NFL Running Back Controversy Explained: Why Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs, and Others Are Challenging the Salary Structure

Earlier this offseason, Saquon Barkley And Josh Jacobs Both players were hit with the franchise tag by their respective clubs, the Giants and Raiders. Neither running back signed the tender and they were looking to secure a long-term extension with their respective teams. Barkley then signed a one-year deal worth up to $11 million just before training camp. While Barkley will be a Giant for at least one more season, Jacobs is still holding out and has an uncertain future with the Raiders. Barkley and Jacobs along with disgruntled Colts running back Jonathan Taylor are now headed down a path where their futures with their current organizations are uncertain.

But what exactly are we talking about? Why, at this point, have people come together and started speaking out about the state of their situation in relation to their salary structure? We will try to break it all down with our explanation below (Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming next).

How Running Backs Got to This Position

While running backs were once the backbone of a given franchise, as the league continues to shift toward a more pass-oriented offensive approach, the position has become increasingly disposable. In turn, clubs have placed less emphasis on paying running backs beyond their rookie contracts. With more talent than ever in the league, teams have often taken the approach of continually signing a running back, letting him play through the end of his rookie contract and possibly giving him franchise status for a year if he proved to be a top-tier player, then letting him go after that. And then repeating the process.

Of course, this is a bad deal for running backs, as it is typically the second contract in the NFL that makes players money. This is where they can get a multi-million dollar contract and put themselves in a financial position for years to come, especially if they were selected outside the first round. On that note, teams have even slowed down the use of premium draft picks on running backs, which also limits their earning potential.

From 2000 to 2010 (an 11-year period), 35 running backs were selected in the first round of the NFL DraftThat number was halved between 2011 and 2023 (a 13-year span), as 18 guards were selected in the first round, showing how much teams value the position early on.

But it’s no surprise. Teams have been fooled by giving huge contracts to superstar running backs before. Todd Gurley $60 million deal with the Rams, Ezekiel Elliott $90 million extension with the The cowboysAnd Le’Veon Bell’s $52.5 million deal with the Jets are just a few recent examples of teams that have had these contracts blow up in their faces and cripple them for the next few seasons. Because of the way running backs typically fall apart due to the abuse they receive on a weekly basis, teams have since shied away from making these types of deals.

The numbers

On average, running backs currently make $1.808 million per season. The only positions where running backs make more are long snappers ($1.069 million), punters ($1.52 million), and fullbacks ($1.724 million). The average kicker even makes more than a running back, making $2.196 million per season in the NFL.

Unlike every other position in the NFL, the franchise tag for running backs has actually seen a decline since 2015.

As teams have placed less emphasis on paying running backs, they have since allocated that money to other positions on the roster. Currently, 56 players are making more than $20 million per season: 17 of them are quarterbacks, 13 are wide receivers, nine are interior defensive linemen, seven are edge rushers, five are offensive tackles, two are corners, two are guards and one is an inside linebacker. No running backs cross that threshold.

49ers back Christian McCaffrey is currently the highest-paid running back in the NFL with an average annual value of $16.01 million per season. While that may put him at the top of his position group, that average annual value places him 104th among the league’s highest-paid players. The browns back Nick Chubb was the last running back to sign a long-term contract worth $10 million or more per season. This happened on July 31, 2021.

While every other position seems to be flush with new money, running backs are seeing their incomes squeezed even further.

Why RBs are rising now

The players currently at the center of these contract disputes represent some of the best players in the NFL and if they played any other position, they would likely get monstrous extensions. Josh Jacobs is coming off a 2022 season with the The Raiders where he led the NFL in carries and total yards. His 1,653 rushing yards were also the second-most in a season in franchise history. He did this while earning just $2.122 million in base salary, according to Spotrac.

Meanwhile, Barkley has been the centerpiece of New York’s offense whenever the star back has been healthy, including last season. He played in 16 regular-season games and totaled 1,650 scrimmage yards while helping the Giants in the playoffs. Barkley earned $7,217 on his fifth-year option.

If these types of players fail to attract teams who want to sign them in the near future, it’s a dire sign for the position as a whole, which is why we’re likely see many top fullbacks express themselves.