Running backs took a big financial hit in 2023. The number of running backs with contracts averaging $12 million per year or more was cut in half to four thanks to releases and pay cuts until the Indianapolis Colts made Jonathan Taylor the league’s fifth in October with a three-year, $42 million contract extension, averaging $14 million per year. Taylor was the first running back to get a big payday since Nick Chubb in 2021 when the Browns gave him a three-year, $36.6 million extension, averaging $12.2 million per year, as he was going into the final year of his rookie contract.
NFL teams exercised fiscal restraint with running backs in free agency. The top deal on the open market went to Miles Sanders. He got a four-year, $25.64 million contract, averaging $6.35 million per year, from the Carolina Panthers with $13 million fully guaranteed after a 2022 season with the Philadelphia Eagles in which he had career highs of 1,269 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, which were fifth and eighth in the NFL, respectively.
Three running backs (Saquon Barkley-New York Giants, Josh Jacobs-Las Vegas Raiders and Tony Pollard-Dallas Cowboys) were kept out of free agency with franchise tags. None of the three signed long-term deals.
Derrick Henry, the most accomplished running back in recent years, is heading to free agency in an environment that isn’t friendly to ball-carriers with two big potential strikes against him. He turned 30 in January and crossed the 2,000-career carry mark during the 2023 season. Henry’s 2,030 rushing attempts rank 42nd in NFL history.
The Tennessee Titans certainly got their money’s worth from the four-year, $50 million contract (with an additional $1 million in incentives) Henry signed in 2020 as a franchise player. Henry’s 5,669 rushing yards easily are the NFL’s most since signing the $12.5 million-per-year deal. The league’s next best mark by Taylor is 1,087 yards behind. Henry also led the NFL in carries (1,226), rushing yards per game (99.5) and rushing touchdowns (53) during this four-year span.
Henry’s age and mileage shouldn’t necessarily dissuade teams from pursuing him. He still has some gas left in the tank. Henry was second in the NFL with 1,167 rushing yards on a league-leading 280 carries last season. However, his 4.2 yards per carry was the worst mark of his eight-year NFL year.
The career low in yards per attempt is mitigated by some…
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