potential for more touches. Unfortunately, that outlook vanished when the team traded up to draft Shonn Greene in the third round, relegating Washington to his usual change-of-pace role.

Despite averaging 5.0 YPC last season, Washington was inexplicably given just 71 carries, as the brunt of the work went to Thomas Jones and his 3.6 YPC. Washington, who is 5-8, isn’t suited to a feature-back role, but he should see at least 10-15 touches a week, especially with such thoroughly mediocre alternatives in the team's backfield. He's an effective receiver and would see a huge boost in value if Thomas Jones were to suffer an injury.

At only 5-8, 202, Washington was a surprise to start eight games for the Jets last season. He’s not an option at the goal line but is a threat in the receiving game, and with New York’s acquisition of Thomas Jones, Washington enters 2007 as the team’s third-down back. Since he proved capable when given the opportunity, and Washington likely would be heavily involved if Jones were to go down. With Kevan Barlow and Cedric Houston no longer in the picture, Washington's spot as the team's No. 2 back is secure.

The Jets need running backs to step up given the iffy status of Curtis Martin, so Washington could enter the mix at some point as a rookie. Washington was a versatile back at Florida state, showing decent hands and a nice balance of speed and power, but critics feel he slipped as a senior and wonder if he's big enough to take the every-pound pounding in the pros. He's been compared to Dominic Rhodes of the Colts. Entering training camp Washington is behind Martin, Cedric Houston and Derrick Blaylock on the depth chart, but the Jets are curious about this rookie and so are we.