Much of the discussion in the 2022-23 offseason centered around the true value of a running back.
Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley were at the forefront of these discussions. To open 2024 free agency, these highly sought after running backs got exactly what they hoped for. And they weren’t the only ones at the position to score big on day one of Free Agency.
D’Andre Swift Led The Way for Running Backs
Not long after the legal tampering period opened, D’Andre Swift inked a 3-year deal with the Chicago Bears. The 3-year deal worth $24 million pried the running back away from Philadelphia and has him landing on his third team in three seasons. He will also land back in the NFC North.
Swift will offer immediate help to the Bears at the position where Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman split reps in 2023. Swift’s services will also take a sizable amount of pressure off of the Bears starting quarterback in 2024. It remains unclear if Fields will remain in Chicago, or if Caleb Williams will be the one to hand off to Swift this fall.
Barkley, Jacobs Were Big Winners
The two running backs who led the discussion surrounding the position in 2023 got paid in 2024. Barkley and Jacobs each threatened to hold out during the 2023 preseason before returning to their clubs before the season got underway. Both would not receive a second tag from their clubs for 2024.
Each found major successes on day one. Barkley’s much-publicized deal happened early in the afternoon, a 37 million-dollar deal to leave New York and join the Eagles. Josh Jacobs would follow on a 48-million-dollar deal for four seasons. These deals led the way for the group of players who finally had their value redeemed.
Other Notable Running Back Deals
Despite the big hitters at the position being paid, their peers also saw movement during the opening salvo of Free Agency 2024. Here is a quick rundown of their contracts:
Devin Singletary, 3 years and $16.5 Million (NYG)
Zack Moss, 2 years and $8 Million (CIN)
Tony Pollard, 3 years and $24 Million (TEN)
Antonio Gibson, 3 years and #11.25 Million (NE)
Who Remains?
Derrick Henry will not return to Tennessee in 2024 and beyond. Aaron Jones was released by the Packers. Together, they are the two biggest names at the position that are still available as teams enter day two of legal tampering ahead of deals being officially signed on Wednesday.