The biggest topic in football right now is running backs. More specifically: Running back pay. The devaluing of the position has been happening for some time now, but reached a fever pitch this offseason. Ezekiel Elliot and Dalvin Cook are both unsigned after being released, while Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are set to play under franchise tags with the Giants and Raiders respectively not willing to sign their feature backs to long-term deals.
NFL running backs lash out at Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs not being signed
The market is a mess, and RBs are mad.
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
This situation is a mess with no good solution. Running backs absolutely need to be paid better so their best years aren’t wasted for free in college before playing under a rookie pay scale and being released. Meanwhile the best teams in the NFL are thriving without top-tier backs, making it a death knell to competitive hopes to commit too much money from the salary cap to a running back.
Running backs around the NFL lashed on Monday with the news that Barkley (who ran for over 1,300 yards last season) and Jacobs (who rushed for 1,653) aren’t worth big money to their teams.
The writing is on the wall for most of these guys, as football stands right now. Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry got big-money extensions, but the rest are on the outside looking in. Austin Ekeler is set to be a free agent after this season, Najee Harris has two years left on his rookie deal, while Jonathan Taylor’s rookie contract expires after this season.
The reward for playing the most battered, physical position on offense for these players is the ever-growing reality that they’ll be franchise tagged, released and never get to realize the earning potential of other positions.
While it’s true that market sets the value, and football is cyclical — something needs to be done. Barkley, for instance, is poised to make $38.6M for his career if he’s unsigned after this season. That’s good money, sure, but not when Kyler Murray is set to make $39M for this single season alone.
Defensive tackle Daron Payne, who was taken 11 picks after Barkley in the 2018 NFL Draft has already signed a deal which will guarantee him a minimum of $82M over this career, with a max of $113M.
The players are right for speaking out.
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