While contracts for NFL quarterbacks and wide receivers have increased in recent years, the running back position is lagging far behind when it comes to team commitment.
This offseason, the devaluation of running backs has been a hot topic of conversation, as top talents like Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard and Saquon Barkley were offered franchise deals but haven’t come to agreements on long-term extensions.
While Barkley reportedly agreed Tuesday to take his one-year franchise offer worth up to $11 million, Jacobs and Pollard are primed to hold out to begin training camp.
49ers star Christian McCaffrey, who is the league’s highest-paid running back in terms of Average Annual Value (AAV), vocalized his support for other players at his position who aren’t getting long-term deals.
“I support my brothers,” McCaffrey said Tuesday. “I think those guys are worth way more than what they’re getting. As far as a solution goes, I wish I had an answer. I think just starting the conversation is important and going from there.”
The comments echo the tweet that McCaffrey sent out last week, when he called the situation “criminal.”
The 27-year-old McCaffrey ($16 million) is signed through the 2025 and is one of just five NFL running backs with an AAV over $12 million, along with Alvin Kamara ($15 million), Derrick Henry ($12.5 million), Nick Chubb ($12.2 million) and Aaron Jones ($12 million). This, despite the league having an all-time high salary cap of $224.8 million in 2023.
For now, McCaffrey finds himself in a great situation with a San Francisco team that’s expected to contend for a Super Bowl bid.
“I’m happy to be part of a stacked team,” McCaffrey said.
CMC also discussed the benefits of having a full offseason with the 49ers after last season’s midseason trade from the Carolina Panthers.
“I think OTAs (Offseason Team Activities) were really important for me this year,” McCaffrey said. “Just being able to understand what they’re trying to accomplish, way more in depth and not week-to week. Really talk about specific things. I’m glad I went and definitely feel better going into camp than Week 7.”
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