Top 5 highest paid running backs in the NFL

Running backs are one of the most important positions for an NFL franchise. A good ground game can help the teams to win Super Bowl rings and good rushers are hard to find. So, they were valued at a high level. But now, the pass-happy offenses in the modern game have seen supply overgrow the demand, which has resulted in a dire situation for the running backs in the NFL.

In the last few years, even top-tier runners are struggling to find good deals in the league. And in the 2023 off-season, that issue has blown on a massive scale. The best of the best running backs Josh Jacobs, Dalvin Cook, Saquon Barkley, and Kareem Hunt are all struggling to secure long-term NFL contracts.

For context, the Las Vegas Raiders‘ Jacobs was the rushing yards leader in 2022 and the former Minnesota Vikings tailback Cook has 4 consecutive Pro Bowl seasons on his bag. But still, Jacobs was placed under the franchise tag by the Raiders. Cook, on the other hand, was released by the Vikings and is now searching for a new home in free agency. Plenty of veteran backs, including the Los Angeles Chargers‘ Austin Ekeler and the former Denver Broncos RB Melvin Gordon, have opened up about the struggles of the running backs in the NFL.

But not all of them are struggling though. Some running backs are still getting paid handsomely. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the top 5 highest-paid running backs in the league by annual average salary (AAV).

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5. Aaron Jones ($12,000,000)

The Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones is the 5th highest-paid running back in the NFL with an average annual salary of $12 million. Even Jones had to take a pay cut of $5 million to stay with the team ahead of the 2023 free agency.

The talented running back signed a 4-year $48 million contract with the Packers back in March 2021 following his remarkable 2020 campaign. In 2020, Jones entered the final year of his rookie contract and registered 1,104 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns, which led to him receiving his first and only Pro Bowl recognition so far.

As a result, the 5’9″ RB secured a long-term deal in 2021. Jones still has 2 years left in his second contract, but the way things are going, no one would be surprised if he gets cut by the Packers before the 2024 season.

4. Nick Chubb ($12,200,000)

Ever since Nick Chubb entered the league back in 2018, he has been a dominant force in the Cleveland Browns backfield. Chubb has four straight 1000+ plus rushing yards seasons, which led to him receiving 4 straight Pro Bowl nods.

As a result of his remarkable run, the Browns signed the 4-time Pro Bowl RB Chubb to a massive 3-year contract worth up to $36.6 million back in July 2021. Brown still has 2 years left in his second contract. He is currently the league’s 4th highest-paid running back with an AAV of $12.2 million.

3. Derrick Henry ($12,500,000)

The Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is one of the most dominant athletes in the league right now. He has been a massive asset for the Titans in the last few years, which resulted in Henry signing a huge 4-year contract extension worth $50 million back in 2020.

That huge contract extension makes the 3-time Pro Bowl rusher Henry the 3rd highest-paid running back in the league with an annual average salary of $12.5 million.

Henry is now entering the final year of his massive contract. Following the 2023 season, Henry would become a free agent and it is safe to assume the 29-year-old running back wouldn’t receive a similar contract again, given the current market for the RBs.

2. Alvin Kamara ($15,000,000)

The New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is yet to register a 1000+ rushing yards season, but he has already become one of the highest-paid running backs in the game.

Apart from winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017, Kamara also registered 4 consecutive Pro Bowl seasons during his first 4 years in the league. As a result, the talented athlete signed a massive 5-year extension worth $75 million with the New Orleans-based football team back in September 2020.

With that contract, Kamara is now the second highest-paid running back in the NFL with an annual average salary of $15 million. The Saints halfback still has 3 years left in his contract.

1. Christian McCaffrey ($16,015,875)

The San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is one of the best offensive weapons in the league. He is a complete running back, who can rush, block and help out his quarterback in the passing game. He was acquired by the Niners from the Carolina Panthers during the 2022 mid-season.

His elite production has made McCaffrey one of the top-paid players in the league. Following a remarkable season in 2019, when he registered league-high 2,392 total yards and 19 total touchdowns, McCaffrey signed a huge 4-year, $64,063,500 contract with the Panthers.

The 2-time Pro Bowler, who is tied to the 49ers through the 2025 season, is the highest-paid running back in the league with an AAV of $16,015,87. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

Check out the list of the top 10 highest-paid running backs in the league by annual average salary.

Top 10 highest-paid running backs in the league

1. Christian McCaffrey – $16,015,875
2. Alvin Kamara – $15,000,000
3. Derrick Henry – $12,500,000
4. Nick Chubb – $12,200,000
5. Aaron Jones – $12,000,000
6. Saquon Barkley – $10,091,000
7. Josh Jacobs – $10,091,000
8. Tony Pollard – $10,091,000
9. James Conner – $7,000,000
10. Miles Sanders – $6,350,000

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