NFL | Breaking down the most important operating again offers in NFL free company

A 12 months after NFL operating backs made headlines for a Zoom name throughout which he lamented about downsizing his place, he is making information for what number of groups have modified arms and signed new contracts. .

In response to ESPN Stats & Data, there are seven former Professional Bowl operating backs for brand new groups this 12 months, probably the most of any offseason in NFL historical past.

Among the gamers who have been on that decision, together with Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Austin Eckler, signed multi-year contracts 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 perspective on the worth of operating backs? Which one landed one of the best deal? What was the most important shock? And what are the consequences of the draft?

ESPN’s panel of Darlington, Matt Bowen, Dan Graziano, Kimberley A. Martin, Jordan Reid and Seth Walder solutions crucial questions in regards to the operating again place per week into free company.

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

Darlington: Final August, two NFL common managers (each in the course of final offseason’s operating again drama) made it clear that they do not anticipate the place’s valuation to extend considerably in 2024. He’ll nonetheless have minor choices on rookie offers.

Whether or not you understand it or not, even when gamers like Barkley and Jacobs get their long-term offers, these common managers have been proper. The operating again’s worth stays the identical because it was final offseason: decreased.

Nobody is coming near Christian McCaffrey’s annual common of $16 million — even because the wage cap hits $255.4 million. Whereas everybody else is getting overpaid, operating backs’ upside stays disproportionately low.

The cruel actuality is evident: There’s nonetheless a spot for top-tier operating backs on this league. However common managers would somewhat run a rookie into the bottom and discover one other when it is time to pay him. That is not going to vary anytime quickly.

Which deal shocked you probably the most?

Martin: The Philadelphia Eagles are signing Barkley. I want I may very well be a fly on the wall in New York Giants proprietor John Mara’s workplace. Not solely did the Eagles improve their dashing assault in an enormous manner, they weakened their division rival within the course of.

It does not shock me that Eagles common supervisor Howie Roseman could be aggressive in free company. It is troubling to consider Barkley — the face of the Giants franchise for therefore a few years — swinging inexperienced on NFL Sunday, particularly contemplating Barkley’s want to be an enormous for all times. Mara hoped for a similar end result, however cash issues.

Giants common supervisor Joe Schoen made it clear that he wouldn’t pay Barkley a premium. Roseman, nonetheless, was. And now, all in all, the Eagles have one of many hardest offenses to beat, with a house run risk in each the run and go sport.

Which RB obtained one of the best deal for 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 contract, it is an enormous win, and Barkley is assured to signal $1.5 million of his $12 million 2026 wage. Even when the Eagles minimize him after two years (which is feasible with any of those offers), he’ll make $26 million. If he performs a 3rd 12 months, he may have made $37 million.

It was a house run deal for Saccone. In distinction, Jacobs’ Packers contract comes with solely $12.5 million assured at signing, and the Packers can launch Jacobs after one 12 months after paying him $14.8 million.

The eagle Actually Stretches out to land Barkley, who turns into the most important beneficiary of Philly’s frustration after the win.

Which group upgraded their RB place probably the most?

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

With Barkley’s explosive, dual-threat qualities, he will likely be deployed as a three-down again, dealing with the run-game quantity behind a premier offensive entrance, as a receiver for quarterback Jalen Hurts. Will create particular matchups.

In six professional seasons, Barkley has averaged 98.8 scrimmage yards per sport, whereas logging 288 whole receptions and 47 touchdowns. He is a distinction maker who might change the Eagles’ offensive profile this season.

play

McAfee: Tony Pollard is sweet for the tradition of the Titans.

Pat McAfee and his workers are discussing Tony Pollard’s transfer from the Dallas Cowboys to the Tennessee Titans.

Which group must make one other RB transfer probably the most?

Walder: The Dallas Cowboys are rolling proper now with a largely unproven group of Rico Doodle, Davis Vaughan, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner. However as a operating again skeptic, after I say “go,” I imply: draft one within the sixth spherical and financial institution on him or somebody rising from an present group — after which once they Will pop as much as 1,000 yards and appear like a genius. .

Dallas opted to not spend cash to retain or substitute Tony Pollard, who signed a three-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. In the event that they need to add a really low-cost veteran as an alternative, that might be wonderful too.

What in regards to the draft — when will the primary RB be chosen this April?

Pink: This 12 months’s operating again draft class jogs my memory of 2014, when Bishop Sankey was chosen No. 54 general however had seven top-100 picks. The 2023 group is unlikely to rank excessive, however we might see a run on the place within the mid-to-late elements of Day 2.

I feel the Cowboys — who did not signal a operating again after Pollard left in free company — may very well be the place to begin for such a run at No. 56. Florida State’s Trey Benson exhibits nice imaginative and prescient, breakaway velocity, tackle-breaking capacity and pass-catching qualities, whereas Texas’ Jonathan Brooks (coming off a torn ACL) is a clean runner with glorious contact stability. are They’re my prime two RBs and may very well be late spherical 2 picks — and RB1s as rookies.