upcoming payments for Kyren Williams, James Cook, Kenneth Walker, Breece Hall, and other NFL draft RBs from the class of 2022: what's the timeline for their financial compensation?
In the ever-evolving world of professional football, the running back position continues to be a crucial element in team strategies. As we approach the 2025 season, let's take a look at the top NFL running backs and their contracts, based on the latest data available.
Kenneth Walker III, coming off a challenging season marred by injuries and ineffectiveness, finds himself in a new chapter. Last year, he averaged a career-worst 3.7 yards per carry in only 11 games. Meanwhile, Devin Singletary of the Bills ranks fourth in yards per rush among the 52 backs with 250-plus carries since he entered the league.
One name that stands out in the salary landscape is Kyren Williams, who recently signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams. Williams, the eighth-highest paid running back in terms of total dollar value, is also the seventh-highest paid on an average annual basis. His deal places him roughly as the seventh-highest paid RB by average annual salary (AAV).
The Rams' move to secure Williams' services comes after a season where the team replaced Isiah Pacheco's production with Kareem Hunt, and Pacheco struggled upon his return from injury. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have been dealing with the ineffectiveness of Pacheco as a runner, with a high success rate but a low explosive-rush rate since he entered the league.
Rachaad White, known for his pass-catching and pass-blocking skills, has been a dreadful runner, with -92 yards over expected on his 545 carries. On the other hand, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, drafted by the Jets last year, are gaining attention from the team.
In the 2022 season, Breece Hall ranked 32nd in success rate, 37th in negative run rate, 23rd in the share of runs that gained five-plus yards, and 33rd in avoided-tackle rate. However, Hall's explosive-run rate ranked 14th, a significant drop from his rookie season. Hall is not expecting a contract extension from the Jets' new regime.
Jayden Daniels can provide rushing efficiency for the Commanders, but Robinson's 4.3 yards per carry were the best of his career. Robinson took a significant step back in the receiving game after the addition of Austin Ekeler.
Devin Singletary is holding a training-camp hold-in and is demanding an annual salary of $15 million. Last season, he scored 16 touchdowns, four times as many as he scored in his first two NFL seasons combined.
The NFL running back market remains cautious about long and large contracts for RBs due to their typically shorter career span. Saquon Barkley leads significantly in terms of AAV and contract size among RBs. Here are the contract terms, AAV, and teams for the top 10 highest-paid NFL running backs in 2025:
| Rank | Player | Team | Average Annual Salary (AAV) | Contract Details | |-------|------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles | $20.6 million | 2-year extension worth $41.2 million (signed 2024) | | 2 | Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams | Approx. $11 million (3-year, $33 million extension) | 3-year, $33 million extension with $23 million guaranteed[1][2] | | 3 | James Conner | Arizona Cardinals | $9.5 million | 2-year, $19 million extension signed Nov 2024 | | 4 | David Montgomery | Detroit Lions | $9.125 million | 3-year deal worth $18 million (signed 2023) plus 2-year, $18.25 million extension in 2024 | | Others in Top 10 likely include various RBs with salaries below $9 million, but specific names and terms beyond these were not detailed in the available data[1][2]
For the most accurate and detailed contract info, checking updated databases such as Spotrac or Over the Cap is recommended.
[1] Source: https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/contracts/running-back/ [2] Source: https://overthecap.com/position/running-back/ [3] Source: https://www.nfl.com/pro/player/devinsingletary/2560138/stats [4] Source: https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/saquon-barkley-11886/
This data summarizes the known top RB contracts and salaries from August 2025 sources. Specific rankings for all top 10 exact salaries and contract lengths except the highlighted few were not provided in the search results.
- Despite a challenging 2024 season, Kenneth Walker III enters a new chapter, with upcoming developments in his career to watch.
- Devin Singletary's impressive 2024 performance, including 16 touchdowns, prompts his demand for an annual salary of $15 million in training camp negotiations.
- In the world of American football, the Rams recently secured Kyren Williams' services with a three-year, $33 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid running backs by average annual salary (AAV).
- Breece Hall's 2022 season showed improvements in certain areas, such as his explosive-run rate, but his overall success rate was less impressive.
- As the 2025 season approaches, NFL enthusiasts will be eager to see the promising potential of rookie draft picks like Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis for the Jets' running back position.
