Who are the highest-paid running backs in the NFL?

The world of NFL running back salaries and contracts is constantly evolving, and a surprising twist has left many sports enthusiasts beyond surprised in 2023. The shock isn’t about Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara, the leaders atop the earnings list, and it’s about a young perspective Colts RB.

Indianapolis Colts’ star running back, Jonathan Taylor, recently signed a lucrative three-year contract extension worth a staggering $42 million, with a $26.5 million guaranteed in this deal. What’s more eye-popping is that Taylor’s journey to this mammoth payday included overcoming an ankle injury that sidelined him for the season’s first four Games. He was initially set to earn a modest $4.3 million this season under the final year of his rookie contract. However, with this new extension, Taylor will make an average of $14 million per season, placing him among the NFL’s highest-paid running backs.

What’s striking about this development is that it further amplifies the growing number of running backs securing contracts north of $10 million. Nine ball-carriers now find themselves in this elite club. However, three of these nine players are operating on one-year deals.

Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys fall into this category, playing under franchise tags. However, Barkley sweetened the deal with a $2 million signing bonus, making his situation unique.

The apparent shockwaves in the running back market aren’t coincidental. Instead, they reflect the harsh reality of this position’s constantly shifting salary landscape. The recent negotiations involving Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders considered one of the finest backfield talents in the league, underscore this point. Until August 26, Jacobs remained unsigned as he grappled with the team to reach mutually agreeable contract terms. Similarly, Saquon Barkley, a force to be reckoned with in the NFL’s backfield, was in a similar precarious situation.

Highest-paid running backs in the NFL