The NFL’s contract extension deadline came and went this week. It led to a minor upheaval among the league’s most valuable running backs.
2022 rushing leader Josh Jacobs, former top-2 NFL Draft pick Saquon Barkley and Dallas Cowboys RB1 Tony Pollard each went without long-term deals for 2023. For Pollard, the only member of the group to sign his franchise tag tender, that means a single year contract at $10.91 million this fall — the lowest non-special teams tag payout in the league. For Jacobs and Barkley, two players who haven’t yet signed, it could mean lengthy holdouts and skipped summer practices.
