It’s tough being a running back. They usually have short NFL careers and don’t make much money.
However, after years of being undervalued and underappreciated, conventional wisdom may be shifting. The league’s top three leading rushers were free agents: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs. They aren’t outliers. Among the top nine, Tony Pollard, Aaron Jones, and Joe Mixon also signed with different teams. They are old by NFL running back standards. Barkley, Henry, Mixon, Pollard, and Jones are all at least 27.
Established running backs are essential. Look at the standings and see the impact the top three are having.
The New York Giants infamously gave up on Barkley. Now he’s the league’s leading rusher (1,392 yards) and an MVP candidate for the Philadelphia Eagles (9-2).
The Tennessee Titans let Henry walk. Now he’s the league’s second-leading rusher (1,325 yards) and has an NFL-best 13 rushing touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens (8-4).
The Las Vegas Raiders had no use for Jacobs. Now he’s the league’s third-leading rusher (944 yards) for the Green Bay Packers (8-3).
The Eagles, Ravens, and Packers should be applauded. They sensed a shift in football philosophy. For several years, the league had been in the golden age for passing offense. Teams have spent their salary-cap dollars on quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive linemen. Running backs have, by far, the lowest franchise tag number at $11.9 million. That’s not just last for offensive players. That’s last for all positions, not including punters and kickers.
Teams are reluctant to pay running backs. Ezekiel Elliott has been held up as Exhibit A on why you shouldn’t. His highest rushing yards per game were in his first three years. Then, Jerry Jones gave him a contract extension before the 2019 season, and Elliott has had one 1,000-yard season since. Elliott’s contract limited the Dallas Cowboys’ salary-cap flexibility and contributed to ill-fated decisions such as trading away Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in 2022.
This past offseason, smart teams invested in veteran backs instead of relying on unproven rookies. Why? Offensive football has changed. With defenses so focused on stopping explosive downfield passing plays, that has opened up opportunities for the rushing game.
According to the analytics website, The 33rd Team, the efficiency gap between running and passing has been closing for a decade. So, when you pair Henry next to two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, that makes a huge impact. When you add Barkley behind a great offensive line, that makes a huge impact.
The NFL is a copycat league. Many teams have undoubtedly noticed this and will be in the market in 2025 hoping for similar results. Teams like the Cowboys and Raiders will be desperate to add backfield help. But are there enough good running backs available? Right now, some of the top free-agent running backs next off-season figure to be Nick Chubb, Najee Harris, James Conner, and Jones. That’s good news for them because the competition in free agency could lead to larger salaries. It’s supply and demand.
NFL players put their bodies on the line every week for our entertainment. They deserve every dollar they can get, especially running backs.