All articles tagged with #running back market
Multiple NFL teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, are hesitant to sign Kenneth Walker III at an estimated $15 million per year, as the top running back market heats up. While Giants, Titans, and Commanders show interest, price and cap considerations may deter offers, leaving Seattle to balance re-signing Walker with other extensions and budget concerns. Walker’s free-agent status could shape the Seahawks’ plans for the offseason and draft.
With a Tuesday deadline looming, the Jets must choose between franchising Breece Hall, using the transition tag, or signing a multiyear deal; a franchise tag would cost two first-round picks to sign away Hall, while a transition tag would give the Jets no compensation if he signs elsewhere. A mid-range AAV around $12.8 million could emerge depending on the evolving running back market, influenced by recent deals for peers and free agents.
The NFL franchise tag window opens February 17, with Kenneth Walker III expected to be among the marquee candidates as teams decide which players to lock down before free agency. The piece explains how the tag blocks a top player from long-term free agency, notes last year’s only two tags as a benchmark, and surveys other potential targets like George Pickens, Kyle Pitts, Jaelan Phillips and Trey Hendrickson, highlighting the ongoing question of whether a running back like Walker is worth a big cap hit in a constrained market.
The San Francisco 49ers have extended running back Christian McCaffrey's contract by two years, worth $38 million, keeping him with the team through 2027. This new deal, which includes $24 million guaranteed, raises the running back market value and provides McCaffrey with financial security. The extension also helps manage the 49ers' salary cap, as McCaffrey has proven to be a vital part of their success since his acquisition in 2022.
NFL scouts and executives predict that Saquon Barkley's free-agent deal could range from $8-14 million per year, with most estimating around three years and $30 million. Despite his disappointing production in New York, teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Chicago Bears are expected to be serious suitors, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have interest but may not reach Barkley's price point. The Giants, who opted not to use the franchise tag on Barkley, seem unlikely to match a $10 million offer, signaling a potential departure for the two-time Pro Bowl running back.
The Miami Dolphins are reportedly interested in trading for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, which could potentially upend the running back market. Taylor has been granted permission to seek a trade by the Colts, and the Dolphins have made offers, although the exact details are unclear. If the Dolphins acquire Taylor, they would likely need to pay him a significant contract extension, potentially shifting the financial trend that has undervalued running backs in recent years. Taylor's impressive stats and the Dolphins' need for a true RB1 make him an attractive target for Miami, and the trade could have implications for the running back market as a whole.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has requested a trade after not receiving a contract extension from the team. Colts owner Jim Irsay has made controversial comments regarding Taylor, but insists the team has no intentions of trading him. Despite this, Taylor's days in Indianapolis seem to be numbered. Potential landing spots for Taylor include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots.
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb acknowledges the challenges of the running back market and recognizes that he could face a similar situation next year. Chubb's contract includes a significant increase in salary in 2024, which could put him at risk of being cut if the team decides his cost outweighs his benefit. While there are currently no talks of an extension, the Browns value Chubb's leadership and consider him an important part of the team's culture. However, the running back position offers no guarantees, and the ultimate question for the franchise is whether Chubb's cost justifies his value, especially as they embrace analytics.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler expresses frustration with the depressed market for running backs and calls for answers from team ownership. Ekeler believes that owners are intentionally not paying running backs and suggests that a boycott or holdout may be necessary to bring attention to the issue. He argues that running backs make a significant impact on the game but are not adequately compensated. However, finding a solution is complex, and it would require the league and the players' union to agree on changes such as creating a separate union for running backs or implementing a league-wide fund for their performance.
Austin Ekeler, running back for the Los Angeles Chargers, asked for a trade this offseason due to contract extension issues, but ultimately agreed to stay with the team after they added incentives to his current deal. Ekeler expressed gratitude for the compromise and said he will "bet on myself any day of the week" to determine his future compensation.
Austin Ekeler, running back for the Los Angeles Chargers, is frustrated with the deflated running back market and the use of franchise tags, which he believes limits players' earning potential. Despite posting consecutive career years, Ekeler is making a competitive rate of $6.25 million in base salary in 2023. He had requested a trade in the offseason but the Chargers declined and instead added $2 million in incentives to his contract. The running back market has been steadily devalued over the past decade, and Ekeler may be the latest to suffer for it.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley expressed frustration with leaked reports misconstruing his contract negotiations, but the team has remained tight-lipped about the situation. Reports vary on the exact value of Barkley’s offers, but the Giants hold his 2023 rights with a $10.1 million franchise tag that he has yet to sign. Barkley has missed 21 games due to injury in the past four years, which may complicate negotiations. The most lucrative free-agent deal a running back was awarded this spring was the Carolina Panthers’ four-year, $25 million contract to Miles Sanders, which is less than half of the contract awarded to Ezekiel Elliott in 2019. Barkley believes the franchise tag placed on him and two other top running backs has skewed the market.
Saquon Barkley, the New York Giants' running back, is uncertain about getting a long-term deal from the team this year. The Giants used the franchise tag on Barkley earlier this year, but he has not signed it yet, which keeps him away from the facility this spring. The two sides have until July 17 to agree on a new deal. If they're unable to find a middle ground, Barkley said he will at least contemplate sitting out the season.