Getty Image / Justin Edmonds
In recent days, there is one position in the NFL that has been dominating headlines.
Everybody wants to know what’s going on with the running backs.
Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs both haven’t signed their franchise tags yet.
Dalvin Cook is still a free agent and fans find themselves waiting for him to inevitably sign with the Miami Dolphins.
It turns out that one former star at the position may have an explanation for everything going on with running backs in the NFL right now.
Melvin Gordon told Jim Rome earlier this week that running back is the worst position to play in the NFL.
"It's literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks."
–@MelvinGordon25 on a brutal offseason for running backs. pic.twitter.com/omUUB7PRXu
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) June 21, 2023
“It’s so tough for running backs right now, man. You have a lot of running backs out there and we just don’t get no love. It’s literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks,” Gordon said.
This has seemed to be the case for running backs over the last couple of years.
The situation has never really been all that great for running backs to begin with. They have the shortest shelf lives of any skill position players, which already limits their earning potential.
They are also locked into rookie contracts for at least the first 4 years of their career, meaning most running backs are around 26 by the time they can really cash in.
Unfortunately, teams have been catching on to the fact running backs are close to declining by then and they can just replace them in the draft instead of giving out huge long-term contracts.
It will be interesting to see how things are resolved with Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs this offseason and that could set the tone for how teams will approach star running backs with expired contracts in the future.