Rams’ Legend Blasts Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs & Other RBs as Salary Issues Reignite Friction in NFL Offseason

The NFL’s free agency period has kicked off, and several top running backs are available for new deals. Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler, Ezekiel Elliott, and Saquon Barkley are among the standout names on the market. The teams are expected to engage in intense bidding wars for these players. As per sources, Jacobs, Barkley, and Tony Pollard are all set to become free agents, with their teams choosing not to use the franchise tag to keep them. This has resulted in a highly competitive free agency class for running backs.

However, former NFL running back Marshall Faulk recently analyzed the complex variations in player pay, particularly for running backs. How can the league reconcile the discrepancies in pay to ensure fairness for all its athletes?

In a recent interview former NFL RB, Marshall Faulk, provided an inside look into the league’s payment variation patterns. Faulk reflected an empathetic and deliberative perspective on the players currently playing, emphasizing the structural barriers present. He said in the interview, ” I feel bad for those guys”. He pointed out that one reason RBs receive less money was  that “they are complacent .” He further explained how their willingness to split time with other payers inherently allows management to devalue them. “It’s because they haven’t proven their worth in a sense, they split time with guys, and they allow their backup to play and therefore their value is diminished,” said Faulk. 

Faulk explained this behavior of RBs allows managements to avoid spending large sums on one star player and distributing the budget to various reliable backup players, providing a more cost-effective option to them. This approach is a roadblock for the NFL’s current discussions on player contracts. This also devalues the changing role of RBs in modern football. Marshall Faulk’s focus on optimizing playing time and encouraging running backs to speak up reflects the challenges of managing NFL salaries.

The persistent pay disparity faced by NFL running backs

Regarding contract negotiations, running backs often face challenges in securing fair compensation. Recent contract disputes involving notable players such as Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley exemplify the issue. Despite Jacobs’ exceptional rushing performance as the league leader last season and Barkley’s comparable performance, their respective teams have hesitated to fulfill their financial expectations. In 2023, the Giants signed two one-year deals with Barkley and Jacobs for approximately $10 million and $12 million, respectively. While these short-term solutions return both players to the field, they do not fully address the underlying issues that will likely resurface during the next offseason.

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A group of prominent running backs, including Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry, convened via Zoom to address these concerns. Austin Ekeler organized the call and has openly questioned the compensation system for RBs. During the virtual meeting, they brainstormed ideas but could not establish any concrete strategies. As the NFL landscape evolves, finding fair pay for running backs remains a challenge, underscoring the need for significant revisions to ensure they’re properly compensated for their contributions.