NEW YORK — NFL running backs past and present rallied around Giants star Saquon Barkley and others at the position who failed to reach long-term contracts before Monday’s franchise-tag deadline.
Barkley and Raiders running back Josh Jacobs will now have to play the 2023 season on the $10.09 million tag unless they choose to sit out. Cowboys back Tony Pollard signed the franchise tag in March.
“Running backs are needed,” former Giants back Brandon Jacobs tweeted Tuesday. “No position on the field is better. Your most explosive players by far. If the NFL won’t respect them get rid of the position.”
Barkley, Jacobs and Pollard are the latest to feel the effects of a depleted running back market. The Vikings recently cut Dalvin Cook after his fourth-consecutive 1,000-yard season, while Miles Sanders signed a modest four-year, $25 million contract with the Panthers in what proved to be the biggest deal for a running back this offseason.
The 26-year-old Barkley rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and tied for the Giants team lead with 57 receptions. Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards, while Pollard scored 12 total touchdowns in a breakout campaign.
“This is Criminal,” tweeted 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, whom the Panthers traded after giving him a $64 million deal. “Three of the best PLAYERS in the entire league, regardless of position.”
Titans two-time rushing champ Derrick Henry, who was tagged in 2020 before signing a $50 million contract, shared a similar sentiment.
“At this point, just take the RB position out the game then,” Henry tweeted Monday. “The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization, just seems like it don’t even matter. I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve.”
Chargers back Austin Ekeler, who exceeded 1,500 scrimmage yards and scored at least 18 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, pursued trade options this offseason before agreeing to a restructured contract with added incentives.
“Everyone knows it’s tough to win without a top RB and yet they act like we are discardable widgets,” Ekeler tweeted. “I support any RB doing whatever it takes to get his bag.”
Barkley, the No. 2 overall in the 2018 draft, is entering his sixth NFL season, all with the Giants. He retweeted many of the running backs who voiced their support.
“1. If you’re good enough, they’ll find you,” tweeted Colts star Jonathan Taylor. “2. If you work hard enough, you’ll succeed. …If you succeed… 3. You boost the Organization …and then… Doesn’t matter, you’re a RB.”
Taylor is set to become a free agent in 2024. Najee Harris, a former first-round pick by the Steelers, would become a free agent the following year unless Pittsburgh picks up his fifth-year option.
“I agree with my running back brothers around the NFL,” Harris wrote. “History will show that you need running backs to win- we set the tone every game and run trough walls for our team and lead in many ways- this notion that we deserve less is a joke.”
