Three of the NFL’s most talented running backs, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard, are all entering the final year of their contracts and have yet to sign long-term deals. This has led to some other NFL running backs coming to their defense on social media.
Barkley, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has been one of the most productive running backs in the NFL since entering the league. However, he has also been injured frequently, missing 14 games over the past three seasons.
Jacobs, the No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has also been a productive running back, but he has also been injured in recent seasons. He missed five games in 2020 and two games in 2021.
Pollard, a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has been a valuable backup for the Dallas Cowboys. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in two of his three seasons.
The lack of long-term deals for these three running backs is a reflection of the changing landscape of the NFL. Running backs are no longer as valued as they once were, and teams are more likely to draft and develop running backs than to sign them to big contracts.
However, some other NFL running backs have come to the defense of Barkley, Jacobs, and Pollard. Ezekiel Elliott, the former No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, tweeted that “running backs deserve to get paid.” Le’Veon Bell, the former No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, tweeted that “it’s time for running backs to get theirs.”
It remains to be seen whether Barkley, Jacobs, and Pollard will be able to sign long-term deals before the start of the season. However, their lack of deals is a sign of the changing landscape of the NFL, and it is a reminder that running backs are no longer as valued as they once were.
