After Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara each received lucrative contract extensions just minutes apart, these three should be next in line to get a deal.
The next group of running backs to get paid owe Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara a big thank you for helping set the market.
In recent years, trends indicated that paying a running back was frowned upon amongst NFL general managers. Why pay a running back given their rather short shelf-life in the league, when you can just draft his replacement? Well, the 2020 offseason proved differently. Teams that had a great running back on their roster was retained via lucrative contract extensions, as highlighted by Christian McCaffrey‘s deal with the Carolina Panthers and Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans.
But on Saturday, two of the game’s best rushers in Cook and Kamara received new five-year contract extensions minutes apart from each other. Cook received $63 million from the Minnesota Vikings, while Kamara earned $75 million from the New Orleans Saints. Given that running backs are getting paid again, that leaves the question: who’s next?
Here are three running backs who are deserving of new contract extensions.
3.
Nick Chubb
RB Cleveland Browns
In 2018, the Cleveland Browns used their two first-round selections on quarterback Baker Mayfield and cornerback Denzel Ward. The next position of need on Cleveland’s checklist in the NFL Draft was running back, and rather luckily, Georgia’s Nick Chubb was still on the board with their first pick in the second round (No. 35 overall). That selection worked out perfectly for Cleveland.
Chubb proved in just two seasons that he’s one of the more electric running backs in the game. In 32 games, Chubb has accumulated 2,490 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 490 carries (5.1 yards per carry). Perhaps what was most impressive was that Chubb managed to rush for 1,494 yards behind Cleveland’s struggling offensive line last season. That’s a testament to how talented Chubb is.
Since he’s a mid-round draft pick, Chubb’s rookie contract expires after four seasons, which means he’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2022. Browns fans began panicking earlier this week after the team gave backup Kareem Hunt a two-year, $13.25 million contract extension. This deal isn’t going to prevent the Browns from reaching an agreement with Chubb in the near future. They just wanted to secure a nice one-two punch for their backfield.
Chubb will get paid big running back money soon, and you can bank on that.