INDIANAPOLIS — Bill Belichick’s protégé is profiled as one of the people least likely to reinvigorate the stagnant running back contract market.
Still, the sense at the NFL Scouting Combine is that the Texans could make the biggest offseason spend on a free agent running back, given their roster structure allows them to do so within the salary cap, and That’s because influential voices within the organization could sway GM Nick Caserio’s intentions. League sources told the Post that he and Belichick have a different view of the Patriots than how they managed the position during his 20-year tenure.
When asked what he expected at running back, Caserio said, “We’re all going to figure it out.” “Free agency is, ‘What does the market tell me?'” And how much are you willing to pay that player for his role? It’s all about resource allocation. ”
Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler and Tony Pollard lead a deep free agent class with former starters.
A group of former All-Pros, Pro Bowlers and touchdown leaders could reverse the bottom-out that occurred last offseason — with running backs not signing multi-year extensions with more than $13.5 million guaranteed, Barkley, Jacobs , the situation is such that Pollard remained. franchise tag.
It’s also possible that there will be an oversupply to meet league-wide demand, further reducing the position’s value.
“A few years ago, would you have thought this position wasn’t rising as much as other positions on the market?” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. “Just because they’re a low-value position right now doesn’t mean they don’t have a big impact on the team. It just takes one team, one trade to reset the market and change things.”
Running backs are hoping for a breakthrough deal in October when the Colts re-sign Jonathan Taylor to a three-year, $42 million deal that includes $26.5 million in guaranteed money.
General manager Chris Ballard did not realize at the time that there was a saturation of free agent running backs who would be available starting March 11, but after tense negotiations he decided to keep Taylor. I chose that.
“We pay good players,” Ballard said. “Our history shows that we want to keep ‘our guy,’ and he’s a talented guy. The priority is always to take care of your own people first. ”
Would the Giants think that way about Barkley? General manager Joe Schon omitted the names of Zack Moss and Devin Singletary (two of the Bills’ draft picks while he was an assistant general manager) as examples of free agent depth, but both backs Despite his best season falling short of Barkley’s average season when healthy.
Is it worth it for the Raiders, Titans, Chargers, or Chargers to re-sign the free agent, or is a game of musical chairs about to begin?
“I don’t think there’s anyone among the top free agents that can match or beat Taylor’s contract,” one agent told the Post. “They’re all older and most have more mileage on their bodies.”
No one has more carries than Henry or was more productive last season. However, sources say there are fewer teams who would be a good fit because of his power skill set.
“I don’t have a crystal ball, but I would expect something similar.” [to last offseason]Bills general manager Brandon Beane said of the market. “I just think this is a passing league… so the backs, who can run out of the backfield but can be mismatched in the passing game, are more of a traditional, 3-yard and 1-yard guy. It’ll be worth it.” – The cloud of dust returns. ”
The second agent said that if Barkley, for example, can secure the kind of contract predicted by Pro Football Focus ($36 million over three years, including $20 million in guaranteed money), he will receive $10.1 and a sense of security that he will win. He pointed out that it is possible to obtain Million franchise tag.
That means at least $30.1 million is guaranteed from 2023 to 2025, more than he would have received had he accepted the Giants’ best offer last July. ing.
With quarterback C.J. Stroud and receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell on cost-controlled rookie contracts, the Texans are in a position to pay a running back.
The Patriots ranked last in the NFL in running back spending for most of Belichick’s tenure, but in Caserio’s last three games running back spending rose to the top seven league-wide, the Patriots ranked last in the NFL in running back spending for most of Belichick’s tenure. Instead of returning one, we took a multi-handed approach. season, according to Spotrac.com.
“Running backs are tough,” Cardinals general manager Monty Ossenfort said. “When I was a kid, I collected baseball cards, and every month I would buy a Beckett card and I would open it and take it to my dad and say, ‘Oh, I got this card, it’s worth this much. “said” . ”His father’s response was, “No, it’s worth what someone is willing to pay for it.” ”
The value is immediate.
