As a general rule, 2024 running backs get paid exactly like you think they do. The average salary is depressed and devalued because the importance of the position has been depressed and devalued.
Christian McCaffrey is a major exception. In the case of players like McCaffrey, or Alvin Kamara, they are considered more offensive weapons than pure running backs.
That’s one major reason why McCaffrey is the No. 4 highest-paid running back in the NFL right now. His teams rarely look at him as just another running back.
Christian McCaffrey Contract
On Apr. 13, 2020, Christian McCaffrey signed a 4-year, $64 million contract extension while he was playing with the Carolina Panthers. The contract extension first took effect in 2022, after his original rookie deal and fifth-year team option had run its course.
The current contract extension runs through the 2025 season.
Christian McCaffrey Salary
In 2024, Christian McCaffrey is currently set to earn $11.8 million in base salary and an additional $200,000 in workout bonuses for a total cash value of $12 million.
In 2023, McCaffrey technically earned just $1.08 million in base salary. However, that was after McCaffrey agreed to convert $10.72 million of his 2023 salary into signing bonus, which cleared more than $8.5 million of cap room for the 49ers.
McCaffrey will make an average annual salary of $16,015,875 per year over the life of the extension.
Christian McCaffrey Trade
Carolina traded Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco for its second, third, and fourth-round picks in the 2023 draft. Carolina also gets a San Francisco fifth-round pick in 2024 that it has yet to use.
The Panthers gave up their prize offensive possession in Oct. 2022 when they decided it was time to bottom out.
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