While most NFL positions are seeing salaries increase as a result of players setting the market, that isn’t the case for running backs. The league’s star runners are struggling to successfully find lucrative contracts as teams continue to devalue their position.
One veteran back who remains unsigned is Melvin Gordon, and the 30-year-old still believes he can play. However, while appearing on The Jim Rome Show, Gordon explained the reality of the running back position.
“It’s just so tough for running backs right now,” he said. “You have a lot of running backs out there, we just don’t get no love. It’s literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now, it literally sucks.”
Gordon himself was never at the level of a superstar running back, but he still felt the residual effects over his career. Though this has been bubbling for a few years, Gordon noted one running back’s contract that seemed to be the breaking point for teams.
“I think after Todd (Gurley) got paid, and Sean McVay came out and said that ‘I’ll never pay a running back again,’ and then I think they won the Super Bowl, everybody just followed suit,” Gordon said.
"It's literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks."
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) June 21, 2023
-@MelvinGordon25 on a brutal offseason for running backs. pic.twitter.com/omUUB7PRXu
Gurley led the NFL in rushing yards with the Rams in 2017, then signed a contract extension in the 2018 offseason. However, after another strong season in 2018, Gurley dealt with knee issues in 2019 before Los Angeles cut him with multiple years left on the contract. He last played in 2020 at 26 years old.
This year, three running backs were franchised and are looking for long-term contracts, including Giants star Saquon Barkley and the NFL’s reigning rushing leader, Josh Jacobs of the Raiders. Gordon mentioned those two could change the market, or they could be more proof of the problem.
“Hopefully they do get paid,” he said. “Hopefully the teams tagged them just to have enough time to find a number that works.”
