Recently, superstar running back Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants agreed to a one-year $11 million deal. The deal – less than $1 million more than Barkley would have received under the franchise tag – prevents a potential hold-out from the Giant’s centerpiece. Barkley’s situation is an illustration of a much larger problem that exists in the NFL today; running backs are severely underpaid for the value they bring to NFL offenses.
Running backs function as one of the most important positions on an NFL offense. Although the NFL has undoubtably shifted to a pass-first, quarterback-centered league, running backs still play a pivotal and versatile role. Players such as Christian McCaffery, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and Nick Chubb are highly regarded as the leaders of their respective offenses. Running back Saquon Barkley touched the ball last year for his Giants 352 times, earning his $11 million contract. In contrast, the Giants’ quarterback, Daniel Jones, threw or ran the ball 597 times. Jones recently signed a four-year $160 million contract, averaging $40 million per year. This year, Jones will be earning more than double per passing attempt or run than Barkley per touch.
Running back is one of the most physically demanding and punishing positions on the field. Running backs are typically “small” (by NFL standards) and agile to maintain quickness and speed (Derrick Henry being the anomaly here, measuring 6’3”, 247lbs). Running full speed into linemen who can weigh up to twice as much, upwards of 400 times a year is certain to take a toll on even an elite athlete’s body. Teams often avoid signing running backs who have been used frequently in past years. Nick Chubb, the running back for the Cleveland Browns, who signed a three-year $36 million contract extension in 2021, said via ESPN.com “[w]e’re the only position that our production hurts us the most. If we go out there and run 2,000 yards with so many carries, the next year they’re going to say, you’re probably worn down. It’s tough. . . . It hurts us at the end of the day.”
Herein lies the crux of the problem; the prime of running back’s career is over before they’ve had a chance to get paid. Running backs have the shortest average career of any position in the NFL (2.57 years). The NFLPA collective bargaining agreement (“Agreement”), in effect until 2030, provides that players selected in the NFL draft are automatically tendered a four-year contract—already exceeding the average career length of a running back. The contracts of players drafted in the first round also have a fifth-year team option, that teams may choose to exercise at the end of their fourth year.
The Agreement also permits players to be “franchise tagged.” Clubs may choose to franchise tag one player, who would otherwise be an unrestricted free agent, per offseason. The franchise tag salary is based the average of the top five salaries of the position over the past five years. A player can be franchise tagged up to three times. The second time a player is tagged their salary will increase 20%, and the third time it will increase 44% (players are almost never tagged a third time due to the significant cost increase).
Because running backs around the league are some of the lowest paid players not on special teams, the cost of franchise tagging one is not significant. For the 2023 season, to franchise tag a running back costs $10.1 million. If a team were to tag a running back for a second time, it would cost $12.12 million. Both tag numbers are exceedingly low prices for the value of a great (or good) running back.
A running back drafted in the first round, like Saquon Barkley, can have up to five years on his rookie contract. Thereafter, he can be franchise tagged by the club that drafted him, for up to two years (realistically) after his rookie contract expires. Most players are drafted out of college between the ages of 20 and 22. By the time most running backs reach free agency, they are 26-29 years old and the prime of their career is over. The NFL favors younger running backs. The oldest active running back to touch the ball last year was 33. Since 1990, 72% of the NFL’s leading rushers have been 26 or younger.
So, what is the solution? With the Agreement in place until 2030, there is not much the NFLPA or players can do right now to fix the draft system. Running backs could refuse to participate in games if they are franchise tagged (commonly referred to as a “hold-out”), to try and gain leverage towards long-term contract negotiations. However, not playing a season during the prime of your career does not seem like an ideal solution, as there are many people who would love to step up and fill in the role of an NFL running back.
Perhaps the most immediate practical solution was suggested by former NFLPA President, Domonique Foxworth. The NFLPA’s Performance Based Incentive Pool (“PBP”) is a fund that all players are eligible for and is intended to compensate players for discrepancies in playing time and salary. Last year the pool was $336 million. Foxworth suggested the PBP should be expanded, and a portion of the pool should be set aside for running backs. Such a solution would provide an incentive to running backs that the current market has stolen.
There is a trickle-down effect to the college, high school, and even pee-wee football level, of players not wanting to play the running back position. And who can blame them? Why would elite athletes specialize in a position where they are currently capped at $16 million (the average per year salary of the highest paid running back, Christian McCaffery) when you could play wide-receiver and have the potential to make almost double (the highest paid wide-receiver, Tyreek Hill, makes an average of $30 million per year). Running backs have been vocal about their displeasure and meeting about solutions. They are certain to get the attention of the NFL, if they have not already.
This blog was written by K&S Summer intern Christina Charikofsky. Christina will begin her second year at the University of Baltimore Law School this fall.