What the Super Bowl teams are paying their RB Positions

[gimmesix]

No they didn't. Smith and Peterson played for 15 years. They're outliers. Look at Elliott. We haven't even gotten out from under his contract.

Yes, they did. As you said, Smith and Peterson were outliers. Running back has always been a position where careers are typically short. Doesn't mean you don't need a good one even if they burn bright and are quickly extinguished.

Your strategy would mean you don't draft Smith or Peterson because the expectancy for the position is a short career. Elliott hitting the wall so quickly would support not giving a back a huge second contract, but it absolutely does not support not spending a first-round pick on one.

While the position may burn out quicker than others because of the wear and tear, running backs also succeed early more than a lot of other positions. So while you are waiting on another position player to peak, running backs often are already at their best.

 

[Reid1boys]

Add the QB and RB Salaries together.

You could say the Chiefs......... fill in the blank.

Al you need to know is who they have taking snaps from the center.

 

[G2]

Yes, they did. As you said, Smith and Peterson were outliers. Running back has always been a position where careers are typically short. Doesn't mean you don't need a good one even if they burn bright and are quickly extinguished.

Your strategy would mean you don't draft Smith or Peterson because the expectancy for the position is a short career. Elliott hitting the wall so quickly would support not giving a back a huge second contract, but it absolutely does not support not spending a first-round pick on one.

While the position may burn out quicker than others because of the wear and tear, running backs also succeed early more than a lot of other positions. So while you are waiting on another position player to peak, running backs often are already at their best.

Sure. Worked out with Elliott!
The value is on the lines. Longer careers, more production - longer. Agree to disagree.

 

[MAZEREZAM]

This is why I would give Pollard a franchise tag in a heartbeat, but I'm tapping the breaks on a long term deal. 1 year of a high salary wont kill you, but you need to have a replacement ready to go for 2024.

$10.1M is a lot of cap space to commit to a RB who needs someone to spell him for 50% of the snaps.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

We get it. It was a bad contract. Nothing you can do about it now except learn from it ......... and make Pollard the highest paid RB ever! Lol.

No, better to Franchise him for a couple years, and THEN make him the highest paid QB ever, right before he turns 30.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

When you have ur money invested in Guards, Linebackers, and running backs,....ur living in the past.

30 years in the past.

 

[thunderpimp91]

$10.1M is a lot of cap space to commit to a RB who needs someone to spell him for 50% of the snaps.

Is it though? It's a one year deal so you still have the flexibility to sign other players to backloaded deals so it really shouldn't stop you from making other free agent moves if the Cowboys wanted to.

Plus with the cap going up 10.1M is only roughly 4% of the total cap. For comparison, Zeke took up over 8% of the cap in 2022. The issue for the Cowboys is they already have so much money tied into the QB position and another RB on the roster even if they decide to dump him.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Eagles just had Miles Sanders run for 1300 yds or so, and made the ProBowl.

Guess how they're going to reward him?

They will let him walk this offseason, and allow some other team to spend big money on him. Then they'll draft a couple more RBs in the 4th or 5th round, and load up on UDFA, and just keep the best 3 or 4, and ditch the rest.

Then they'll take the $$$ they save, and dump it all into the O and D lines.

 

[Iowa_cowboy]

I'm also leaning toward the tag. We gave him a heavier load as the season progressed and he ended up getting dinged near the end of the season and knocked out of the second playoff game.

Tag him and draft a running back within the first three rounds to pair with him. I like some of what I saw from Malik Davis, but we definitely shouldn't trust that he can be the No. 2 back at the moment.

This is what I am leaning towards as well. I don't want to pay Pollard long term and I don't think I want them to draft a RB in the first round. Though, I would be more open to a RB with a late first round pick versus a top ten pick. Tag Pollard and draft a guy in the third or fourth round.

 

[CCBoy]

Fans never learn either....they keep coming back.

We fought for something as simple as freedom of speech...fat chance loyalty to the Cowboys doesn't stick!

 

[bottleKids]

I am honestly for dropping zeke pollard and keeping davis and drafting Robinson or Gibbs.

Agree

 

[gimmesix]

This is what I am leaning towards as well. I don't want to pay Pollard long term and I don't think I want them to draft a RB in the first round. Though, I would be more open to a RB with a late first round pick versus a top ten pick. Tag Pollard and draft a guy in the third or fourth round.

I don't have a problem using a first on an RB, but I really hope we use it on a DT if there's a good one available. What this defense lacks is a monster in the middle. I can't see the Joneses going and getting one in FA, so the draft is our only hope.

I'd probably be looking in the second and third rounds for a back to pair with Pollard. I wouldn't cry, though, if we did take Bijan Robinson in the first. Maybe a Blake Corum or Zach Charbonnet in the second for that power component. If they are gone, maybe Tank Bigsby or Kendre Miller could fill that role.

From what I've read, this RB class is considered fairly loaded so drafting one in the late second or third might be the way to go, especially if we tag Pollard. It's always possible we could be one of those teams that misses on our pick, so having Pollard gives us some level of assurance just in case, although we'd still need to find someone to pair with him.

 

[MAZEREZAM]

Is it though? It's a one year deal so you still have the flexibility to sign other players to backloaded deals so it really shouldn't stop you from making other free agent moves if the Cowboys wanted to.

Plus with the cap going up 10.1M is only roughly 4% of the total cap. For comparison, Zeke took up over 8% of the cap in 2022. The issue for the Cowboys is they already have so much money tied into the QB position and another RB on the roster even if they decide to dump him.

I still think it’s a lot. Money can be better spent elsewhere. You can get good production by drafting RBs frequently.

 

[plasticman]

Defense or offense, if you have an elite line then it doesn't matter as much, who is standing behind them.

The Cowboys should invest their premium picks on the lines.

 

[Vegas_Cowboy]

But Zeke is special. I heard it here.

 

[Iowa_cowboy]

I don't have a problem using a first on an RB, but I really hope we use it on a DT if there's a good one available. What this defense lacks is a monster in the middle. I can't see the Joneses going and getting one in FA, so the draft is our only hope.

I'd probably be looking in the second and third rounds for a back to pair with Pollard. I wouldn't cry, though, if we did take Bijan Robinson in the first. Maybe a Blake Corum or Zach Charbonnet in the second for that power component. If they are gone, maybe Tank Bigsby or Kendre Miller could fill that role.

From what I've read, this RB class is considered fairly loaded so drafting one in the late second or third might be the way to go, especially if we tag Pollard. It's always possible we could be one of those teams that misses on our pick, so having Pollard gives us some level of assurance just in case, although we'd still need to find someone to pair with him.

I agree with most of this. The issue I have with drafting a RB in the first round this year is primarily that we have other needs that, imo, are more pressing than RB. And like you said, RB is deep this year. Ideally, my philosophy would be never give a RB a second contract unless it was really team friendly but the Jones boys love RBs so not sure that's possible.

Ideally, DL/OL is the first round pick and you can pick up a RB 3rd or 4th round and team them with Pollard. If that RB doesn't pan out, you can always place a higher priority on RB for the 2024 draft and or FA.

 

[gimmesix]

I agree with most of this. The issue I have with drafting a RB in the first round this year is primarily that we have other needs that, imo, are more pressing than RB. And like you said, RB is deep this year. Ideally, my philosophy would be never give a RB a second contract unless it was really team friendly but the Jones boys love RBs so not sure that's possible.

Ideally, DL/OL is the first round pick and you can pick up a RB 3rd or 4th round and team them with Pollard. If that RB doesn't pan out, you can always place a higher priority on RB for the 2024 draft and or FA.

I don't really want us to go OL in the first round. I can live with it, but would prefer that we try to add to the line a little later ... maybe a third-round pick.

I feel like Tyron is going to try to continue to play for at least another year, so we'd have him at LT with Tyler at LG. I also want to get a good look at Waletzko before we spend another first-rounder on the line. I liked what we saw from him very briefly. If Waletzko can't step in when Tyron inevitably gets hurt, maybe Farniok or the third-rounder can.

I just think it's too soon for first-round OL again. I'd rather see a first-round WR, RB or even TE than that. But I really do want the first-round DT.

 

[Frosty]

I agree. Release Zeke, Tyron and let Shultz walk and tag Pollard. Then draft another back in the mid rounds.

But Jerry Like his guys. Expect both Shultz and Zeke to back on new deals and Tyron to be restructured It’s the Jones way

 

[T-RO]

Money well spent.
Now franchise TP or strike a deal.

I'm guessing this is heavy sarcasm.

 

[xwalker]

Not sure that I'd consider it the model, but they are an example of a team that saw its success improve after getting that expensive back.

The model in terms of run game sets up the pass game. That why their rookie QB had success.

The opposite is KC. They're a threat even if their RBs block on all snaps..