Each NFL Franchise’s Richest RB Contract

Running back value has become a divisive topic in the modern NFL, and teams’ histories with these investments reveal a large gap in their respective approaches to RB contracts. Following our installments covering the highest-paid quarterback, wide receiver and off-ball linebacker in each team’s history, here are the most lucrative deals — ranked by guaranteed money — for running backs in each franchise’s history (the list excludes rookie contracts).

Unlike the QB and WR markets, some teams’ top RB deals occurred decades ago. This list covers contracts agreed to across four different decades.

Arizona Cardinals

Jeremiyah Love‘s rookie contract brings the highest guarantee ($53MM) in RB history, but for veteran accords, Conner’s second Arizona pact is the organizational standard

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

LeSean McCoy‘s March 2015 extension included more guaranteed at signing ($18.25MM), but Cook’s brought a rolling guarantee structure that eclipsed that package in total

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

  • Matt Forte; July 16, 2012: Four years, $30.4MM ($17.1MM guaranteed)

D’Andre Swift‘s 2024 agreement included more guaranteed at signing ($14MM), but Forte’s guarantee package remains the Chicago standard

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Corey Dillon; May 11, 2001: Five years, $26MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)

The Bengals more than doubled Dillon’s AAV number in 2020 for Joe Mixon (four years, $48MM) but only guaranteed $10MM of that pact

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • Barry Sanders; July 21, 1997: Six years, $33.5MM ($11.5MM guaranteed)

David Montgomery‘s two Lions deals topped the Hall of Famer in AAV, but neither surpassed $11MM guaranteed; Jahmyr Gibbs is tied to the highest RB guarantee in franchise history ($17.85MM) but got there via a rookie deal 

Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 pact edges Jones in AAV but fell short of his predecessor’s deal in guarantees

Houston Texans

  • Arian Foster; March 5, 2012: Five years, $43.5MM ($20.75MM guaranteed)

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Leonard Fournette received a $27.15MM guarantee — still in the top 10 in RB history — but it came on a rookie contract

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders sweetened Jacobs’ franchise tag agreement; Ashton Jeanty‘s 2025 rookie slot deal included $35.9MM guaranteed

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Adrian Peterson; September 10, 2011: Six years, $86.28MM ($36MM guaranteed)

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Barkley’s rookie slot deal included $31.19MM guaranteed — fourth all time among all RB contracts — while Devin Singletary‘s $9.5MM represents the franchise’s high-water mark on a multiyear deal

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Bell’s second franchise tag (2018) covered $14.54MM, but the RB became the first tagged player this century to skip a season; Jaylen Warren‘s 2025 extension brought the highest Steelers RB guarantee ($7.1MM) on a multiyear deal

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Clinton Portis; March 1, 2004: Eight years, $50.52MM ($13MM guaranteed)

Colts Do Not Plan To Pursue No. 3 WR

The Colts were on pace to have one of the league’s best passing offenses in 2025 before Daniel Jones‘ season-ending injury. Alec Pierce was only eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards, but Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs both saw statistical regression from the year prior.

This offseason, Indianapolis opted to retain Pierce on a $28.5MM per year deal and sent Pittman to the Steelers in a late-Day 3 pick swap. That leaves somewhat of a hole in the wide receiver room behind Pierce and Downs, a 2023 third-rounder who only posted 566 receiving yards in 2025 after 1,574 in his first two seasons.

However, the Colts are not planning to pursue a No. 3 receiver, according to The Athletic’s James Boyd. Instead, they are counting on a number of factors to fill the void in their passing game. The first is Pierce, who is expected to see WR1-level targets commensurate with his new status as the team’s highest-paid wideout (and non-quarterback).

Pierce has yet to reach 85 targets in a season but consistently made big gains downfield to make up for that lack of volume. In back-to-back years, the 26-year-old has led the league in yards per reception to go along with a stellar 11.9 yards per target. Maintaining that efficiency with over 100 targets would go a long way in replacing Pittman’s production.

Indianapolis is also expecting Downs to bounce back after seeing the fewest targets of his career last year, though his efficiency metrics took a sharp dip down, too. He primarily lines up in the slot, so a combination of free agent signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and longtime core special teams contributor Ashton Dulin will likely step up on the boundary. Seventh-round pick Deion Burks has a similar athletic profile to Downs and will likely provide depth in the slot.

Finally, the Colts are hoping to get even more out of 2025 first-rounder Tyler Warren after his Pro Bowl rookie year. The 23-year-old tight end ranked second on the team with 817 receiving yards, but almost 60% came after the catch. Getting him more involved in the downfield passing game could turn him into one of the league’s most productive tight ends.

The team has plenty of time to evaluate their current wide receiver situation. The ranks of available free agents will thin in the coming months, but there should still be some veterans available when training camp rolls around if the coaching staff is not satisfied with what they see at OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

Draft Rumors: Bucs, Raiders, Waller, Dolphins, Cowboys, Colts, Allen, Giants

Exiting a season without an eight-sack player for the fourth straight year, the Buccaneers attempted to take a big swing in free agency by being part of the Trey Hendrickson chase. The Ravens, after their Maxx Crosby about-face, ended up closing that market. Baltimore reneging on that agreement may have helped Tampa Bay land Rueben Bain Jr., with Jason Licht indicating during a Pat McAfee Show appearance the Raiders obtaining the No. 14 overall pick probably took an EDGE suitor out of the mix.

Spytek, he and I are very close. He was taunting me a little bit, ‘Hey, we’re sitting right in front of you; I know what you need,’” Licht said of his former Bucs lieutenant-turned-Raiders GM (h/t the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin). “We’re all trying to help each other out here, especially the people that are good friends, so thanks, Spytek.”

Spytek worked under Licht before being hired as Raiders GM in 2025. The Raiders were all set to move Crosby’s $35.5MM-per-year contract off their payroll, and although the team signed Kwity Paye during the period where Crosby was all but certain to relocate to Baltimore, the team could have used more help at the premier position. (If nothing else, Spytek certainly appears to have needled his former boss about needing to trade up for a pass rusher.) Instead, Paye joins Crosby and Malcolm Kooncere-signed before the Ravens’ seismic decision — in headlining the Raiders’ EDGE corps.

Keeping No. 14, the Ravens were connected to Penn State guard Vega Ioane. Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft delivered a direct hit there, and the move allowed the Bucs access to Bain. Tampa Bay viewed the Miami EDGE as a top-five player on its board and was eyeing ex-Bain Hurricanes teammate Akheem Mesidor in the event Bain was off the board. The Ravens keeping their pick after signing Hendrickson may well have helped keep Bain in Florida. Here is the latest draft fallout:

  • The Cowboys and Dolphins agreed to a first-round trade that allowed Dallas to climb up one spot for Caleb Downs. That swap was agreed to late during Miami’s time on the clock, and ESPN’s The Pick Is In special (h/t David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel) included a note about the Dolphins initially declining the Cowboys’ offer to move from No. 12 to No. 11. Dallas initially offered a fifth-round pick to climb one spot; this did not move the needle for new Miami GM Jon-Eric Sullivan. As the clock wound down, the Cowboys offered a second fifth-rounder and potentially another pick to seal the deal. Jerry Jones did not view the Dolphins as a threat to draft Downs but worried another team could jump the Cowboys for the Ohio State safety, leading to Nos. 177 and 180 going to Miami for No. 11. Jeff Hafley said during an interview with Richard Sherman (via Yahoo.com) the Dolphins would have drafted Kadyn Proctor at 11 had no trade occurred.
  • Staying with the Dolphins, they will obtain an additional 2027 draft choice. The 2025 Darren Waller trade sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Giants after the tight end unretired; a conditional 2027 seventh went back to Miami. The conditions were ultimately satisfied, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, and the Dolphins will hold an extra 2027 seventh-rounder from the Waller swap. Although Waller began the season late due to injury before being placed on IR twice last season, he caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games played. Waller is not expected to return to Miami.
  • The draft signing process annually moves slowest with second-round picks, with guarantees providing the holdup. Round 2 draftees continue to make inroads on that front. Last year, a host of second-round talents — due in no small part to Tyler Shough going 40th overall — secured fully guaranteed deals. This year continues that growth, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noting No. 53 overall pick C.J. Allen received 83.7% of his contract guaranteed from the Colts. That is up from 75.4% at No. 53 last year (Buccaneers CB Benjamin Morrison). The bar for fully guaranteed Round 2 deals will undoubtedly move past No. 40 this year, and Allen receiving this mostly guaranteed pact will have an impact on players drafted shortly before him this year.

Colts Could Keep Anthony Richardson?

Anthony Richardson and the Colts have seemed destined for a split for almost a year. The first writing appeared on the wall when the team signed Daniel Jones to compete for the starting quarterback job; by midseason, it was covered.

Jones won the training camp competition and led Indianapolis to a 7-1 start, seemingly establishing himself as the Colts’ next franchise quarterback. Richardson, meanwhile, had been sidelined by a freak orbital fracture and was even the subject of some trade deadline chatter that another team could see him as a reclamation project. He requested a trade this offseason, and the club worked to oblige him, but “nothing materialized,” assistant general manager Ed Dodds said this week (via Mike Chappell of FOX59).

Richardson still has just 28 starts and 743 passing attempts in his college and pro careers, presenting the concerns about both inexperience and durability. Dodds reiterated that 24-year-old is “good to go,” but uncertainty about his eye injury was a factor in his lack of trade interest, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder. He is also owed $5.4MM in guaranteed compensation this year, and another team may not want to pick up that tab for a developmental project.

The Colts are not considering a release, Holder adds. They would still owe Richardson that money, and especially with Jones recovering from last year’s Achilles tear, it makes little sense for them to move on from their former No. 3 pick without any financial relief or trade compensation.

“He’s back in the fold right now,” head coach Shane Steichen said at Phase 2 of the team’s offseason program (via Chappell).

Wthout significant interest from other teams, Richardson may now be best served by staying in Indianapolis, where he can compete with Riley Leonard for the backup quarterback gig. Until jones is back on the field, that job comes with first-team reps, though Steichen declined to elucidate any sense of a pecking order.

There are indications that the team is not completely out on Richardson’s talent and ability to contribute to the team. He had his best training camp in 2025, according to Holder, and though his eye injury kept him from returning to in-game action, he impressed as the scout team QB late in the season. In fact, Holder adds, Richardson would have taken over as the Colts’ starter had he been healthy when Jones went down.

Jones has a lengthy injury history of his own, too. Any setback in his current recovery could thrust Richardson back into a starting role this year. Theoretically, the Colts could get out of their contract with Jones next offseason, though that would require a remarkable turnaround from Richardson. More likely, he will be looking to contribute in any way possible this year to boost his stock before hitting free agency in 2027.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/26

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

  • Waived: CB M.J. Devonshire

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: WR Kyron Hudson, LB Wayne Matthews III, LB Jon Rhattigan

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

  • Signed: RB Evan Hull
  • Waived: TE Luke Lachey

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: FB DJ Herman

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Brock Rechsteiner

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Colts Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents

The Colts focused on defense in the 2026 NFL Draft with five of their first six picks coming on that side of the ball. After also taking swings at running back and wide receiver to close the draft, Indianapolis signed the following 12 undrafted free agents to add a few more long-shot options to their 20-man rookie class:

Though the Colts were able to add some more young bodies on offense with this UDFA class, most of their notable signings here were on the defensive side of the ball, as well. Brown has all the right tools to be a roaming safety that drops down into the slot and box in the NFL but was unable to produce impact plays with any regularity for the Badgers. He must’ve had a number of suitors, though, as NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that Indy gave Brown $272K in guaranteed money in order to secure his signature.

At 6-foot-3.5 and 310 pounds, Ball’s imposing frame had evaluators expecting teams to take a chance on him some time on Day 3 of the draft. He’s a formidable run blocker who will need to develop some pass rush ability to stay on the field at the next level.

Finally on offense, Rucci was teammates with Brown for two years before transferring to Happy Valley. He only spent one season as a full-time starter for the Nittany Lions, but at just over 6-foot-8, 314 pounds, Rucci has an ideal frame on which the team can build upon. Some technique work and strong coaching will be needed in his future, but he’s a worthy project for the Colts to take on.

Minor NFL Transaction: 5/8/26

Friday’s minor NFL transactions:

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

After the Giants waived Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson yesterday, all three found new homes today on the waiver wire. Constantinou qualifies for the international exemption that allows him not to count against the team’s 90-man roster as one of several Australians who have found their way to the NFL as specialists. Lastly, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and New York all added to their UDFA classes today after Nwokobia, Vilbert, and Bankston went undrafted out of SMU, North Carolina, and New Mexico, respectively.

Colts Release CB Kenny Moore

Coming up in trade rumors before the draft, Kenny Moore had asked to be moved. Following draft weekend, the veteran Colts slot cornerback asked the team for a release. The Colts have granted it, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

A former Pro Bowler, Moore has been in place in Indianapolis since Chris Ballard‘s first offseason as GM (2017). As pricey Colts DB contracts have emerged over the past 1 1/2 years, Moore’s $10MM-per-year deal will be coming off the books. The Colts have since announced the separation. This came after Moore was absent for the start of voluntary workouts last month.

Ballard had stuck by his core for many years, with Moore being a central component in the GM’s nucleus. Moore joined defensive tackle Grover Stewart, tight end Mo Alie-Cox and long snapper Luke Rhodes as the only Colts left from Ballard’s first offseason in charge (Rhodes arrived under Ryan Grigson in 2016). Now, the veteran cornerback follows longtime Colts Braden Smith, Zaire Franklin and Michael Pittman Jr. out the door this offseason.

We covered in this space last fall how the Colts had been tied to their core longer than any other team, and Ballard’s enduring presence certainly has plenty to do with that. Moore was in place since the Andrew Luck era, having been a waiver claim (from the Patriots) in 2017. Moore, 30, quickly became a dependable slot presence. As the Colts struggled to identify long-term boundary options at the position, they could count on their slot ace. Moore signed an Indianapolis extension in 2019 and then re-signed with the team as a free agent in 2024.

The Colts and Moore mutually agreed to part ways in early April, with a trade being Indy’s preferred exit strategy here. Moore was due a $9.49MM base salary in 2026, the final year of his three-year, $30MM contract. None of the money was guaranteed, but that number undoubtedly affected a trade aim. It is unclear if the Colts passed on a potential low-level deal — along the lines of what the Bills landed for slot staple Taron Johnson in March — to accommodate a cornerstone veteran, but the team is moving on without compensation. The Colts will add $7.1MM in cap space, though three void years being in place on this deal will produce a dead cap hit of $6.1MM.

Upon arrival in Indiana nine years ago, Moore quickly became one of best slot corners in the game. Indianapolis shuffled through pieces on the perimeter but rewarded Moore twice with market-setting deals. The team signed the former UDFA to a four-year, $33.3MM extension in his third offseason and gave him the 3/30 pact ahead of his age-29 campaign.

The Colts re-signed several key players in 2024, including Pittman and Stewart, in an attempt to build around Anthony Richardson‘s rookie contract. That plan did not work out, and Indy is back in the high-priced QB game after giving Daniel Jones a two-year, $88MM extension. The team offloaded Pittman’s contract — in a late-round pick-swap agreement with Pittsburgh — to afford the Jones transition tag and Alec Pierce‘s second contract (the team had traded Franklin to the Packers days before). Moore will follow Smith, an eight-year right tackle starter, in departing; Smith joined the Texans in free agency.

Indy’s secondary blueprint changed considerably in 2025, when Ballard indicated a willingness to deviate from a roster-building tenet by handing out some free agency dollars for outside help. Safety Camryn Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward joined the team last March, and as the Colts were chasing their first playoff berth since 2020 at the trade deadline, the team sent the Jets two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for Sauce Gardner.

The team now has Gardner’s $30.1MM-per-year extension on the books to go with Bynum and Ward’s pacts — both north of $15MM AAV. This moved the Colts to stand down on re-signing Nick Cross, and they will now part with Moore while moving forward with the pricey Gardner-Ward-Bynum trio.

Moore has 21 career interceptions, notching four-INT seasons in 2020 and ’21. The latter season brought the 5-foot-9 cover man’s only Pro Bowl invite. Moore returned two of his three 2023 picks for TDs in 2023 and graded as a top-20 corner (in the view of Pro Football Focus) three times. PFF ranked Moore 37th among 112 qualified corners last season, when he allowed a career-best 62% completion rate as the closest defender. As Lou Anarumo took over as DC, though, the Colts reduced Moore’s playing time. He went from playing at least 92% of Indy’s defensive plays from 2018-24 to a 76% snap share in 2025.

Although Moore is entering an age-31 season, he stands to generate interest in free agency. He is unlikely to command a $10MM-per-year salary, but contenders eyeing slot help will surely look into the proven option now that he’s on the market.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/7/26

A slew of rookies signed their first NFL contracts on Thursday. Here’s a look…

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

New York Giants

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • WR Ted Hurst (third round, Georgia State)
  • CB Keionte Scott (fourth round, Miami)
  • DT DeMonte Capehart (fifth round, Clemson)
  • G Billy Schrauth (fifth round, Notre Dame)
  • TE Bauer Sharp (sixth round, LSU)

With the Jaguars’ three-day rookie minicamp scheduled to start Friday, they now have nine of their 10 picks under contract. The lone exception is their top choice, second-round tight end Nate Boerkircher.

The Buccaneers are in a similar situation to the Jaguars. Their second-rounder, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, is also unsigned. Meanwhile, Hurst has not officially put pen to paper, but that will change when he arrives for rookie camp on Friday. He has already agreed to terms, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Colts Release S Nasir Adderley

Slot cornerback Kenny Moore was not the only defender the Colts parted with on Thursday. The team also announced that it released safety Nasir Adderley and waived linebacker John Bullock.

This ends a short stay in Indianapolis for Adderley, who came out of a three-year retirement to sign with the club on April 14. The move briefly reunited the former Charger with Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who was on Los Angeles’ staff during Adderley’s first two seasons.

After a standout career at Delaware, Adderley joined the Chargers as a second-round pick (60th overall) in 2019. He played in just four games during an injury-shortened rookie year, but Adderley emerged as a full-time starter in his second season.

From 2020-22, Adderley amassed 44 starts in 46 games and totaled three interceptions. He paired with star safety Derwin James for two of those seasons. After picking off a personal-best two passes and ranking as Pro Football Focus’ 36th-best safety in ’22, Adderley unexpectedly hung up his cleats in lieu of pursuing a contract in free agency.

Now that the Colts have gone in another direction, it is unclear if Adderley will continue his comeback attempt. For the Colts’ part, Adderley’s release should not have much of an effect on their safety depth, as they added third-rounder A.J. Haulcy in the draft. He may start next to Cam Bynum as a rookie and replace Nick Cross, who signed with the Commanders in free agency. Indianapolis also counts Hunter Wohler and free agent pickups Juanyeh Thomas and Jonathan Owens among its safety options.

Bullock, 25, joined the Colts as a waiver claim from the Buccaneers in the first week of January. Despite going undrafted last year, the Nebraska product played in 15 of the Buccaneers’ games as a rookie. Bullock was on the field for just five defensive plays, but he ranked fourth on the Bucs in special teams snap share (56.98%).

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