Disgruntled NFL tailbacks are on the counteroffensive in opposition to unfavorable market forces and a collective bargaining settlement that leaves them with few choices have spent the previous couple of days discussing their present predicament amongst each other and seem to have emerged from their Zoom assembly with just a few actionable gadgets.
One of many pushback strategies instructed was mentioned by Pittsburgh Steelers working again Najee Harris. Talking earlier than reporters as he confirmed up for coaching camp on Wednesday, Harris instructed that they give the impression of being into adjusting the franchise tag thereby eliminating the positional designations and creating extra common courses of franchise tag designations.
Austin Ekeler doubled down on the considerations working backs have with the franchise tag throughout an unique interview with USA In the present day’s Tyler Dragon.
“I need to assault it. I believe it’s detrimental to us as gamers. You’ll be able to take a look at any of the statistics. Our common profession is three years. In case you are lucky sufficient to be ready to have success, and now you’re capable of be locked in for a couple of 12 months, one 12 months, one 12 months and never should share any of that danger with the group then it’s simply not an excellent scenario,” Ekeler informed USA In the present day. “It’s very one-sided.”
Of the six gamers franchise tagged this offseason, three have been working backs, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard, who have been lastly due for large paydays. Now they rank seventh in common annual compensation.
Whereas it’s not a wholesale elixir, a common franchise tag would resolve the comparatively meager franchise tag figures group’s use of their favor to amass low-cost labor from working backs. This week, Saquon Barkley inked a one-year $11 million contract that hardly outpaces the franchise tag New York pressured on him when the 2 sides hit an deadlock throughout contract negotiations.
For Harris, that is about to hit near residence. After the upcoming season, the Steelers will decide on Harris’ fifth-year choice. After that, Pittsburgh may have the flexibility to tag him for 2 extra seasons. Entrance workplace varieties take a look at working backs at 25 by means of a Leonardo DiCaprio-colored lens and are already trying to draft a youthful mannequin. After Harris’ fifth 12 months, the Steelers might tag Harris twice and maintain him below their thumb till he’s 29 years previous.
The commerce compensation for franchised non-quarterbacks and quarterbacks are the identical, so it stands to motive they need to function below equal compensation packages.
Every place’s non-exclusive franchise tag stems from the common of the highest 5 cap hits at every place for the earlier 5 years, then adjusted for the cap. Beneath are the franchise tag quantities for each place in 2023, so as of lowest to highest. As anticipated, working backs are brushing the franchise tag pay scale ground. In parentheses is what their positional non-exclusive franchise tags have been a decade in the past, adopted by the share every place’s franchise tender has elevated since 2013.
- Kickers/punter: $5.4 million (2.9 mil) +86%
- Operating again: $10 million (8.2 mil) +21%
- Tight finish: $11.3 million (6 mil) +88%
- Security: $14.4 million (6.9 mil) +108%
- Cornerback: $18.1 million (10.8 mil) +67%
- Offensive linemen: $18.2 million (8.7 mil) +109%
- Defensive deal with: $18.9 million (9.8 mil) +92%
- Defensive finish: $19.7 million (11.1 mil) +77%
- Extensive receiver: 19.7 million (10.5 mil) +87%
- Linebacker: $20.9 million (9.6 mil) +117%
- Quarterback: 32.4 million (14.9 mil) +120%
Simply add this to the sundry of metrics illustrating how a lot working backs have taken it on the chin. Along with having the second-lowest franchise tag variety of all positions, they’ve seen the smallest improve since 2013 by a whopping 46 p.c.
Quarterbacks may need one thing to say about this, however they’re outnumbered by hundreds of NFLPA plebeians. Eradicating the positional divisions from franchise tags might drive the quarterback tag down, however each different place will both profit or see negligible variations.
What number of quarterbacks are literally enjoying on the tag anyway? The reply is zero. Lamar Jackson evaded the tag prefer it was a pursuing tackler in open area, however he wound up signing the richest deal in NFL historical past till Justin Herbert’s turned the brand new benchmark this week. In the meantime, the final time a franchise quarterback performed the common season on the non-exclusive or unique franchise tag was Kirk Cousins in the course of the 2016 and 2017 seasons with the then-Redskins. In 2018, Cousins entered free company and was awarded with a completely assured three-year, $84 million contract. Go away it to Dan Snyder to turn out to be the one group proprietor to lose a franchise quarterback in his prime to free company with no viable starter ready within the wings.
There isn’t any working again contract derby. They only get franchise-tagged till their put out to pasture. The franchise tag wants extra chunk to it and one of the simplest ways for working backs to garner assist can be for the tag method to be a median of prime 5 gamers no matter positions. As common, these are all quarterbacks.
The mechanism for the way they might enact that’s unclear given the present CBA doesn’t expire till 2030. Sadly, many of the working backs discussing these adjustments could by no means profit from these talks.
Observe DJ Dunson on Twitter: @cerebralsportex
