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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Tyler Allgeier #25 of the Atlanta Falcons runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals didn’t do much to provide their fans with much promise for the 2026 season in free agency. All things considered, running back Tyler Allgeier is a player not to gloss over, though.
Allgeier, along with offensive guard Isaac Seumalo, are the standouts of the free agent class thus far. But those moves seem to indicate more emphasis toward the future, not necessarily the upcoming season in September.
As for Allgeier, his signing with the Cardinals is now being questioned, with the belief he may have landed on the wrong team, as Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton explains.
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Tyler Allgeier’s Fit With Cardinals Already Being Questioned
With the Atlanta Falcons, Allgeier had become second fiddle to Bijan Robinson after just one season, despite rushing for over 1,000 yards. That said, he was a clear candidate to find new digs in 2026, where he could potentially become a lead back.
Signing a two-year, $12.25 million deal with the Cardinals, Allgeier will get his chance — well, maybe. Moton’s concern comes from what was already in Arizona’s running back room to begin with.
“The Arizona Cardinals have a crowded running back room,” Moton wrote. “They restructured lead tailback James Conner’s contract and re-signed Bam Knight, who started in eight out of 12 games last year. Trey Benson has two more terms left on his deal.
“Unless the Cardinals trade Benson, Allgeier isn’t a necessary addition to their backfield. Both are limited in the passing game and handle most of their touches on early downs.
“Arizona has a four-man running back platoon, and Allgeier is unlikely to shine with strong competition for snaps.”
That’s probably the last thing Allgeier wants to hear after seeing his production steadily decline over the last three years. Once Robinson joined Atlanta in 2023, Allgeier’s rushing totals dropped to 683, 644 and 514 yards, respectively. Though, he did record a career-high eight rushing touchdowns last season.
Granted, there’s no Bijan Robinson in Arizona, but the fact he may have to share the workload with three other backs could once again limit his chances of becoming a true lead option and reaching the 1,000-yard mark.
Cardinals’ Crowded RB Room Could Limit Allgeier’s Impact
Starting with Conner, who will be 31 in May, he’s about to enter his 10th NFL season in 2026. After spending the first four years of his career with the Steelers, he has been a mainstay in Arizona over the last five seasons, with two of those surpassing the 1,000-yard mark.
Conner and the Cardinals agreed to a reworked deal for the final year of his contract. He was originally set to earn $6.39 million in 2026 with a cap hit of $9.83 million. According to Spotrac, his base salary now sits at $2.3 million with a cap hit of $4.8 million.
Benson, meanwhile, is just 23 and will be entering Year 3 after being selected No. 66 overall in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
And finally, Knight, who will turn 25 in April, returns for his second season with the Cardinals and fourth overall. He and Benson were forced into larger roles last season when Conner went down with a season-ending injury after just three games.
All of that creates a crowded and competitive backfield — one that could make it difficult for Allgeier to carve out the type of role he may have been seeking in free agency.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
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