Najee Harris Sounds Off On Running Back Market

[Northern_Blitz]

I know McCaffrey got paid. But I also know as soon as he got hurt and they lost games the reaction was ?see, this is why you don?t pay a RB?

yet when Watt got hurt it was ?see, this proves he is worth the money?

I think they traded him because they knew they weren't good and wanted to fire-sale guys to get better picks. I also think it doesn't make sense to start your rebuild with a mid-career RB (even if he's among the best in the league). I think you want the RB to be basically the last piece of the puzzle...although given the length of their careers, maybe the first and last piece of the puzzle with two different guys (note: this was one of the reasons I didn't want a 1st round RB...but I think Najee was arguably the bpa when we picked him).

The injury clearly didn't help though.

I think they wanted to be bad so they get a pick they could use to get a QB (which is what they did).

[feltdizz]

I think they traded him because they knew they weren't good and wanted to fire-sale guys to get better picks. I also think it doesn't make sense to start your rebuild with a mid-career RB (even if he's among the best in the league). I think you want the RB to be basically the last piece of the puzzle...although given the length of their careers, maybe the first and last piece of the puzzle with two different guys (note: this was one of the reasons I didn't want a 1st round RB...but I think Najee was arguably the bpa when we picked him).

The injury clearly didn't help though.

I think they wanted to be bad so they get a pick they could use to get a QB (which is what they did).

lots of turnover with the coaching staff and multiple QB's. They were a mess.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Now that?s a different argument. I think SF giving up draft stock to pay MC 16 million per shows top end RBs can get paid. Part of the problem is the short shelf life of RBs. 5 year contract and then the tag. Thats whats killing RBs. I heard a suggestion that they should let college RBs leave after their freshman season as a counter to this might be a great idea.

Similar effect, but this is why I've suggested RBs try to negotiate something in their contracts (performance incentives?) to get them out earlier...

[Chucktownsteeler]

You also have to factor in the emergence of "dual threat" QBs now. This is also diminishing the value of RBs. You get guys like Mahomes, Hurts, and Allen you aren't going to pay a RB big bucks.

[Steel Maniac]

You also have to factor in the emergence of "dual threat" QBs now. This is also diminishing the value of RBs. You get guys like Mahomes, Hurts, and Allen you aren't going to pay a RB big bucks.

I think the predominant factor is the abundance of the position in every draft. There's just a lot of them. And you don't have to be super talented to be effective if you have a decent O-line. It's not going to change. You keep them until their 28 years old (90 percent of them decline at this age) or over use them up in their first 4 years and then your on to the next.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I think the predominant factor is the abundance of the position in every draft. There's just a lot of them. And you don't have to be super talented to be effective if you have a decent O-line. It's not going to change. You keep them until their 28 years old (90 percent of them decline at this age) or over use them up in their first 4 years and then your on to the next.

Their shelf-life is also a huge factor for the 2nd contract (or lack there-of).

[Steel Maniac]

Their shelf-life is also a huge factor for the 2nd contract (or lack there-of).

Boom!!!!!!

[feltdizz]

I think the predominant factor is the abundance of the position in every draft. There's just a lot of them. And you don't have to be super talented to be effective if you have a decent O-line. It's not going to change. You keep them until their 28 years old (90 percent of them decline at this age) or over use them up in their first 4 years and then your on to the next.

I think its shelf life. There is an abundance of everything out there IMO. How many are good or better? That is the real question.

The way the game is played in HS and College there are probably more WR’s than RB’s these days.

[Northern_Blitz]

lots of turnover with the coaching staff and multiple QB's. They were a mess.

And we're not.

So I imagine that we'll keep TJ.

[whisper]

You also have to factor in the emergence of "dual threat" QBs now. This is also diminishing the value of RBs. You get guys like Mahomes, Hurts, and Allen you aren't going to pay a RB big bucks.

Yea, but do you really want your $40 mill a year QBs hauling it down field many times?

[Chucktownsteeler]

Yea, but do you really want your $40 mill a year QBs hauling it down field many times?

The QBs mentioned above don't carry the rock?

[whisper]

The QBs mentioned above don't carry the rock?

They do and that's the point: Their teams want them to do so less than they have been. LESS.

[Chucktownsteeler]

They do and that's the point: Their teams want them to do so less than they have been. LESS.

Yep, sure looks like Mahomes is not rushing as much. Rushing attempts last 3 years: 62, 66, 61.

https://www.nfl.com/players/patrick-mahomes/stats/career

[NorthCoast]

Their shelf-life is also a huge factor for the 2nd contract (or lack there-of).

2 1/2 yrs.....the average RB doesn't get through his rookie contract.

The Gurley and Zeke contracts poisoned the well for future RBs.

maybe this was already posted but it goes into lengthy detail on why the RBs have slid in value:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/37985469/why-star-nfl-running-backs-devalued-next-2023-free-agency-future

And the author makes a good point. It isn't Najee who should be shouting about pay, it's guys like Rhamondre Stevenson who didn't get a fully guaranteed rookie contract like Harris did.

[Shawn]

Now this is a weird post. We are all spending time arguing over millionaires. Let?s not act like we don?t have the maturity to separate ourselves from the debate over NFL players.

Business is business. The same principles apply. The fact that its lost on you doesnt surprise me.