Breaking down the most important operating again offers of NFL free company

A yr after NFL operating backs made headlines for a Zoom name throughout which they commiserated about their place being undervalued, they’re making information for what number of modified groups and landed new contracts.

There are seven former Professional Bowl operating backs headed to new groups this yr, which is essentially the most in any offseason in NFL historical past, in response to ESPN Stats & Info.

Among the gamers who had been on that decision, together with Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Austin Ekeler, signed multi-year offers with new groups. However as ESPN NFL reporter Jeff Darlington factors out, new contracts do not all the time replicate profitable negotiations.

Is there a brand new outlook on the worth of operating backs? Which one landed the most effective deal? Which was the most important shock? And what are the draft ramifications?

ESPN’s panel of Darlington, Matt Bowen, Dan Graziano, Kimberley A. Martin, Jordan Reid and Seth Walder solutions essentially the most urgent questions concerning the operating again place every week into free company.

Has the primary week of free company signaled a brand new outlook on the worth of operating backs?

Darlington: Final August, two NFL common managers (each squarely in the course of final offseason’s operating again drama) made clear they anticipated no important uptick within the valuation of the place in 2024. They pointed towards a saturated market of accessible backs — and a league that may nonetheless fairly have youthful choices on rookie offers.

Whether or not you notice it or not, at the same time as gamers like Barkley and Jacobs get their coveted long-term offers, these common managers had been precisely proper. The worth of the operating again stays because it was final offseason: Diminished.

No one is coming near Christian McCaffrey’s $16m common per yr — even because the wage cap skyrocketed to $255.4 million. Whereas everybody else is getting paid extra, the operating backs’ raises stay disproportionately much less.

The tough actuality is evident: High-tier operating backs nonetheless have a spot on this league. However common managers would fairly run a rookie into the bottom and discover one other one when it is time to pay him. That is not going to alter anytime quickly.

Which deal shocked you essentially the most?

Martin: The Philadelphia Eagles signing Barkley. I want I may have been a fly on the wall in New York Giants proprietor John Mara’s workplace. Not solely did the Eagles improve their dashing assault in a serious method, however they weakened their division rival within the course of.

It would not shock me that Eagles common supervisor Howie Roseman could be aggressive in free company. It is simply jarring to consider Barkley — the face of the Giants franchise for thus a few years — rocking inexperienced on NFL Sundays, particularly contemplating Barkley’s want to be a Large for all times. Mara had hoped for a similar end result, however cash talks.

Giants common supervisor Joe Schoen made it clear he wasn’t going to pay premium cash to Barkley. Roseman, nevertheless, was. And now, the all-in Eagles are primed to have one of many hardest offenses to include, that includes a home-run risk in each the run and move sport.

Which RB obtained the most effective deal relative to his worth?

Graziano: Barkley, and it isn’t even shut.

Any time a non-quarterback will get assured cash within the third yr of a deal, it is a large win, and $1.5 million of Barkley’s $12 million 2026 wage is assured at signing. Even when the Eagles minimize him after two years (which is feasible with any of those offers), he’ll have made $26 million. If he performs out the third yr, he’ll have made $37 million.

It was a house run deal for Saquon. In contrast, Jacobs’ Packers deal comes with solely $12.5 million assured at signing, and the Packers may launch Jacobs after one yr having paid him $14.8 million.

The Eagles actually stretched to land Barkley, who turns into the key beneficiary of Philly’s win-now desperation.

Which crew upgraded its RB place most?

Bowen: Including Barkley elevates the Eagles’ operating again room, and your entire Philadelphia offense, underneath new coordinator Kellen Moore.

With Barkley’s explosive, dual-threat traits, he will likely be deployed as a three-down again, dealing with run-game quantity behind a premier offensive entrance whereas creating outlined matchups as a receiver for quarterback Jalen Hurts.

In six professional seasons, Barkley has averaged 98.8 scrimmage yards per sport, whereas logging a complete of 288 receptions and 47 touchdowns. He is a difference-maker who can change the offensive profile of the Eagles this season.

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McAfee: Tony Pollard good for tradition of Titans

Pat McAfee and his crew talk about Tony Pollard becoming a member of the Tennessee Titans from the Dallas Cowboys.

Which crew most must make one other RB transfer?

Walder: The Dallas Cowboys. Proper now they’re rolling with the largely unproven group of Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner. However as a operating again skeptic, once I say a “transfer,” I imply: Draft one within the sixth spherical and financial institution on both him or somebody from the incumbent group rising — after which appear like a genius once they pop for 1,000 yards.

Dallas has been proper to not spend cash retaining or changing Tony Pollard, who signed a three-year take care of the Tennessee Titans. In the event that they wish to add a really low-cost veteran as a substitute, that may be fantastic, too.

What concerning the draft — when will the primary RB get picked this April?

Reid: This yr’s operating again draft class jogs my memory of 2014, when Bishop Sankey was the primary one chosen all the best way down at No. 54 general however seven ended up getting picked inside the highest 100. The 2023 group lacks a top-tier prospect, however we may see a run on the place within the middle-to-late elements of Day 2.

I believe the Cowboys — who haven’t signed a again after Pollard left in free company — at No. 56 might be a place to begin for such a run. Florida State’s Trey Benson reveals nice imaginative and prescient, breakaway pace, tackle-breaking means and pass-catching traits, whereas Texas’ Jonathon Brooks (coming off a torn ACL) is a easy runner with nice contact stability. They’re my prime two RBs and might be late-Spherical 2 picks — and RB1s as rookies.