Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is on the heels of resetting the market at his position after signing a four-year extension worth $168.6 million this week. At $42.15 million in annual value, he is the highest-paid wideout in league history.
Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs Eyeing Massive Paydays
That remarkable figure may be a sign of things to come, but not at wide receiver. The belief is that the league’s top running backs, from Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons to Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions, could be the next beneficiaries to cash in.
Robinson and Gibbs were selected four spots apart in the 2023 NFL Draft, with Robinson going No. 8 overall and Gibbs at No. 12. Both have cemented themselves as two of the top players at their position in the league, depending on how you feel about Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey.
As first-round selections, Robinson and Gibbs are expected to have the fifth-year option in their rookie contracts picked up before the May 1 deadline. That would lock them in through the 2027 campaign; however, both players will ink long-term extensions with their respective teams before then.
De’Von Achane of the Miami Dolphins does not have the luxury of the fifth-year option in his contract. He was a third-round pick and is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, which makes his situation a little more intriguing to monitor. He has been rumored as a potential trade candidate multiple times in the past. If he were to stay in Miami, the Dolphins would likely ink him to a long-term extension as well.
On his podcast, “The Adam Schefter Podcast,” the NFL insider says to get ready for the “parade” of running back deals that are coming next. Robinson, Gibbs, and Achane are all presumed to lead the way.
Now that Jaxon Smith-Njigba has reset the wide receiver market, the running back position is next.
Cc: @tyschmit
🎧 https://t.co/mghCNo4tHK pic.twitter.com/dKECJVwwfC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 24, 2026
All three players have tremendously boosted their value as arguably the best pass-catching tailbacks in the league. Robinson has caught 198 passes across three seasons with the Falcons, whereas Gibbs has hauled in 184. Achane is third with 172, which is still an incredibly impressive number.
Despite their receiving capabilities, Schefter is not expecting their extensions to balloon into the same realm as the wide receiver market. “When you can catch like Bijan, Jahmyr and De’Von Achane, you make yourself more valuable, but there’s a limit to that value,” Schefter said. “Even that value, which is extreme for that position, is still half of the top wide receiver. It’s kind of where the running back market is at.”
It feels like only yesterday that the running back position was almost universally considered to be expendable. The general consensus was that you could essentially plug anyone into the backfield and have sustained success, so long as the offensive line is playing well.
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That mindset has seemingly shifted, thanks to players like Barkley and McCaffrey, who have already reset the market once with their extensions. “It’s noticeably improved from where it’s been in recent years,” said Schefter. “Running backs were written off; they were discounted. Their prices were cheap.”
“Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, they helped reestablish running back values to get them back on track. They’re still low, but they’re certainly more improved and they’re in a much better spot than they were, and they’re about to go up again.”
Robinson has played in every single game for the Falcons since joining the team and amassed 5,730 yards from scrimmage, as well as 34 total touchdowns. Gibbs, meanwhile, has missed just two games since being drafted by the Lions. He has also surpassed 3,000 yards from scrimmage with 44 touchdowns.
Achane has played in 44 of the Dolphins’ possible 51 games, but he was not a full-time player as a rookie. Even so, he has registered 4,334 yards from scrimmage and 35 touchdowns, which even ranks ahead of Robinson. All three players ranked in the top 10 of PFSN’s RB Impact metric for 2025, with Achane and Robinson leading the way at No. 2 and 3, respectively.
