The running back position in the NFL is starting to become undervalued, with teams around the league seemingly unwilling to sign star backs to long-term deals.
This became painfully apparent recently when Pro Bowlers Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard could not secure long-term deals ahead of the deadline for franchise-tagged players.
Although Pollard has agreed to play on a franchise tag with the Dallas Cowboys, and Barkley was able to come to terms on a one-year deal with the New York Giants for $11 million and incentives that could add $2 million to that number, the Las Vegas Raiders and Josh Jacobs haven’t been able to see eye-to-eye putting his status in doubt for 2023.
One elite running back that has started to speak out about how running backs are devalued in the NFL today is superstar Derrick Henry of the Tennesee Titans.
Henry recently let it be known that he will do everything within his power to help show the value of running backs moving forward via NFL on ESPN.
Watch out for Derrick Henry this season 😤 pic.twitter.com/ZhmUqlr6Tp
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 28, 2023
Unfortunately for Henry and all his peers at the running back position, it might be too late to show the value of players at the position, with teams continuing to trend in the direction of committing to only one year for even the best of the best in the league.
Until discussions begin on a new CBA, which will be in 2030, it could be more of the same for running backs in the NFL unless something drastic happens during the 2023 season or in the coming years.
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