In the NFL, teams need to focus on building rosters that utilize value. The best way to measure a player’s value is by combining on-field production with the player’s salary. Too often, a team is hamstrung against the salary cap because they paid a single player too high a percentage of their cap allotment. This impacts other moves that NFL franchises need to make. The Cowboys traded Amari Cooper to the Browns this offseason in part because of the record contract extension signed by running back Ezekiel Elliot. The Packers sent away All-Pro receiver Davante Adams (1,553 yards & 11 touchdowns in 2021) to the Las Vegas Raiders in March. This followed the news that Aaron Rodgers signed a 4 year/$200 million extension.
High-end talent deserves top dollar, which makes the draft more important in the NFL than perhaps any other league. Typically, newly drafted players earn a small portion of their teams salary cap. This allows general managers to fill out the roster at other positions. Right now, no player is a better bargain in the NFL than Patriots running back Damien Harris.
Damien Harris’ value
Harris is entering his 4th season in the NFL after being drafted in the 3rd round in 2019. As the Patriots featured running back in 2021, Harris had the most productive season of his career. He ran for 929 yards (10th in the NFL) and scored 15 touchdowns (tied-2nd in the NFL). Heading into 2022, he is set to return to his role as the Patriots primary running back while only making $965,000. According to Spotrac, Harris’ current contract (4 years, $3.6 million) is only the 82nd highest contract among current NFL running backs. Yet last season, Harris ranked as the #2 running back in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. He had an overall PFF Grade of 86.6, trailing only the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor (87.0), who finished 2nd in Offensive Player of the Year voting a season ago.
The Future for Harris
It remains to be seen whether Harris will remain with the Patriots long-term. There hasn’t been any news about a possible contract extension between New England and their star running back. The Patriots added running back Rhamondre Stevenson in the 4th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He chipped in 606 yards and 5 touchdowns as a rookie last season, and is expected to play a larger role in the Patriots offense in 2022. There are risks in the NFL to giving a running back a second contract due to the physicality of the position. For now, Patriots fans should enjoy the value that Harris’ game brings as they look to make a run to the playoffs again in 2022.
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