(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
The NFL has seen a major change in play style over the past decade.
Most offenses now rely on throwing the ball and only running it when necessary.
That never used to be the case in the NFL as running backs were seen as one of the most important positions.
But you can see over the past few years that running backs are an afterthought for most teams.
While they still get drafted high, not many of them are given long-term extensions.
Once their rookie contract is up, most teams are fine moving on to another running back.
That has been the case this offseason with Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard.
All three of them will have to play the 2023 season under the franchise tag.
Former NFL running back Brandon Jacobs thinks it is a disgrace what has happened to the position.
He said if the NFL will not respect running backs then they should “get rid of the position.”
Running backs are needed. No position on the field is better. Your most explosive players by far. If the NFL won’t respect them get rid of the position.
— Brandon Jacobs (@BrandonJacobs27) July 18, 2023
Jacobs was a nine-year NFL vet, and he knows what running backs put their bodies through.
He wants to see all the running backs get paid because of their short shelf life.
But that same shelf life is why teams are afraid to give them long-term extensions.
More often than not after five or six years a running back is on the decline.
We have seen that with Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette this offseason.
There was a time when running backs were an important part of an offense, but that time is long gone.
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