The New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension, creating some drama heading into the 2023 season. Here are three running backs who could deal with this soon.
July 17, 2023, was an important day in the NFL, as 4:00 p.m. ET was the deadline for players on the franchise tag and their respective teams to reach an agreement on a contract extension. If not, then said players would have to play on the tag. It just so happens that the remaining three players who have yet to sign their franchise tag were running backs. One of those running backs was Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants.
For Giants fans hoping that the team and player could reach a last-second agreement ahead of a deadline like they did with quarterback Daniel Jones earlier this year, that didn't happen. Barkley and the Giants were unable to reach an agreement on an extension and now will have to play on the $10.1 million franchise tag for the upcoming season.
While playing on the tag seems like a conclusion, that's not the case. Barkley could refuse to sign the tag and choose to sit out some, if not all, of the upcoming season. The running back hinted that that is an option he is contemplating earlier this offseason. Now, Giants fans wait to see if he will go through with that plan, a la Le'Veon Bell, or ultimately choose to play on the tag.
It just so happens that Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys also were unable to reach a contract extension agreement before the deadline.
With the running back market being weakened, this outcome for Barkley could happen to others shortly. Here are three running backs who could have to deal with a similar situation as Barkley, Jacobs, and Pollard.
3 running backs who will be the next Saquon Barkley with contract disputes, No. 3: A.J. Dillon, Packers
The Green Bay Packers are already waiting to see if Jordan Love is their quarterback of the future after trading away four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets this past offseason. While the team will try to remain a contender in the NFC North this season, they will have to address the running back position entering the 2024 league year. Why's that? A.J. Dillon is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Dillon was selected late in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Boston College. He would serve as a bruiser out of the backfield behind Aaron Jones, who was the fast and dual-threat option. With quads that were comparable to Barkley, Dillon put up some solid numbers, especially in the past two seasons.
In 2021, Dillon ran for 803 yards and five touchdowns on 187 carries, giving him an average of 4.3 yards per carry. Then, this past season, Dillon finished with 770 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 186 attempts. Dillon played in every single regular-season game the past two years.
Since Dillon was a second-round selection, he doesn't have a fifth-year option attached to his rookie deal. So, he'll become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Could the Packers choose to tag him? While you could point out that the Packers have Jones under contract past this season, yes, that's true. But, Jones becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season.
Could the Packers tag Dillon and then enter contract negotiations that don't result in a deal done by the deadline? Who knows. But, the Packers are in an interesting position when it comes to their running back depth chart very soon.
3 running backs who will be the next Saquon Barkley with contract disputes, No. 2: Najee Harris, Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a desperate need for a running back entering the 2021 league year. Like many teams, they decided to draft one. But for Pittsburgh, they used a first-round pick (24th overall) on Alabama's Najee Harris. That season, Harris was the undisputed best running back in college football, rushing for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns on 251 carries.
Harris has lived up to the hype for the Steelers for the most part. In each of his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, Harris recorded over 1,000 rushing yards on the ground. However, he averaged just below 4.0 yards per carry each season (3.9 in 2021, 3.8 in 2022). But, that can be attributed to the effectiveness of Pittsburgh's offensive line and the play-calling by coordinator Matt Canada.
Overall in his first two NFL seasons, Harris recorded 2,234 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 579 carries (3.9 yards per carry) while catching 115 passes for 696 yards and six touchdowns on 147 targets.
Harris has the chance to really up his production, considering the additions the Steelers front office has made along the offensive line (rookie offensive tackle Broderick Jones, Philadelphia Eagles guard Isaac Seumalo). But, he officially becomes a free agent after the 2025 season at the soonest (if the Steelers exercise his fifth-year option.
Running backs who will be the next Saquon Barkley with contract disputes, No. 1: Jonathan Taylor, Colts
When it comes to running backs who could need a new contract in the very near future, the biggest name is none other than Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts.
Taylor wasn't the first running back taken off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft, as that recognition belonged to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was taken 32nd overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. But with the 41st overall pick, the Colts selected Taylor out of Wisconsin, and that decision paid off.
As a rookie, Taylor averaged 5.0 yards per carry after recording 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns on 232 carries. Then there was his second year, in which he led all running backs in rushing yards (1,811), rushing touchdowns (18), carries (332), and rushing yards per game (106.5). Even with those numbers, he finished second in Offensive Player of the Year, losing to Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
This past season, Taylor didn't crack the 1,000 rushing yards mark, as he missed six games due to two ankle injuries. In 11 games, Taylor recorded 861 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 192 carries.
Overall, Taylor has 3,841 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns to his credit through the first three seasons of his career.
Taylor is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season since he wasn't a first-round selection and doesn't have a fifth-year option attached to his contract. Considering he is an explosive playmaker, one has to wonder if the Colts will be stingy in contract talks. Let's just say that Taylor was paying attention to the news regarding Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs.
Will Taylor be the next running back that will have to go through what Barkley had to go through this offseason? Well, we'll find out next year.
