Agent's Take: How high can Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson take a resurgent RB market?
The running back market had taken an economic downturn until Christian McCaffrey signed a two-year, $38 million contract extension averaging $19 million per year with the San Francisco 49ers during the 2024 offseason. McCaffrey was already the NFL's highest-paid running back with a four-year extension, averaging $16 million per year, which he received from the Carolina Panthers in 2020. He remained the only running back legitimately averaging more than $14 million per year under the 2024 extension. Saquon Barkley became the league's first $20 million running back in 2025 when he signed a two-year, $41.2 million extension with the Philadelphia Eagles . The deal had a then-record-high $36 million in fully guaranteed compensation at signing. Derrick Henry subsequently signed a two-year, $30 million extension averaging $15 million per year with the Baltimore Ravens despite his high mileage and being 31 years old. Barring an injury, it was a certainty that Henry would easily eclipse the 2,500-career-carry mark during the 2025 season. Three running backs landed deals for more than $14 million per year this offseason. Kenneth Walker III signed a three-year, $43 million contract worth up to $45 million through incentives with the Kansas City Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent. Breece Hall , who was kept off the open market by a $14.3 million franchise tag, signed a three-year, $43.5 million deal worth a maximum of $45.75 million through incentives to stay with the New York Jets . De'Von Achane received a four-year, $64 million extension with $32 million in guarantees from the Miami Dolphins . Incentives make the deal worth up to $68 million. At $16 million per year, Achane is the NFL's third-highest-paid running back. Six running backs make more than $14 million per year. There could be as many as nine by the time the regular season starts in early September. Jonathan Taylor has entered the final year of a three-year, $42 million extension with the Indianapolis Colts , signed early in the 2023 regular season after acrimonious negotiations in which he requested a trade. He is likely looking for a new deal near the top of the running back market. Taylor probably thinks his place in the running back salary hierarchy shouldn't be any lower in a new deal than in 2023. For all practical purposes, Taylor was the NFL's second-highest-paid running back. Alvin Kamara's $15 million-per-year extension with the New Orleans Saints included a fifth new contract year worth $25 million for cosmetic purposes, artificially inflating his average yearly salary. The deal averaged $12.5 million per year through the first four new years. Doing the same thing would mean Taylor getting more than McCaffrey's $19 million per year. Taylor was coming off an injury-plagued 2022 season in which he rushed for a then-career-low 861 rushing yards while dealing with a terrible economic climate for running backs, when he got the $14 million-per-year deal. That isn't the case this time around. Taylor was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his six NFL seasons in 2025. He was also named first-team All-Pro by The Sporting News, one of the three media outlets approved by the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement for honors incentives. Taylor was third in the NFL with 1,585 rushing yards last season. He led the league with 20 total touchdowns (18 rushing and two receiving). Taylor will be a prime candidate for a franchise tag if he doesn't sign a new deal. It will cost the Colts $18.7 million, given how the prior year's salary provisions work with franchise tags. That's 120% of Taylor's $15.562 million 2026 cap number. Jahmyr Gibbs and/or Bijan Robinson should reset the running market when signing new deals. Both are dual-threat, former first-round running backs. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage (combined rushing and receiving yards) last season. It was the 12th-best single-season mark in NFL history. He also earned first-team All-Pr [... truncated ...]
