New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Former NFL vet may have solved running back salary issue

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 7/20/23

With NFL training camps primed to start in the coming days, one of the hottest topics in football circles is the quickly declining pay of running backs. While many have looked for a solution that might not be there, former Denver Bronco Domonique Foxworth may have found the answer.

On this week's episode of his podcast, "The Domonique Foxworth Show," the ex-DB suggested using funds from the performance-based pay pool to help level the playing field for running backs.

"So performance-based pay pool is a lump sum of money that the league has set aside to compensate players who have outperformed their contract," Foxworth said. "It's a bunch of players who are late-round draft picks, who end up playing a lot of downs and they end up getting a big check."

Here’s the solution to RB problem. Listen to the podcast for more details and fun. https://t.co/edMsT6EMvd pic.twitter.com/msHbmgT9x3
— Domonique Foxworth (@Foxworth24) July 20, 2023

Foxworth admitted to benefiting from the pool himself during his time with the Broncos and believes the NFL should make some of that money available for running backs, whose value has plummeted in recent years. According to Foxworth, the pool contains $366 million and is still growing.

"I think that they should set aside a portion of it that is designated for running backs or at least there should be some benchmarks that you have to reach over the course of a couple years, maybe even three years," Foxworth said. "If you meet these performance benchmarks and these playtime benchmarks, then you unlock this performance-based pay bonus."

Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs have been the latest victims of the NFL's approach to running backs, with neither able to secure lucrative, long-term deals. While the NFL cap continues to explode upward and salaries grow for every position, running backs are left in the dust, even when it comes to franchise tag payments. Since 2015, franchise tag prices have risen significantly for quarterbacks ($18.5 million to $32 million) and wide receivers ($12.8 million to $19.7 million). However, running backs are down from $10.9 million eight seasons ago to $10.1 million in 2023, per Jeff Darlington of NFL Network.

More must-reads: