3 running backs who will be the next Saquon Barkley with contract disputes
By Scott Rogust
The New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension, creating some drama heading into the 2023 season. Here are three running backs who could deal with this soon.
July 17, 2023, was an important day in the NFL, as 4:00 p.m. ET was the deadline for players on the franchise tag and their respective teams to reach an agreement on a contract extension. If not, then said players would have to play on the tag. It just so happens that the remaining three players who have yet to sign their franchise tag were running backs. One of those running backs was Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants.
For Giants fans hoping that the team and player could reach a last-second agreement ahead of a deadline like they did with quarterback Daniel Jones earlier this year, that didn’t happen. Barkley and the Giants were unable to reach an agreement on an extension and now will have to play on the $10.1 million franchise tag for the upcoming season.
While playing on the tag seems like a conclusion, that’s not the case. Barkley could refuse to sign the tag and choose to sit out some, if not all, of the upcoming season. The running back hinted that that is an option he is contemplating earlier this offseason. Now, Giants fans wait to see if he will go through with that plan, a la Le’Veon Bell, or ultimately choose to play on the tag.
It just so happens that Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys also were unable to reach a contract extension agreement before the deadline.
With the running back market being weakened, this outcome for Barkley could happen to others shortly. Here are three running backs who could have to deal with a similar situation as Barkley, Jacobs, and Pollard.
3 running backs who will be the next Saquon Barkley with contract disputes, No. 3: A.J. Dillon, Packers
The Green Bay Packers are already waiting to see if Jordan Love is their quarterback of the future after trading away four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets this past offseason. While the team will try to remain a contender in the NFC North this season, they will have to address the running back position entering the 2024 league year. Why’s that? A.J. Dillon is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Dillon was selected late in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Boston College. He would serve as a bruiser out of the backfield behind Aaron Jones, who was the fast and dual-threat option. With quads that were comparable to Barkley, Dillon put up some solid numbers, especially in the past two seasons.
In 2021, Dillon ran for 803 yards and five touchdowns on 187 carries, giving him an average of 4.3 yards per carry. Then, this past season, Dillon finished with 770 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 186 attempts. Dillon played in every single regular-season game the past two years.
Since Dillon was a second-round selection, he doesn’t have a fifth-year option attached to his rookie deal. So, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Could the Packers choose to tag him? While you could point out that the Packers have Jones under contract past this season, yes, that’s true. But, Jones becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season.
Could the Packers tag Dillon and then enter contract negotiations that don’t result in a deal done by the deadline? Who knows. But, the Packers are in an interesting position when it comes to their running back depth chart very soon.