$561,00 per Game Is the Cost of Rebellion for Disgruntled RBs Looking For Worthwhile Paydays

Some decisions come with the risk of losing more than you already did. The ongoing training camp for the upcoming NFL season brings along infinite days for both rookies and veteran players. However, it’s not surprising to see a kind of rebellion coming from those who know their value. Running back contracts crashed down in the last few seasons, and it’s two Pro Bowlers who may have caught the falling knife.

One prominent agent with multiple running back negotiations shared an off-field situation. He emphasized how maximizing the return on quarterback takes a hit on an RB’s pockets. While the latter ends up making a tough decision, one can only hope that it pays off.

Is it a deal or no deal for RBs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs?

With the 2023 NFL season less than two months away, a lot has been going on at the training camp. There are whispers, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders RBs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs might skip parts of their training camp if they don’t get contract extensions. Another set of rumors suggests it may be less than 12 hours rebellion before Monday’s franchise deadline.

If the former happens, the two franchise-tagged players would lose an enormous chunk of money for the sake of maximizing earnings. While holdouts in the NFL come with hefty penalties, Barkley and Jacobs’ case is simple maths. While Barkley has a non-exclusive franchise tag, both athletes have a franchise deal worth $10.091 million.

This means both would lose $561,000 per game. But again, if the 2017 Fiesta Bowl champion and Josh Jacobs go unsigned, this means that both will sit out without penalty. A recent rumor in the NFL franchise suggests that there could have been a little extension progress for these two running backs. A clearer picture is expected to appear before Monday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.

What is the general rule for franchise-tagged player extensions?

NFL agents negotiating extensions for franchise-tagged players use the guaranteed money from consecutive tags as a baseline. If the amount is any lower, it’s considered a “lowball starting contract offer” in the agent industry. For instance, the one-year franchise tag for both players is $10.091 million. If Barkley gets a second tag in 2024, he gets a guaranteed $12.1 million. The Giants’ RB was supposed to bag $22.2 million in two years.

Also Read: Patrick Mahomes Faces Scorching Fury for Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs Financial Crunch

If one refers to the salary cap model, there are talks that the 2024 tag for RBs would increase by around $2.90 million. If this happens, the Pro Bowler gets $23.1 as guaranteed money under consecutive tags. Wondering why holdout then? Giants aren’t good with the concept of guaranteed money. Saquon Barkley failed to bag a minimum of $22.5 million during contract negotiations.

The same prominent agent highlighted RBs as being underpaid, “Running backs are more disposable and renewable and interchangeable. I don’t think elite No. 1 receivers and really good No. 2 receivers are seen that way. And I can prove it. Just look at the last 10 years of receiver money and compare it to the last 10 years of running back money. They blew by each other, going in opposite directions.”

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What are your thoughts on NFL RBs like Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs wanting more respect and will a holdout change the perspective?