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

A 12 months 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 12 months, which is probably the most in any offseason in NFL historical past, in line with 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 at all times mirror profitable negotiations.

Is there a brand new outlook on the worth of operating backs? Which one landed the perfect 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 probably 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 basic managers (each squarely in the course of final offseason’s operating again drama) made clear they anticipated no vital uptick within the valuation of the place in 2024. They pointed towards a saturated market of obtainable backs — and a league that will nonetheless slightly have youthful choices on rookie offers.

Whether or not you notice it or not, whilst gamers like Barkley and Jacobs get their coveted long-term offers, these basic 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 12 months — 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 cruel actuality is evident: High-tier operating backs nonetheless have a spot on this league. However basic managers would slightly run a rookie into the bottom and discover one other one when it is time to pay him. That is not going to vary anytime quickly.

Which deal stunned you probably 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 significant method, however they weakened their division rival within the course of.

It does not shock me that Eagles basic supervisor Howie Roseman could be aggressive in free company. It is simply jarring to think about 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 final result, however cash talks.

Giants basic supervisor Joe Schoen made it clear he wasn’t going to pay premium cash to Barkley. Roseman, nonetheless, 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 recreation.

Which RB acquired the perfect deal relative to his worth?

Graziano: Barkley, and it is not even shut.

Any time a non-quarterback will get assured cash within the third 12 months of a deal, it is a huge win, and $1.5 million of Barkley’s $12 million 2026 wage is assured at signing. Even when the Eagles reduce him after two years (which is feasible with any of those offers), he’ll have made $26 million. If he performs out the third 12 months, 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 12 months 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 workforce upgraded its RB place most?

Bowen: Including Barkley elevates the Eagles’ operating again room, and the complete Philadelphia offense, beneath 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 recreation, 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 focus on Tony Pollard becoming a member of the Tennessee Titans from the Dallas Cowboys.

Which workforce 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 seem 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 cope with the Tennessee Titans. In the event that they wish to add a really low cost veteran as a substitute, that will be nice, too.

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

Reid: This 12 months’s operating again draft class jogs my memory of 2014, when Bishop Sankey was the primary one chosen all the way in which 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 may very well be a place to begin for such a run. Florida State’s Trey Benson reveals nice imaginative and prescient, breakaway velocity, tackle-breaking skill and pass-catching traits, whereas Texas’ Jonathon Brooks (coming off a torn ACL) is a easy runner with nice contact steadiness. They’re my prime two RBs and may very well be late-Spherical 2 picks — and RB1s as rookies.