Highest-Paid Running Backs: Christian McCaffrey, Dallas Cowboys' Star Have Top Contracts In 2020

The Carolina Panthers gave Christian McCaffrey a four-year, $64 million contract Monday, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Even as running backs are seemingly valued less and less each year, five of them have an average eight-figure salary.

Here are the five highest-paid running backs heading into the 2020 NFL season, per Spotrac, based on average annual value.

Christian McCaffrey: $16 million

Well over half of McCaffrey’s new deal is guaranteed, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The 24-year-old led the NFL with 2,392 yards from scrimmage in 2019. Only Michael Thomas has more than McCaffrey’s 223 receptions over the last two years. McCaffrey was third last season with 1,387 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.

With Christian McCaffrey’s deal going through 2025, I’m told Panthers expecting total value to land around $75 million over six (including last two years of rookie deal with fifth-year option). A lot will depend on how structured and guarantees.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 13, 2020

Ezekiel Elliott: $15 million

The Dallas Cowboys caved after Elliott’s holdout last preseason, giving him the largest overall contract for a running back ever. Elliott signed a six-year, $90 million deal with $50 million guaranteed just before the start of the 2019 season. He has two rushing titles in four NFL seasons, leading the league in yards per game in each of his first three seasons.

Le’Veon Bell: $13.125 million

The New York Jets gave Bell the biggest free-agent contract ever at the position when the team signed him to a four-year, $52.5 million contract with $27 million guaranteed last year. A three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell wasn’t nearly as productive in his first season in New York. He only had 245 rushes for 789 yards to go along with 461 receiving yards.

David Johnson: $13 million

The Arizona Cardinals sent the running back to Houston Texans last month in a trade that landed them DeAndre Hopkins. This came a year and a half after Johnson signed a three-year, $39 million contract. Johnson was first in 2016 with 2,118 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns, but he hasn’t come close to matching that production in recent years. The 28-year-old had 715 scrimmage yards in 13 games last season after averaging 3.6 yards per carry in 2018.

Derrick Henry: $10.278 million

Henry might be the AFC’s best running back, but that wasn’t enough for him to land a long-term contract. After Henry led the NFL with 1,540 rushing yards in the 2019 season, the Tennessee Titans used the franchise tag to prevent the 26-year-old from hitting free agency. Including the playoffs, Henry is averaging 116.9 yards per game on 5.4 yards per carry over his last 22 games.