Running back C.J. Anderson is quickly drawing interest on the restricted free agency market.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Patriots, Dolphins, 49ers, and Bears already have expressed interest in man who currently is the best tailback on the Denver roster.
The Broncos tendered Anderson at the lowest level, giving them only a right to match any offer Anderson signs elsewhere.
If a team signs Anderson to an offer sheet, the Broncos will have five days to match. If they don’t, Anderson will change teams — and the Broncos will get no compensation.
The Dolphins make sense because they’ve lost Lamar Miller, and because Anderson played for coach Adam Gase when Gase ran the Denver offense. The Bears make sense because coach John Fox was Anderson’s first coach in Denver. The Patriots make sense because quarterback Tom Brady has praised Anderson, who has fought and worked his way to relevance as an undrafted guy — and possibly because Anderson delivered an overtime dagger to the Patriots in the regular season last November.