It’s been hard to find anyone predicting a return to Oakland for running back Darren McFadden in 2014, but that doesn’t mean that the door on a return has been closed.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports that McFadden’s agent plans to meet with the Raiders in Indianapolis on Saturday to discuss what, if any, future his client might have with the team that drafted him fourth overall in 2008. General Manager Reggie McKenzie has already indicated that he expects McFadden to hit free agency next month so there may not be much chance of a preemptive strike from the team, but a less robust market than McFadden might like could possibly lead to a return.
One team that could throw itself into the bidding for McFadden is the Bengals. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson coached McFadden in Oakland and has called the back one of his favorite players, which has led to speculation that McFadden could join Giovani Bernard in the Cincinnati backfield.
Other teams are going to be looking for backs to round out their backfields, but it is hard to imagine anyone offering McFadden a bigger role after he’s missed at least three games in every season of his professional career.