NO DEALS FOR BARKLEY, JACOBS AND POLLARD AS CONTRACT EXTENSION DEADLINE COMES AND GOES
The NFL’s contract extension deadline on Monday, July 17th came and went without any new deals for some of the league’s best running backs, dealing yet another blow to the supply side of the running back market.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs and Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Pollard were some of the running backs expecting big money deals on or before the July 17th 4pm deadline. All three running backs were placed on the franchise tag by their respective teams in the spring and two will now have to make a decision on whether to play on the tag or sit out the 2023 season.
Barkley, the more likely of the tagged running backs to get his deal over the line in time, was left frustrated after he and the Giants couldn’t reach an agreement before 4pm. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported a few minutes to 4pm that Barkley and the Giants would not be reaching an agreement before the deadline, with the New York Giants reported to have made several offers over the course of the offseason to the star running back.
The face of the franchise, Barkley has yet to sign his franchise tender that would guarantee him a $10.091 million payout in 2023. The former second overall pick was left frustrated by the team’s inability to get the deal done and made his feelings known on Twitter, writing simply: “It is what it is.”
Jacobs was as optimistic as Barkley that he and the Raiders would get a deal over the line and he wouldn’t have to play on the tag this year. As per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the 2022 NFL leading rusher was so close to signing an extension that he was sitting at the team facility’s parking lot with teammate Maxx Crosby, ready to sign the deal if it got done before the deadline.
The 2019 first-round pick has yet to sign his franchise tender and is thus not required to report to training camp for the Raiders next week. With no long-term deal, the former Alabama running back has to make a decision whether to sit out or play on the tag this year. Jacobs and Barkley will only lose money if they miss regular-season games and forfeit game checks.
Cowboys’ Tony Pollard, however, is expected to play on the $10.091 million franchise tag this year. The 26-year-old signed his tender on March 23 and is currently undergoing rehabilitation on his leg in preparation for the new season. Pollard and the Cowboys surprisingly didn’t have an extensive discussion about a long term deal, as first reported by NFL Network’s Jane Slater. Both sides are expected to revisit the matter after the season.
The veteran running back market can, however, heave a sigh of relief as at least one running back got paid on deadline day. Although brought in as a replacement for more experienced players at his position, Detroit Lions first-round draft pick Jahmyr Gibbs will at some point have to take on the mantle of standing up for the NFL running back over the next few years. The former Alabama running back signed his first contract in the league on Monday. Gibbs replaced Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift who left for New Orleans and Philadelphia this offseason.
With Barkley, Jacobs and Pollard all heading into the 2023 season without a long-term deal, three of the league’s best running backs will now potentially join the 2024 free agent market, barring a second franchise tag in March. 2021 NFL rushing yards leader, Jonathan Taylor, who is also set to hit the market next spring reacted to the “no deals” surprise on Monday, saying on Twitter, “Wow.”
2020 NFL rushing yards leader and Offensive Player of the Year, Derrick Henry, also chimed in, showing his dismay at what was happening at the position. He wrote, “At this point, just take the running back position out of the game then. The ones that want to be great and work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization, just seems like it don’t even matter. I’m with every running back that’s fighting to get what they deserve.”
Some of the league’s best players at the position are set to be available via free agency next year, including Chargers’ Austin Ekeler, Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, Ravens’ JK Dobbins, and Titans’ Derrick Henry. The recent downtick in the running back market is no fluke. Monday’s lack of contract extensions for three of the league’s best young running backs comes just three days after Bengals’ running back Joe Mixon took a pay cut to stay with the team over the next few years, and just five weeks after Barkley’s honest take of the valuation of players at the position.
With the league transitioning into a more “pass-happy” league with more focus put on wide receivers and tight ends, are we currently witnessing the demise of one of the game’s most iconic skill positions?
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.