It used to be great to be a running back. Glamour, glory, and plenty of accolades.
Not anymore.
Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook are looking for work.
On Monday, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, and Saquon Barkley were unable to reach new contracts with their current teams before a 4 p.m. ET. deadline.
The Giants’ Barkley summed it up best in a tweet:
It is what it is
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) July 17, 2023
The potential exists the three running backs will become the next names on the list of holdouts at the position that is losing value rapidly in NFL circles.
Notable recent RB holdouts in light of what is now expected with Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs:
🏈Alvin Kamara, 2020.
🏈Ezekiel Elliott, 2019
🏈Melvin Gordon, 2019
🏈Le’Veon Bell, 2018
🏈Maurice Jones-Drew, 2012
🏈Chris Johnson, 2011
🏈Steven Jackson, 2008
🏈Larry Johnson, 2007— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2023
If one wants a turning point for running back, take a look at Todd Gurley and what happened after the Rams gave him a 4-year-, $57.5 million contract in 2018.
Gurley was out of LA after the 2019 season and has not played since a year with the Falcons in 2020.
And that in a nutshell is why NFL teams are reluctant to give running backs huge contracts.
