Would you believe that the No. 1 highest-paid RB of 2023 is a rookie?!? Check out Boardroom’s full rundown, including the NFL’s top running back contracts overall.
In cases like these, the clickbait writes itself: “You Won’t BELIEVE who the NFL’s highest-paid running back is this year! Doctors HATE him!” You know that whole drill. FOR MORE STORIES LIKE THESE, subscribe to my Samstack, presented by Dude Wipes!
But folks, if we’re talking about NFL running back salaries and contracts in 2023, it actually is reasonably defensible to emphasize the “WTF” factor given who is actually, truly at the top of the earnings list. It ain’t Christian McCaffrey. It ain’t Alvin Kamara. It ain’t Derrick Henry. Go ahead, we’ll wait.
This is no accident; rather, it’s a product of the generally grim reality of the ever-imploding salary market for the position. Look around, folks. Right up until Aug. 26, Josh Jacobs — one of the best backfield rock-toters in the league — wasn’t under contract at all as he struggled to come to agreeable, equitable terms with the Las Vegas Raiders. The same thing nearly happened to the Giants’ Saquon Barkley, likewise one of the NFL’s best backfield bruisers.
That’s a lot to digest. But of course, you really just came here for the numbers.
No more filibustering — check out the top 10 highest-paid running backs in the NFL for 2023, and stick around for the top RB contracts by total value.
Highest-paid Running Back in the NFL: Who’s No. 1 in 2023?
Based on total cash salary for 2023 as noted by Spotrac.
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | 2023 $ |
| 1 | Bijan Robinson | Falcons | $13.72M |
| t-2 | Christian McCaffrey | 49ers | $12M |
| t-2 | Josh Jacobs | Raiders | $12M |
| t-4 | Alvin Kamara | Saints | $11M |
| t-4 | Saquon Barkley | Giants | $11M |
| 6 | Aaron Jones | Packers | $10.96M |
| 7 | Nick Chubb | Browns | $10.85M |
| 8 | Jahmyr Gibbs | Lions | $10.73M |
| 9 | Derrick Henry | Titans | $10.5M |
| 10 | Tony Pollard | Cowboys | $10.09M |
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Top Running Back Contracts by Total Value
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | TOTAL VALUE | AVG. ANNUAL VALUE |
| 1 | A. Kamara | Saints | $75M | $15M |
| 2 | C. McCaffrey | 49ers | $64.06M | $16.01M |
| 3 | D. Henry | Titans | $50M | $12.5M |
| 4 | A. Jones | Packers | $48M | $12M |
| 5 | N. Chubb | Browns | $36.6M | $12.2M |
| 6 | M. Sanders | Panthers | $25.4M | $6.35M |
| 7 | A. Ekeler | Chargers | $24.5M | $6.12M |
| 8 | B. Robinson | Falcons | $21.96M | $5.49M |
| 9 | J. Conner | Cardinals | $21M | $7M |
| 10 | N. Hines | Bills | $18.6M | $6.2M |
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