The running back position in the NFL is arguably the most disrespected and least valuable of all the skill positions in the league, as teams have become more and more reluctant to sign players to lucrative contracts.
This has been a persistent problem for a few years now, but in 2023, it seems to have gone to another level entirely, with perennial Pro Bowlers like Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott getting released due to a lack of interest from their team in signing them to a long-term deal.
There seems to be an epic shift in importance when it comes to the running back position, as teams seem more inclined to bring in rookies at a sizable discount rather than invest in proven veterans, which Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team explains.
Here’s a big-picture look at what’s happening with the RB market in the NFL and how the position is being treated from a financial standpoint.
It’s a situation that is only getting worse by the year for RBs: pic.twitter.com/LaOXca5Zbx
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 12, 2023
It seems the running back position in the NFL has turned into a part-time gig, with players sticking around until they get franchise tagged and unable to get long-term deals.
Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and Saquon Barkley all currently seem to be in the same situation, with incredible resumes of production, but their teams are unwilling to pay them what they deserve moving forward or are drawing out the process in the hopes of getting them to sign a franchise tag.
It’ll be interesting to see how this evolves in the years to come and what Pro-Bowl-caliber backs will do to change things in an effort to get paid and valued for their contributions on an annual basis.
The post Analyst Details How The Perception Of NFL RB’s Is Changing appeared first on The Cold Wire.