(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The running back position has been in the spotlight in the NFL over the past few weeks, with some of the league’s elite backs recently getting denied in their attempts to secure long-term deals after having very successful seasons resulting in being named Pro Bowlers.
Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard all failed to secure long-term deals with their respective teams recently after some long and drawn-out contract negotiations.
As a result, all three elite backs were expected to play on the franchise tag that was placed on them, paying them a little over $10 million for the upcoming season.
This forced Jacobs and Barkley to strongly consider sitting out the upcoming season, but then in a surprising turn of events, the New York Giants star decided to sign a one-year deal with the team at $11 million with incentives that could earn him $2 million more on top of that.
On Wednesday, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris reacted to Barkley signing that deal with the Giants, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.
Najee Harris on Saquon Barkley’s one-year deal:
“Saquon accumulated almost 30% of the offense. Why can’t you look at that and say, “OK he said he’s not trying to set the market, but he’s trying to get compensated for what he thinks is fair… that ain’t fair what he’s getting.” pic.twitter.com/p94j2TOtBq
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 26, 2023
Clearly, Harris is as frustrated as every other back in the league, as the major problem with teams not committing to their running backs is the lack of job security beyond one year.
The running back position has become somewhat of a mercenary position, where teams seem fine with elite backs leaving the team and bringing in a rookie or another player in NFL free agency.
A lot more work has to be done in order for these running backs to feel valued, and it seems that won’t happen until teams are willing to provide more long-term security.
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