RB’s Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs & Tony Pollard Failed To Sign A Contract Extention, Yet Not Underpaid As Of Now

There were no significant developments regarding new, long-term contracts for the three remaining franchise-tagged players, a trio of Pro Bowl running backs: Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders, Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants, and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys, at the NFL’s 4 p.m. ET franchise tag deadline on Monday.

RB’s Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs & Tony Pollard Failed To Sign A Contract Extension, Yet Not Underpaid As Of Now

They are all still franchise-tagged running backs without long-term extensions after Monday’s deadline passed with no deals done.

Jaguars of Jacksonville tight One of the winners of the deadline was Evan Engram, who inked a three-year, $41.25 million deal with his team that includes a $24 million fully guaranteed bonus.

However, they are by no means underpaid in the near term with their one-year tenders, which are set up for $10.091 million in guaranteed income for 2023.

There are no doubts that Pollard will play for the Cowboys this year because he already signed his tender with the organization.

However, Barkley and Jacobs have not yet signed theirs and are debating staying out of camp.

Josh Jacobs, a running back with the Las Vegas Raiders, was named to the NFL’s First Team All-Pro in 2022 after setting league records for both rushing yards (1,653) and scrimmage yards (2,053) at the age of 24.

Jacobs, selected by the Raiders with the 27th overall choice in the 2019 NFL Draft, earned slightly under $12 million throughout his first four seasons.

With Saquon Barkley serving as the focal point of 2022 NFL Coach of the Year Brian Daboll’s attack, the New York Giants running back racked up 1,312 rushing yards last season, a career record and the most by a Giants player since Tiki Barber had 1,662 in 2006.

Before earning $7.2 million for his fifth NFL season, Barkley, the Giants’ No. 2 overall choice in 2018, began his career with a four-year, $31.2 million fully guaranteed contract.

Tony Pollard, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, had the most scrimmage yards per touch (5.9) among NFL players with at least 200 touches in the previous season since Herschel Walker’s 6.0  back in 1987.

Pollard, a fourth-round selection in the 2019 draft who earned less than $1 million during his breakout season in 2022, is now making more than ten times what he was paid before. It’s simpler to play with a one-year tag in his situation.

With an average yearly value of $10.091 million for 2023, Barkley, Jacobs, and Pollard tie for seventh place in the running back position.

Given their achievements, one could anticipate that Barkley and Jacobs would be able to demand more and that clubs would value them more. However, the law of supply and demand works against running backs in both situations, since one strong season does not justify a large contract for a seasoned player who logs a lot of miles.

Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, who leads the NFL in rushing and has the highest average annual salary of any running back at $16 million, referred to Jacobs, Barkley, and Pollard’s lack of agreements on Monday as “criminal.”

 

FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE-

Draymond Green Slams Knicks Fans & Calls Them Delusional