Before training camps in the NFL got underway this week, the main topic of discussion in the league was the mistreatment of elite running backs, as it became painfully clear that teams are no longer willing to sign the best players at that position to long-term deals.
After Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, and Tony Pollard failed to secure long-term deals recently, running backs around the league were put on notice that things had officially changed, with the position no longer being valued when it comes to long-term deals.
All three of those players are among the league’s elite at the running back position and more than worthy of securing their long-term futures with their respective teams, but that hasn’t happened and doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon.
Former NFL star running back Chris Johnson recently chimed in on the topic during an appearance on “The Jim Rome Show” and said he believes drastic changes won’t happen until the next CBA in 2030.
.@ChrisJohnson28 on why there's no relief in sight for running backs. pic.twitter.com/BuhQwxbdIp
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) July 27, 2023
With NFL teams not being forced to do anything differently when in contract talks with running backs, there are no reasons for teams to do anything other than use a franchise tag or make contracts heavily packed with incentives.
Barkley recently got fed up with the back and forth with the New York Giants and agreed on a one-year deal with the team for $11 million with incentives to make $2 more million over the course of the 2023 season.
Unfortunately, that might be the best running backs can do moving forward, with long-term security now being a thing of the past for players at the position.
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