49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, the $64,000,000 paid running back in NFL history, recently voiced his concern about the undervaluation of the RB position. Despite their crucial role, many players hesitate to speak up due to various reasons. McCaffrey sheds light on this issue, highlighting the stark difference in earnings between running backs and wide receivers.
McCaffrey’s groundbreaking deal shattered records, leaving Elliott in the dust. However, let’s not forget the extraordinary talents of Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Todd Gurley, and Ezekiel Elliott, who deserve the utmost respect for contracts too, exclaimed McCaffrey.
Running Backs at the bottom of the salary list
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In a recent interview on the Rich Eisen show, Christian McCaffrey voiced his discontent regarding the declining significance of the running back role in the NFL. McCaffrey believes that running backs have been undervalued considering the tasks they are required to perform. He acknowledged that many players are hesitant to speak up about this issue for various reasons.
“Somewhere along the line you know the running back position has been undervalued in my opinion for what they’re asked to do and I think there’s a lot of guys are afraid to speak up about that, you know for multiple reasons,” per McCaffrey. Also added- “I think there’s a lot of guys that are afraid to speak up about that, but you know for multiple reasons…”
“When I look at what receivers make around the league and then you look at what running backs make, you know we’re at the bottom of the list.” In fact, McCaffrey has an impressive distinction, he is the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
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Are non-hybrid RBs losing star value?
Star running back of former Carolina Panthers’ McCaffrey, inked an impressive new contract with the team in 2020. Reaching an astonishing $64 million for a duration of four years. This staggering sum eclipsed the previous record established by Ezekiel Elliott’s six-year, $90 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys back in 2019. Renowned for his versatility and diverse skill set, McCaffrey stands out among his peers. However, there are many other talented running backs in the league. Despite lacking McCaffrey’s unique blend of abilities, players like Barkley, Henry, Gurley, and Elliott possess their own exceptional qualities.
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The second-highest-paid running back Elliott has achieved the remarkable feat of leading the league twice in rushing. However, Giants RB Saquon Barkley signed a rookie contract with the team in 2018 worth $31.2 million. Gurley joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2020 on a one-year contract worth $6 million. Lastly, Henry secured a lucrative four-year, $50 million contract extension with the Tennessee Titans after claiming the rushing title for two consecutive years. While these running backs may not match McCaffrey’s unparalleled versatility, their invaluable contributions have earned them respect from their peers.
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