cloppbeast said:
Maybe not all running backs matter, but some do. Look how the Rams offense fell apart without Gurley. The Saints had how many losing seasons in row before they got Kamara and decided to run the ball. No way the Cowboys make the playoffs without Zeke.
I'd disagree with that. RB is easily the least valuable non kicking position in football. The Rams offense didn't fall apart without Gurley at all, they missed Kupp much more than Gurley. The Saints had losing seasons because they had a bottom 5 defense, now they don't. The Cowboys made the playoffs, because Cooper added a receiving threat, and the defense took a major step forward, with a healthy Jaylon Smith, and a ROY candidate in Vander Esch.
None of those RB's move the needle enough to even make a 2-win difference. Its the same reason that Saquon Barkley might already be the best RB in the NFL, and was likely a bad draft pick, because RB's aren't an individually important position. They are very reliant on blocking, defensive alignment, and scheme. More so than any other position.
Its an extreme take I realize, but if I were an NFL GM, I'd probably never draft a RB before day 3, and it would be mostly a focus on backs who are mismatches in the passing game, and would never sign a RB to a 2nd contract unless it was a very team friendly deal. On the flip side, teams grossly undervalue CB depth. I'd argue the 4th CB is as important as the starting RB. There likely wouldn't be a draft that went by, where I didn't take a CB in the first 3 rounds.
Just like teams shouldn't invest heavily in nose tackles, or run blocking OL, or blocking TE's, or box safeties, or LB's who can't cover. These are more luxuries in today's NFL than things that actually make major differences, and should be roles filled by day 3 picks, and journeyman type vets. I think we all learned at an early age that the keys to winning were running, and stopping the run. But that simply isn't the case all in 2019. Its not even a 25-25-25-25 split for pass, run, pass d, run d. Its more like pass and pass d are each 40%, and run, and run d, are each 10%. There used to be things known as 2-down RB's, 2-down DL, 2 down LB's, and they would come off the field in passing situations. That doesn't really exist anymore, teams spend roughly 65% of the game in 3-WR/Nickel defenses. To the point that the starting lineup should be those sets.
All of this, is a long way of saying that the Chargers shouldn't give Gordon any more money, or a long term deal. I'd argue he might be overpaid at the moment, and I think Gordon is a good RB, right there with Gurley or Zeke. Dallas also shouldn't spend on Zeke, and both the Rams and Cardinals erred signing Gurley and Johnson respectively.