NFL Running Back Stand (2023 Edition)

[bugatti]

The franchise tag deadline passed yesterday and three high profile RBs could not come to an agreement on a long term deal: Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, and Josh Jacobs. You could argue all three are top 5 players at the position.

The reality is the position has been so devalued and you can find a RB anywhere in the draft or FA good enough to get you to the playoffs or even win a Superbowl.

[Voice of Reason]

Tony Pollard is a good example of the explanation for this. Fourth round pick. Why pay a RB when you can get top tier RB's in round 4?

[bugatti]

Only 2 of the top 10 RBs, per ESPN's power rankings, are signed to NFL contracts beyond 2025. Aside from the production - which history shows you can get plenty of at a fraction of a big contract cost - is the obvious injury concerns.

Saw a fitting tweet a couple days ago about how when La'Veon Bell went through his stand a few years ago, took off a year, signed a solid FA deal with the Jets (cost himself a lot of money, btw), and fell off a cliff, NFL teams said no more.

[MJAlltheWay24]

It really sucks for the RBs but from a business standpoint, its tough to want to sign them to big deals on their second contract. 

[spindoc]

RBs are fungible in today's NFL.

[Tranquility Base]

Backs have 2 things working against them in todays NFL:

1) On average, they break down faster than any other offensive position.   No owner wants to drop major coin on a player that is likely to miss more and more games each year.

2) In this day and age, why not throw on downs that backs used to dominate.  2nd and 2?  Throw it.  Chances are, today, it's complete or there's a five yard illegal contact or defensive holding call.

[futurecoach]

On 7/18/2023 at 12:49 PM, Voice of Reason said:

Tony Pollard is a good example of the explanation for this. Fourth round pick. Why pay a RB when you can get top tier RB's in round 4?

Agreed. Tony Pollard is also a good example of why it sucks to be a RB. Guys like Barkley and Jacobs were first round picks and at least got good first round deals. Jacobs made 12 million in his career so far on his rookie deal and Barkley made 30 million on his rookie deal. Pollard on his rookie deal as a 4th round pick has only made a total of 3 million. So he is a guy who was a lower draft pick but proved he is a very good running back, but yet still will never see a truly huge contract since he is a running back. Just imagine how much now it would suck for 6th, 7th, or undrafted guys. You barely make anything in regards to a football contract on their rookie deals and go out there and perform, but yet you still will never get a big deal since they are a running back even if they did do great. 
 

If anything the running backs that need to be meeting and complaining are the running backs that were lower draft picks, because they will never get a huge deal. Guys like Barkley at least got that big rookie deal. 

[mcpapa]

Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be RBs.