It’s a time of great movement in the NFL, as several players begin negotiating new contracts—some with their current teams, while others with new clubs. Recently, Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley became one of the highest-paid players in the league, and he hopes his peers, such as Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson, among others, will be valued in the same way.
In recent comments via Zach Berman of PHLY, the former New York Giants running back expressed his desire for the running back position to be more valued financially, hoping his colleagues can secure high-paying contracts that reflect their talent.
“For (Bijan Robinson) and (Jahmyr Gibbs) — I know (James) Cook is up, too — all those guys up need to get paid, I hope they beat it,” Barkley said Monday. “That’s how I look at it. I don’t care, ‘Is this guy going to be paid more than me?’ That’s not what this sport is about. It’s putting the position up, and all those guys who are underneath me right now, when there’s a time, they beat it and max it out even more. And in five and 10 years, all those guys who are playing in high school and college right now. That’s the goal. It’s happening for every other position. I think it should happen for our position, too.”
Since his breakout in the NFL, Saquon Barkley has become a leading figure at his position, and he’s an authoritative voice in demanding that several of his teammates be properly compensated by their respective franchises.
Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons rushes for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
RBs seek greater prominence in salary negotiations
It’s well-known in the NFL that the highest-paying contracts typically go to quarterbacks. However, recently, several stars from other positions have secured lucrative deals with their teams.
The latest major example is Myles Garrett, who, after a multimillion-dollar deal, will remain with the Cleveland Browns for a while longer. The DE agreed to a contract extension worth an average of $40 million annually, with $123.5 million fully guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Now, it’s the running backs seeking greater recognition for their numbers, with Saquon Barkley serving as one of their biggest proponents, earning around $20 million annually.
In recent hours, Najee Harris agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $9.25 million with the Chargers, while veteran Aaron Jones secured his return with the Vikings for a deal close to $10 million over two years—far from the amount Barkley currently generates.
