The calendar has flipped to June, OTAs are nearly complete and there's still a lot of running back talent waiting to find a home for the 2023 NFL season.

Such is life for RBs right now. A deep free-agent and draft class has created a logjam that felt inevitable before the offseason even started.

Veteran backs such as Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette are now feeling the strain.

These aren't backs who have proved they are over the hill. These are players who were productive just last season. Elliott had 968 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns for the Cowboys, Hunt accumulated 678 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns, and Fournette was still a weapon in the passing game with over 500 yards receiving in 2022.

It's hard to imagine these names are really going to go unsigned before the 2023 campaign kicks off.

As teams make their final adjustments to rosters after OTAs, it's a good time to take stock of who is available and where they make sense based on their skill set and running back depth around the league.

Ezekiel Elliott: Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys saying "so long" to Ezekiel Elliott was not really about the player, it was about the contract.

Dallas' six-year, $90 million pact with the 27-year-old was a major financial commitment. Continuing to pay him on that deal was not a viable strategy moving forward, releasing him from it and designating him a post-June 1 cut saved the franchise $10.9 million against the cap in 2023 and $9.2 million in 2024.

Coincidentally, the money saved in the first year is the same amount the club will pay Tony Pollard on the franchise tag, so cutting Elliott paid for Pollard's tag this season.

In a recent SportsCenter appearance, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said: "Dallas has not shut the door on a potential reunion. They would be open to talks if Ezekiel Elliott wanted to circle back with them and come back to Dallas."

Elliott ultimately returning to Dallas is reminiscent of what happened with Fletcher Cox in Philadelphia last season. The Eagles cleared some cap space by making him a post-June 1 cut and then re-signed him to a one-year deal.

So far, the Cowboys' moves to replace Elliott include signing Ronald Jones II and drafting Deuce Vaughn. The former only appeared in six games for the Chiefs last season with 17 carries, while the latter (5'5", 179 pounds) doesn't have the kind of frame to take on Elliott's role.

Who says you can't go home? Elliott's best and most realistic landing spot remains the most familiar one.

Kareem Hunt: Washington Commanders

Of all the backs who are still left on the market, Kareem Hunt is the most surprising.

The Toledo product is just a year removed from averaging 4.9 yards per carry, has yet to turn 28 and has less wear on the tires after serving as Nick Chubb's sidekick the last four years.

Before Hunt excelled as a secondary back in Cleveland, he showcased his skills in Kansas City. His rookie 2017 season with the Chiefs remains his best work, with 1,782 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns.

Eric Bieniemy was the running backs coach for the Chiefs then. He took over as offensive coordinator in 2018 when Hunt racked up 1,202 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 games.

Now that Bieniemy is running the offense in Washington, it might be time for a reunion.

The Commanders have Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson in place and drafted Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the sixth round. However, Gibson and Robinson each averaged less than four yards per carry, and Rodriguez has limited experience as a pass-catcher (20 receptions in college).

Hunt averaged just 3.8 yards per carry but ranked 17th in juke rate, per Player Profiler. He still has the ability to make defenders miss and Bieniemy didn't bring in either Robinson or Gibson.

If Bieniemy isn't confident in either of his veterans, then Hunt would make a lot of sense.

Leonard Fournette: Kansas City Chiefs

There's an interesting tidbit that kind of gets forgotten when it comes to Leonard Fournette's release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 28-year-old actually requested it, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

"Winning is everything," Fournette said. "That's all. And in my last three years here, that's all we've done. But since my guy (Tom Brady) left, that's why I came, so my time here was up."

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told media at the NFL combine that he still believed Fournette has "several years" left as a three-down back in the league.

The numbers tell a different story. He was 147th in EPA and 38th in juke rate, per Player Profiler. His best work came as a pass-catcher where he led all running backs in catch rate at 88 percent.

The best fit for Fournette is a contender that can use him as part of a committee where he can utilize his pass-catching ability.

If he's looking for a contender, it doesn't get better than the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. In terms of a role, the question is whether Fournette is better than Jerick McKinnon. The 31-year-old served as their primary pass-catching back last season.

As they look for every advantage over their AFC counterparts, it wouldn't hurt to give Fournette a shot to compete in camp.

Darrell Henderson: New York Giants

The New York Giants didn't have much need for running back depth last season. Brian Daboll's inaugural campaign and better injury luck helped Saquon Barkley reach new heights.

Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell—the next two running backs on the depth chart—had just 85 combined carries last season.

However, putting all the eggs in the Barkley basket is a risky strategy. As electrifying as the 26-year-old is when healthy, he has already dealt with an ACL tear and multiple ankle ailments in his five-year NFL career.

The Giants would be wise to find a back who can be trusted to take some reps throughout the season and keep Barkley fresh after logging 295 carries last season.

Darrell Henderson could fit that bill. He'll be 26 when the season starts and reportedly worked out for the Giants in December after being cut by the Los Angeles Rams in November.

He was a productive member of the Rams backfield in 2020 and 2021. He gained over 600 yards on the ground while averaging 4.5 and 4.6 yards per carry, respectively.

The Memphis product led L.A. in rushing at the time of his release but was losing carries to Cam Akers and Kyren Williams.

Given what Daboll did to help revive Barkley's career, he could have the same effect on a smaller scale with Henderson.

Best of the Rest

Darrel Williams: Baltimore Ravens

Williams' stint with the Arizona Cardinals was a bust. His production was scarce in six games, and he finished the season on injured reserve with a hip problem. Still, he was a productive receiving back in Kansas City with 1,010 scrimmage yards in 2021.

The Ravens could look to utilize a pass-catching back more often with Todd Monken calling the offense. Williams could be worth a look for the role.

Melvin Gordon: Los Angeles Rams

There's a good chance Gordon is simply done. He's 30 years old and didn't look good with the Broncos last season. He was leading the team in rushing but didn't look as explosive as Javonte Williams and was waived after his fifth fumble of the season. After that, he couldn't crack the Kansas City Chiefs roster and was stuck on the practice squad.

If Gordon has a chance of being signed, it's likely with a team that is looking for a veteran at the position with a young backfield. The Rams certainly qualify. He could be a veteran who takes some of the load off Cam Akers behind a suspect offensive line.

Kenyan Drake: Cleveland Browns

Drake played for his fourth team in as many seasons last year when he caught on with the Ravens and ended up with 571 scrimmage yards and five total touchdowns. He's not an every-down back, but he has the pass-catching ability and enough juice to be a secondary option.

Right now, the Browns are going to depend on second-year player Jerome Ford to fill that role. With Kareem Hunt off the roster, the Browns might want to at least get an insurance policy and Drake fits the bill.