Gibbs and Robinson could push running back pay toward $25 million

Running backs are getting paid again, and CBS Sports contract analyst Joel Corry says Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson could be the next players to shove the market into a new tax bracket.

Corry reported that the position’s pay slump began to turn in 2024, when Christian McCaffrey signed a two-year, $38 million extension with the San Francisco 49ers. That deal averaged $19 million per year and kept him alone above the $14 million-per-year line at the time.

Then Saquon Barkley raised the bar in 2025. According to Corry, Barkley became the NFL’s first $20 million-a-year running back with a two-year, $41.2 million extension from the Philadelphia Eagles, including what was then a record $36 million fully guaranteed at signing for the position.

Derrick Henry followed with a two-year, $30 million extension from the Baltimore Ravens, despite entering age-31 territory with a heavy workload. Corry noted Henry was expected, barring injury, to pass 2,500 career carries during the 2025 season.

The $14 million club is filling up

Corry wrote that six running backs now earn more than $14 million per year, with the total possibly reaching nine before the regular season begins in early September.

This offseason alone, Kenneth Walker III landed a three-year, $43 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs that can reach $45 million through incentives. Breece Hall, after the New York Jets used a $14.3 million franchise tag to keep him from free agency, agreed to a three-year, $43.5 million contract that can max out at $45.75 million, according to Corry.

De’Von Achane also cashed in, receiving a four-year, $64 million Miami Dolphins extension with $32 million in guarantees. Corry reported incentives can lift Achane’s deal to $68 million, and his $16 million annual average ranks third among NFL running backs.

Taylor has a case, too

Jonathan Taylor is another name in the queue. Corry reported that the Indianapolis Colts back is entering the final season of a three-year, $42 million extension he signed in 2023 after tense negotiations that included a trade request.

Taylor made his third Pro Bowl in six seasons in 2025 and was named first-team All-Pro by The Sporting News. He finished third in the league with 1,585 rushing yards and led the NFL with 20 total touchdowns, 18 rushing and two receiving, according to Corry.

If the Colts do not reach a new agreement with Taylor, Corry said he would be a strong candidate for the franchise tag. Because of tag rules tied to prior salary, that would cost Indianapolis $18.7 million.

Gibbs and Robinson are aiming higher

Corry identified Gibbs and Robinson as the backs most likely to reset the position. Both were first-round picks and both are major receiving threats as well as runners.

Robinson led the NFL last season with 2,298 yards from scrimmage, the 12th-highest single-season total in league history, and earned first-team All-Pro honors. Gibbs ranked fifth with 1,839 yards from scrimmage and made the Pro Bowl on the original ballot for the second straight year, according to Corry.

Detroit may move first. Corry noted the Lions have recently extended first-rounders Penei Sewell, Jameson Williams and Aidan Hutchinson early, while the Atlanta Falcons have more often waited until after a player’s fourth season for first-round extensions.

Corry wrote that Gibbs and Robinson should be targeting $25 million per year, though he said that number may be difficult to reach this year. He pointed to prior running back records by Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott and McCaffrey, which would sit around the mid-$24 million range when adjusted for the current salary cap.

Guarantees may be another fight. Corry noted that Arizona Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has $53 million guaranteed and a $35 million signing bonus because first-round rookie contracts are set by draft slot. He expects the camps for Gibbs and Robinson to push against a rookie leading those categories.

If Atlanta follows its usual timetable with Robinson, Corry wrote that 2027 could be the year the position sees its first $25 million-per-year deal, especially if the salary cap rises from the current $301.2 million to at least $320 million.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.