Highest Paid Running Backs in the league... Guess who is #1

[Jeremy Igo]

Here are the highest paid running backs in the league according to OverTheCap

Christian McCaffrey	Panthers	24	$64,063,412	$16,015,853	$36,346,412	$30,062,500	2026 UFA
Ezekiel Elliott	Cowboys	25	$90,000,000	$15,000,000	$50,052,137	$28,052,137	2027 UFA
Le'Veon Bell	Jets	28	$52,500,000	$13,125,000	$35,000,000	$27,000,000	2023 UFA
David Johnson	Texans	29	$39,000,000	$13,000,000	$31,882,500	$24,682,500	2022 UFA
Derrick Henry	Titans	26	$50,000,000	$12,500,000	$25,500,000	$25,500,000	2024 UFA
Kenyan Drake	Cardinals	26	$8,483,000	$8,483,000	$8,483,000	$8,483,000	2021 UFA
Melvin Gordon	Broncos	27	$16,000,000	$8,000,000	$13,500,000	$13,500,000	2022 UFA
Saquon Barkley	Giants	23	$31,194,750	$7,798,688	$31,194,750	$31,194,750	2022 UFA
Austin Ekeler	Chargers	25	$24,500,000	$6,125,000	$15,000,000	$13,750,000	2024 UFA
Todd Gurley	Falcons	26	$5,500,000	$5,500,000	$5,500,000	$5,500,000	2021 UFA
Duke Johnson	Texans	27	$15,610,000	$5,203,333	$7,757,000	$5,957,000	2022 UFA
Giovani Bernard	Bengals	29	$10,300,000	$5,150,000	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	2022 UFA
Mark Ingram	Ravens	31	$15,000,000	$5,000,000	$6,500,000	$6,500,000	2022 UFA
Jordan Howard	Dolphins	26	$9,750,000	$4,875,000	$4,750,000	$4,750,000	2022 UFA
Tevin Coleman	49ers	27	$8,500,000	$4,250,000	$5,250,000	$3,250,000	2021 UFA
James White	Patriots	28	$12,000,000	$4,000,000	$4,690,000	$4,690,000	2021 UFA
Latavius Murray	Saints	30	$14,400,000	$3,600,000	$7,200,000	$7,200,000	2023 UFA
Jalen Richard	Raiders	27	$7,000,000	$3,500,000	$4,500,000	$3,375,000	2022 UFA
Matt Breida	Dolphins	25	$3,259,000	$3,259,000	$0	$0	2021 UFA
Kareem Hunt	Browns	25	$3,259,000	$3,259,000	$0	$0	2021 UFA
Mike Davis	Panthers	27	$6,000,000	$3,000,000	$3,000,000	$3,000,000	2021 UFA
Josh Jacobs	Raiders	22	$11,933,398	$2,983,350	$11,933,398	$11,933,398	2023 UFA
Raheem Mostert	49ers	28	$8,700,000	$2,900,000	$3,000,000	$2,400,000	2022 UFA
Carlos Hyde	Seahawks	29	$2,750,000	$2,750,000	$0	$0	2021 UFA

 

What are your feelings about having CMC topping the list? Part of me thinks having a running back in this day and age making that kind of money is pretty silly. Decent running backs are inexpensive.

Another part of me realizes how much CMC will likely do in the Panthers offense and think the pay is earned. CMC in the past has setup every single thing to happen in the offense, I see no reason why that would change. He makes defenses adjust be merely being on the field. 

[hepcat]

Feel fine about it. CMC might be the best individual player in the NFL aside from Patrick Mahomes. 

[Julio]

CMC has earned every penny of that contract and after this year, with a hopefully rookie QB, we will have the cap flexibility to sustain it.

[CLG]

Deserves it. Versatile..as close to 2 players in 1 as you can get on every down. Elite talent and performance. Have to pay him and I’m happy we have some one like him worth the price. 

[hepcat]

There’s another Panthers running back on that list I would argue is more overpaid than the guy who just put up a 1000/1000 season....

[Thorrez]

He is as good as any slot receiver in the league, while also being a great rb. I am fine with what he makes, some players are just that much better than their peers. 

And it also make any above average starting rb in the league feel they "deserve cmc money"

[The Huddler]

1) He is proven to be much more than a RB. In fact, calling CMC "just a RB" is like calling an Atomic Bomb "just a bomb".

 

2) Joe Brady. Its possible we may never see a Joe Brady + CMC caliber combination ever again in the Panthers. YOLO!! though not proven, but we could have an all time type offense cooking here in Carolina. 

 

3) CMC could never take another snap at RB and be a full time slot receiver, and he would be worth the money. Hes one of the best WRs in the league. Towards the end of the contract, if he appears to be losing a step, put him at WR full time. Completely worth the money. 

 

4) Great role model for the locker room. Great attitude, Great Work ethic, great paycheck. Notice how the Panthers didn't waste any time extending him. He is the perfect role model for anyone putting on football pads, from Peewee to NFL. Humble, respectful, walks the walk off the field? yes please. He is part of the culture change in Carolina. 

 

to answer your question, (hold on let me scroll up to see what the question was..) 

.. yeah i gave how i felt and I feel great about it. 

[Julio]

His contract also pissed off the Saints, that’s worth at least $5M annually.

[Waldo]

Will we waste him like we have past superstar talent? If no then this isn't a bad time for us to carry a great RB at a higher cost. 

He can do so much I'm not concerned about CMC, it's on the GM and coaching staff to put the rest together. That's where I have concerns. Season is almost here and we all get to see what's what. 

[WUnderhill]

Classic Panthers.

[Ship]

Somehow we always have like a top 3-5 player on our team and we can never capitalize on it

[NAS]

CMC is worth every penny but I hope Alvin Kamara forces the Saints to make him the highest paid RB. If I was him, I would be pissed they gave all that money to unproven Taysom Hill. 

[LinvilleGorge]

As a player, he's earned it. As a fan, I can't help but recall all the times huge RB contracts have backfired in the NFL. Let's hope CMC continues to buck conventional thinking on RBs.

[mrcompletely11]

Its insanity to pay that much to a running back, pure insanity.