Christian McCaffrey made the big score Monday, a four-year extension worth $64M. That averages out to a sweet $16 million per season. What will some of the league’s top running backs be earning for the 2020 season? Spotrac.com helps with the answers. For those wondering, the total value of the extension doesn’t top that of the six-year, $90 million deal Ezekiel Elliott signed with the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2019 season, the $16M average annual salary ranks first in the league, just ahead of Elliott ($15M).
17. James White
The Patriots’ versatile running back checks in at $3.468M. It breaks down as follows: White will earn a base salary of $3,000,000 and a roster bonus of $468,750.
16. Jalen Richard
The Raiders’ Jalen Richard comes in at a sweet $$3,625,000. That’s good dough for an RB whose career-high is 491 yards rushing and 607 yards receiving, in different years, no less. Richard will earn a base salary of $3,375,000, a workout bonus of $125,000 and an incentive bonus of $125,000
15. Mark Ingram
The Saints’ Mark Ingram will earn a nice, round $4,000,000 for the 2020 season. That is is his entire base salary.
14. Duke Johnson
The Houston Texans have a couple of pricey backs on the roster. One is pass-catching specialist Duke Johnson, who will reel in $4,100,000. In 2020, Johnson will earn a base salary of $3,600,000, a roster bonus of $400,000 and a workout bonus of $100,000
14. Giovani Bernard
The Bengals’ Giovani Bernard is knotted with Duke Johnson at $4.1M. In 2020, Bernard will earn a base salary of $3,100,000, a roster bonus of $800,000 and a workout bonus of $200,000.
12. Leonard Fournette
The Jacksonville Jaguars took Leonard Fournette fourth overall in 2017 and he will earn a base salary of $4,167,388 as the contract he signed before his rookie season concludes.
11. Jordan Howard
Jordan Howard will play for his third team, the Miami Dolphins, this season. The running back from Indiana will earn $4.75M, which breaks down with a salary of $1,750,000 and a roster bonus of $3,000,000.
10. Tevin Coleman
The San Francisco 49ers’ Tevin Coleman will earn a nice salary of $4.868M in 2020. Coleman will earn a base salary of $4,550,000, a roster bonus of $218,750 as part of the second year of a two-year contract.
9. Todd Gurley
What was supposed to be the midst of a four-year, $60 million contract extension with $45 million in guarantees for Todd Gurley and the Los Angeles Rams has evolved into a $6M, one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons for the running back as he returns to Georgia.
8. Kenyan Drake
The Miami Dolphins had no use for Kenyan Drake, so they sent him to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019. He impressed enough for the Cardinals to sign him to a one-year contract worth $8,483,000.
7. Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon shifts from the Los Angeles Chargers to the Denver Broncos, an AFC West rival. The former Wisconsin star got a two-year, $16M contract. In 2020, the running back will earn a base salary of $1,000,000, a signing bonus of $4,000,000 and a roster bonus of $4,000,000, a total of $9 million.
6. Austin Ekeler
The running back who made it easy for the Chargers to bid farewell to Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler, comes into 2020 having been rewarded. Ekeler signed a four-year, $24,500,000 contract. In 2020, Ekeler will earn a base salary of $1,500,000, a signing bonus of $6,000,000 and a roster bonus of $2,000,000 for a total of $9.5M.
5. Derrick Henry
Derrick Henry has turned into one of the most explosive running backs in the league. The Heisman winner from Alabama signed a one-year contract for $10,278,000 in 2020.
4. David Johnson
David Johnson completes the rich exacta the Houston Texans have in their backfield. Johnson and Duke Johnson make a nice tandem, especially if the former Cardinal can maintain his health. In 2020, Johnson will earn a base salary of $10,200,000 and a roster bonus of $956,250,
3. Le’Veon Bell
Le’Veon Bell heads into the second year of a four-year, $52.5M contract with the Jets. There are always percolating Gang Green will move the former Steeler who will earn a base salary of $8,500,000 and a roster bonus of $4,968,750 in 2020.
2. Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey signed a four-year extension with the Carolina Panthers that will total $64M in the long run. It averages out to a Sweet $16 million a season.
1. Ezekiel Elliott
Ezekiel Elliott’s six-year $90-million contract has been usurped on an annual basis by McCaffrey’s salary in his contract. However, the Dallas Cowboys’ star will earn a base salary of $6,800,000 and a signing bonus of $13,000,000, pushing him to $19.8M in 2020.
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