Three days that moved a market
Between August 4 and August 6, three running backs signed the richest deals the position has ever seen by average annual salary. Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit at $22.5 million a year. Bijan Robinson in Atlanta at $22.25 million. Jonathan Taylor in Indianapolis at $22 million.
In context the money stays modest. Those figures land in the same range as quarterback Malik Willis, receiver Courtland Sutton or tackle Jake Matthews, none of whom crack the top 10 at their positions. Gibbs, Robinson and Taylor all sit in the league’s top 10 for touches, yards and touchdowns since 2023.
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112% versus 187%: the gap that held the position down
From 2011 to 2023, the average running back salary rose 112.68%. Last among all positions, and nowhere near the 187.33% growth of the salary cap over the same stretch. Adrian Peterson’s 2011 contract, $14.2 million a year, held the record for seven years.
Teams had their reasons. DeMarco Murray led the NFL in 2014 in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and touches, signed with the Eagles for $8 million a year, cleared 1,000 yards once more and was out of the league by 2018. Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, Le’Veon Bell, Dalvin Cook all dropped off fast after their extensions.
Team spending tells the same story. Across 2016 to 2025, the three franchises paying the most at the position, roughly $14.7 million a year, reached the playoffs 43.3% of the time and never won a Super Bowl. The ones averaging $4.3 million got there 45% of the time. Seven of the 13 biggest contracts signed since 2018 were followed by a season out of the postseason.
A $300 million cap rewrites the math
Two things explain what Detroit, Atlanta and Indianapolis just did. Teams with an elite ground game reach the playoffs far more often. And the cap has blown past $300 million.
A $22 million deal now takes up 7.3% to 7.5% of a payroll. Peterson’s in 2011 ate 11.8% of the Vikings’ cap. Christian McCaffrey, Elliott and Gurley all sat near 8%.
The players are different too. Gibbs and Robinson run and catch, which is what makes the investment defensible when pure runners no longer are. History still says be careful. Three front offices decided they will be the exceptions.
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