LockerRoomDaily

For years, running backs were the NFL’s biggest value battleground—used, bruised, and barely paid. But in 2025, we’re seeing something of a resurgence in RB contracts, with a few stars cracking the $20M/year ceiling and others cashing in before their prime fades.

Still, it’s a razor-thin market. Only a handful of backs are getting long-term deals, and many are front-loaded or laced with incentives. Let’s break down the 10 highest-paid running backs by average annual value and look at why they got paid when others are still grinding on rookie-scale contracts.

1. Saquon Barkley – $20.6M/year

• Contract: $41.2M over 2 years
• 2024 Stats: 2,005 rushing yards on 345 attempts (5.8 YPC), 13 rushing TD, plus 278 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs in 16 games

Barkley delivered a masterpiece in his first year with the Eagles, leading the league in rushing and winning the Offensive Player of the Year. His all-around dominance—explosive runs, soft hands, and top-tier pass protection—earned him the richest RB deal in NFL history. The short-term structure gives him another shot at big money before age takes its toll.

2. Christian McCaffrey – $19M/year

• Contract: $38M over 2 years
• 2024 Stats: Just 50 carries for 202 rushing yards (4.0 YPC), 0 rushing TD, plus 146 receiving yards on 15 receptions, no receiving TDs in only four games

Injuries limited CMC to just four games, but his value remains sky-high. Whether it’s checkdowns, jet sweeps, or red-zone mismatches, McCaffrey still fuels Kyle Shanahan’s offense when healthy. At 29, he’s aging gracefully and still cashing in on his dual-threat reputation.

3. Derrick Henry – $15M/year

• Contract: $30M over 2 years
• 2024 Stats: 1921 Yards and 16 TDs on 325 rushing attempts, plus 193 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 17 games.

The King hasn’t abdicated. Henry continues to terrorize defenses with bruising runs and unmatched red-zone efficiency. Despite his age, his size-speed combo still wrecks games. The Ravens rewarded his consistency with another two-year, top-tier deal.

4. Jonathan Taylor – $14M/year

• Contract: $42M over 3 years
• 2024 Stats: 1,431 rushing yards on 303 carries (4.7 YPC), 11 rushing TDs over 14 games; plus 18 receptions for 136 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Taylor reestablished himself as an elite runner in 2024, averaging over 102 rushing yards per game. His speed, vision, and chunk-play ability make him a focal point of the Colts’ offense. He signed the current deal in 2023, and if he has a similar season to 2024 next season, he will be up for another big payday before he turns 30.

5. Alvin Kamara – $12.25M/year

• Contract: $24.5M over 2 years
• 2024 Stats: Career high 950 rushing yards on 303 carries, 6 touchdowns in 14 games; plus 543 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Kamara isn’t the workhorse he once was, but his versatility keeps his value high, and he is coming off a career-high 950 rushing yards. He’s still one of the league’s best pass-catching backs, and the Saints are using him more strategically as they plan for a post-Kamara future.

READ MORE: Highest-Paid QBs in 2025

6. Josh Jacobs – $12M/year

• Contract: $48M over 4 years
• 2024 Stats: 1329 Yards and 15 TDs on 301 rushing attempts, plus 342 receiving yards and one touchdown in 17 games.

After leading the league in rushing in 2022, Jacobs battled through injury in 2023 and roared back last year with the Raiders. He remains a complete back—powerful, durable, and reliable in pass pro—and the Las Vegas paid him like it in 2024.

7. Aaron Jones – $10M/year

• Contract: $20M over 2 years
• 2024 Stats: Career high 1,134 yards and five TDs on 255 rushing attempts plus career high 408 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 17 games.

Jones keeps producing—efficiently and quietly. He doesn’t get the headlines, but he’s a trusted weapon in both the run and pass game. Green Bay values his leadership as much as his burst, and this deal reflects that.

8. Joe Mixon – $9.8M/year

• Contract: $19.75M over 2 years
• 2024 Stats: 1,014 yards and 11 TDs on 245 rushing attempts plus 309 receiving yards and one touchdown in 14 games.

Mixon was on his second team in 2024 with the Texans, and his deal shows there’s still demand for dependable dual-threat veterans. He’s not a bell-cow anymore, but he brings balance and red-zone efficiency to any offense.

9. James Conner – $9.5M/year

• Contract: $19M over 2 years
• 2024 Stats: 1,094 yards and 8 TDs on 236 rushing attempts plus 414 receiving yards and one touchdown in 16 games.

Conner’s hard-nosed running style and consistent production earned him a solid two-year, $19 million deal heading into 2025 from the Cardinals. He’s the kind of back whom coaches trust near the goal line and in clock-killing situations. He posted his second-straight 1,000 yard rushing season last year.

10. David Montgomery – $9.1M/year

• Contract: $18.25M over 2 years
• 2024 Stats: 775 yards and 12 TDs on 185 rushing attempts, plus 341 receiving yards in 14 games.

Montgomery continues to be one of the most underrated backs in football. His $9.125M AAV puts him just inside the top 10, and his game speaks for itself: tough between the tackles, sneaky good in the pass game, and always fighting for extra yards. Detroit gave him this deal after seeing what he brought as a complement to Jahmyr Gibbs, and it’s proven to be money well spent.