Saquon Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles star, is absolutely hyped about the massive new contracts recently dropped for fellow running backs Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jonathan Taylor. These aren’t just any deals, folks, these are game-changers, signalling a seismic shift in how the NFL values its premier ball carriers.
The Big Bucks Are Rolling In For Top RBs
Forget what you thought you knew about running back contracts because the numbers are getting wild. Bijan Robinson kicked things off on August 4, signing a three-year extension with the Atlanta Falcons worth a whopping $75 million. Just two days later, Jahmyr Gibbs locked in a fresh three-year deal with the Detroit Lions for $67.5 million. Not to be outdone, the Indianapolis Colts then handed Jonathan Taylor a two-year extension for $44 million. Think about that for a second: three massive deals for three absolute studs in a span of days. These guys are now the three highest-paid players at their position in terms of average annual value, and even Barkley himself, a legitimate superstar, ranks No. 4 on that list, according to Over the Cap. It’s an explosion of cash at a position that desperately needed it.
Barkley couldn’t be more thrilled about this trend. He went on record Thursday, stating, “I love it. That’s how it’s supposed to be.” He gave credit where it’s due, referencing Christian McCaffrey setting the bar before him, and then himself doing it after McCaffrey. Now, we’re seeing this incredible run of three more backs getting paid, one after another. Barkley sees it as the position finally getting its respect. “It was like that for every other position besides running back. You can see that coming back to life,” he added, emphasizing that these guys “are very deserving of it. They’re helluva players, make a lot of impact in games for their teams. Their teams are different when they’re not on the field.”
A $550 Million Rebound For The Backfield
This isn’t just a handful of big contracts, this is a full-blown market correction. For years, teams seemed hesitant to commit serious financial backing to running backs. It got so bad that Barkley was actually part of a meeting in July 2023 to discuss the depressed market for the position. That year, the NFL was coming off a 2022 season where all 32 teams combined spent a meager $250 million on running backs. That’s for the *entire league* for a *whole season*. It was tough to watch.
Fast forward to the 2026 season, and the landscape has completely changed. Teams are now set to shell out an incredible $550 million at the position. That’s more than double the spending from just a few years prior! This isn’t just good news for the players; it’s a huge shift in philosophy across the league. Despite not holding the top salary anymore, Barkley is clearly thrilled about the financial future for top backfield options. He hopes that in the next five to ten years, the numbers keep climbing higher, because as he said, “That’s how it’s supposed to go.” It feels like the running back position is finally getting the recognition, and the compensation, it deserves.
The NFL is changing before our eyes, and the financial spotlight is firmly back on the running back. Let’s see which back is next to cash in.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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