(05-23-2024, 09:31 AM)NYC4jags Wrote:

(05-23-2024, 08:27 AM)Mikey Wrote: Thing is, we still see RBs getting taken early and getting those big-dollar deals. While not many, the ones that do prove in college that they can produce, carry a workload, and do so usually against top competition.

JRob was a unicorn, in a sense. He produced against second-tier (relatively) competition in CFB, and was able to produce for an season here. Most of the guys taken in the sixth rounds each year aren't a team's bellcow back nor are they racking up consecutive 1000-yard seasons to demand the fat paychecks.

You want to see RB value go up? It's gonna require rule changes to make run game easier while also stifling passing games. For now, the rules heavily favor QBs and the air. If the game was more heavy skewed toward running the ball, teams would draft more RBs and draft them higher, thereby altering their market. Their pay discrepancy is a symptom of the state of the game, both in rules and replaceability.

Actually, no, there is a sharp downward trend of RBs taken early. See stat at bottom of post. 

Because the position has been devalued.

The game evolves. Positional importance shifts. 

Might be bad luck for running backs' bank accounts, but it's not any more complicated than that.

They don't need saving. It really just is what it is. 

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2024 - zero 1st round RBs
One - 2nd round RB

2023 - zero 1st round RB
One - 2nd round RB

2022 -zero 1st round RB
three - 2nd round RB (of the 6 six seasons played by those three backs - two 1000 yard seasons have been recorded)

Bijan Robinson went eighth in '23. Jahmyr Gibbs went at 12. Guys are still getting picked early.

We've seen guys like Barkley, Fournette and Zeke go in the top 5 of their drafts. It's not common, yes, but it is still occurring. Not with the frequency that RB went in the 80's and 90's, but as you said, the game has evolved.

I'm in line with you, I don't think we need to restructure how the league operates just because a position group is not getting the premium draft slots with frequency. The thing is, there will always be an exploit - either the UDFA don't make what the draft picks do, or the vets get the incentive, whatever it may be - and the owners and GMs will find the cheapest, least detrimental solution to keep the roster filled.

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