http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000940749/article/todd-gurley-no-deal-for-leveon-bell-a-sad-situationWhile other positions have seen their market share skyrocket -- noted by receiver (and Gurley teammate) Brandin Cooks getting $16.2 million annually on Tuesday -- running backs have been left to scrap for change. Below Bell's $14.54 million franchise tag, Devonta Freeman is the next-highest-paid running back at an $8.25 million per-year average. Only four running backs are on long-term contracts that pay out more than $7 million per season (that includes No. 2 overall pick Saquon Barkley). Compare that with 28 receivers and 11 tight ends blasting past the same threshold.
Somewhere along the line, NFL teams collectively decided running backs are a replaceable commodity and that they would rather funnel their money to other positions. Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap points out that Adrian Peterson's contract extension from 2011, which averaged $14.2 million per season, would be worth around $21 million today. Only a handful of running backs are making even a third of that contract value seven years later.
With Bell poised to hit the open market next season and the likes of Gurley (2020), David Johnson (2019) and Ezekiel Elliott (2021) up for contracts in the next few years, we'll see if any team will change gears and be willing to pony up the dough for playmakers who do more than run the ball between the tackles.
