Running backs getting big, multi-year contracts is appearing to becoming normalized.
The Great Running Back Financial Renaissance, predicted to end by many — including me — in March has suddenly re-ignited.
The most physical position in pro football is being recognized. Teams suddenly prioritized extending their own running backs. And it will continue next offseason.
“Without a doubt,” said J.I. Halsell, executive vice president for client compensation at 3 Strand Sports & Entertainment and a former salary cap analyst for the Washington Commanders and a league executive.
The two backs to strike it rich this month were the Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams and Buffalo Bills’ James Cook, who signed extensions averaging $11 million and $12 million, respectively. Both are in the final seasons of their rookie contracts and their teams opted to extend them now instead of using the franchise tag or risking them hit the open market in March 2026.
Nine running backs now have contracts averaging at least $10 million: Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million), San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey ($19 million), Baltimore’s Derrick Henry ($15 million), Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor ($14 million), New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara ($12.25 million), Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs ($12 million), Cook, Williams and Minnesota’s Aaron Jones ($10 million).
Compare that to 10 years ago when only two running backs reached a $10 million average: Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson ($14 million) and Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch ($12 million).
In March 2024, I didn’t think a renaissance was in offing and Barkley and Henry were outliers who hit the market and are generational players. When 2025 free agency opened, Barkley and Henry signed extensions, but the rest of the market was tepid — the Vikings’ Jones was the only back to sign a deal averaging more than $5.346 million.
Now Williams and Cook signed ahead of free agency. A majority of teams may stick with the strategy of drafting a running back in rounds 2-7, run them into the ground for four years and draft his replacement. But we now have a trend.
I asked Halsell which backs will be next up and he pointed toward Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs. They are eligible for extensions after this season.
Another back is Cincinnati’s Chase Brown.
“He’s one to keep tabs on if he has the bell-cow (production) season that many anticipate,” Halsell said. “An ‘honorable mention’ would be Miami’s De'Von Achane, but a possible regime turnover there could delay his extension.”
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne is scheduled to be a free agent next March after playing this year for $6.143 million, an option exercised by former general manager Trent Baalke.
If Etienne has a big year, the Jaguars’ brass will face the decision of signing him medium-term (3-4 years), moving forward with an in-house replacement or drafting one. If Etienne matches his 2023 — 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns — he could merit a new deal.
Tony Boselli’s boredom
On Aug. 9, ahead of the Jaguars’ preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli posed a question for general manager James Gladstone: “What time are you getting to the game?”
This is all new for Boselli, so he naturally left his house early and arrived at his office at 2:30 p.m., 4 1/2 hours before kickoff. He was bored.
“I walked around, had coffee, turned the golf on (television), bothered all of the department heads and probably asked them the same question I had asked 50 times: ‘Hey, we have everything ready?’” Boselli said. “I talked to James (Gladstone). Caught up with (coach) Liam (Coen) to see how he was doing.”
Boselli is looking forward to Sunday’s 1 p.m. (12 p.m. Central time) kickoff in New Orleans because it will closely mirror a regular season game.
Tommy Fleetwood’s travails
You have to think Tommy Fleetwood will eventually complete the climb and win his first PGA Tour event. He has too much game. But last week’s gut punch/loss in the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic was tough to watch — he blew a two-shot lead with three holes left and failed to reach the playoff won by Justin Rose over J.J. Spaun.
Fleetwood has eight international wins, but on the PGA Tour, he has 43 top-10s (including 29 top-5s) and no wins in 140 career starts.
Compare that to the next-closest player — Brett Quigley has 34 top-10s (including 18 top-5s) in 408 career starts without a win.
Fleetwood will be back on the big stage in next month’s Ryder Cup in Farmingdale, N.Y. Playing for Team Europe, he has a career 7-3-2 record.
Time for Kyle Busch to win
The NASCAR regular season wraps up with races at two of my favorite tracks to watch on television (or in-person): Richmond and Daytona the next two Saturday nights, a perfect bit of scheduling to have a short-track and super-speedway to set the playoff table.
Because they have won at least one race, 13 drivers have clinched playoff spots, meaning the final two race-winners (if it’s their first win of the year) will also advance.
Let’s go with Kyle Busch to win at Richmond, a track he has already won six times. He hasn’t won since Illinois in June 2023.
Jaguars' poor practice
Drops and penalties ruled the Jaguars’ Thursday practice, which wasn’t tackle football, but physical nonetheless. It was not a fun watch, but was it concerning? Kinda, sorta (how’s that for a cop-out answer?). Yes, the opener is still three weeks away, but I was expecting more crispness and season-ready execution.
I remember quarterback Blake Bortles’ five-interception night practice in 2017 in front of full grandstands. A few days later, after a preseason game, coach Doug Marrone swung open the quarterback competition between Bortles and Chad Henne. Bortles was ultimately the Week 1 choice and that Jaguars team — which I thought would be terrible — reached the AFC championship game.
Quick hitters
Jacksonville resident Miles Russell’s match-clinching putt in his U.S. Amateur's Round of 16 match Thursday night in San Francisco looked like one of those out-swinging corner kicks in soccer. Perfectly read and perfectly executed. … The widespread opinion on why NFL teams are engaging in a single joint practice instead of two as in the past: The second day turned into a gong show of scuffles, thrown punches and occasionally all-out brawls. The Jaguars have a single practice at Miami next week. … The Saints host the Jaguars after spending eight days in California for training camp practice (including one against the Los Angeles Rams) sandwiching a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. … My favorite movie of the summer — “F1” (not even close – a brilliantly entertaining 2 1/2 hours). … My favorite part of the drive from Buffalo to Jacksonville last weekend — the incredible scenery of West Virginia. … As I move along with this notes column, I encourage readers to drop me a line via email at [email protected] or X @ryanohalloran with questions, comments, feedback. I will include them in this space.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: NFL running backs could continue striking it rich, plus other notes
Category: Football
