Running Backs Should NOT be Paid High Salaries, Here’s Why:
Historically, the running back position is one of the most electric and entertaining positions to watch in all of sports. Their positional value lacks over any other position of the football field, however. Replaceability is at an all time high, yet we still see teams quickly handing out ridiculous deals to undeserving running backs. While there is a skill gap between these backs, is it enough to make them worth what someone like Christian McCaffrey is making? Simple answer is no.
Historically we’ve seen the running backs value take a slow decrease, and career longevity for running backs is at an all time low. (Just 2.57 years average) Over the last 10 seasons the winner of the Super Bowl never paid their running back the kind of money we see teams handing to backs now. Since 2015, no running back on the Super Bowl winner has made more than 1.2% of the teams cap. Over this 10 year span, the average running back takes up just 1.8% of the teams cap. From 2022 to 2025, Christian McCaffrey is set to take up about 7% of the Panthers cap space. This provides less capability to pay other players who are more crucial to the success of an NFL team.
Success of today’s running backs can be attributed almost entirely to the team’s offensive line. Any running back is replaceable, and there’s a reason we see emergence of new backs every year. This last year we saw an undrafted rookie, James Robinson absolutely thrive. Replacing Leonard Fournette and avoiding having to potentially pay Fournette. No running back is more valuable than the offensive line they run behind. Case closed.
These are the last 10 super bowl winners, all clearly paying relatively low amounts of money to their starting running backs:
2011: Green Bay Packers
Starting Running Back: Ryan Grant
Salary $4,500,000
3.7% of cap
2012: New York Giants
Starting Running Back: Ahmad Bradshaw
Salary $4,500,000
3.7% of cap
2013: Baltimore Ravens
Starting Running Back: Ray Rice
Salary $5,750,000
4.7% of cap
2014: Seattle Seahawks
Starting Running Back: Marshawn Lynch
Salary $8,000,000
5.9% of cap
2015: New England Patriots
Starting Running Back: Legarrette Blount
Salary $955,000
0.7% of cap
2016: Denver Broncos
Starting Running Back: C.J. Anderson
Salary $589,000
0.4% of cap
2017: New England Patriots
Starting Running Back: Legarrette Blount
Salary $955,000
0.7% of cap
2018: Philadelphia Eagles
Starting Running Back: Legarrette Blount
Salary $1,250,000
0.7% of cap
2019: New England Patriots
Starting Running Back: Sony Michel
Salary $1,750,000
1% of cap
2020: Kansas City Chiefs
Starting Running Back: Damien Williams
Salary $1,733,000
0.9% of cap
2021: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Starting Running Back: Leonard Fournette
Salary $2,500,000
1.2% of cap
(All contract information is from https://overthecap.com)
Responses
Very interesting idea. And I do have to agree. Unless you have CMC or Kamara or a top 5 RB they are replaceable like you said. Great post!
Even with those two, their careers are not guaranteed. Running backs do not have the longevity of other positions, so a long term, high paying deal just doesn’t make any sense.