Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs arrived in the NFL as first-round bets in 2023, and both have already played like the kind of backs who force a front office to start writing bigger checks. Atlanta took Robinson No. 8 overall, Detroit grabbed Gibbs at No. 12, and now both players are headed toward the same reality: their rookie deals won’t be nearly enough for long.
The two are under contract through the 2026 season, with club options for 2027. Robinson’s draft slot gave him the richer rookie package up front, with $21.96 million guaranteed on his initial four-year deal compared with Gibbs’ $17.845 million. But the real money conversation starts with the extensions.
The bar for elite running backs has moved fast. Saquon Barkley became the first back to top $20 million per year in average annual value after first signing with the Eagles in 2024 for three years and $37.5 million with $26 million guaranteed, then landing a two-year, $41.2 million extension in 2025 that pushed him to $20.6 million annually.
Christian McCaffrey had held the top spot before that after signing a two-year, $38 million deal in 2024, good for $19 million per season and $24 million guaranteed. De'Von Achane then jumped into the mix this May with a four-year, $64 million contract and $27.378 million guaranteed.
On the guaranteed-money side, Jeremiyah Love’s $53 million and Ashton Jeanty’s $35.895 million sit around Barkley, while James Cook reached $30 million guaranteed on the four-year, $48 million extension he signed with the Bills in August 2025.
Robinson’s case is built on production, durability and usage. He led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards last season, and over the past two years he piled up 365 touches and 366 touches for a league-high 731 combined.
He also won’t turn 25 until January. Atlanta’s offensive setup only strengthens his leverage, especially with real questions at quarterback between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.
If Tagovailoa is the starter, Robinson’s value as a high-end outlet target should soar, the same way Achane cashed in on that role in Miami last season. The Falcons also moved on from Tyler Allgeier and replaced him with Brian Robinson Jr., a less dynamic backup.
That puts Robinson on a path to become the first $25 million-per-year running back when his extension comes sometime next year, the fourth season of his rookie contract. Atlanta has the cap room to make that happen, with the team projected to be more than $100 million under the cap in 2027. A three-year, $75 million deal with about $45 million guaranteed is the kind of number Robinson should be aiming for.
Gibbs is in a different cap environment, but his value keeps climbing too. Dan Campbell has made him the clear workhorse after David Montgomery was traded to the Texans in the offseason, and Gibbs’ workload has grown every year: 234 touches as a rookie, 302 in Year 2 and 320 last season. Only McCaffrey topped 400 touches last season, but Gibbs has a real chance to push toward 370, the kind of volume Robinson has handled over the last two years.
The production has matched the role. Gibbs scored a league-high 20 total touchdowns in 2024 and added 77 catches for 616 yards in 2025.
That kind of three-down explosiveness is why Detroit felt comfortable leaning harder on him. The Lions are tighter against the cap than Atlanta right now, though they’re projected to have around $50 million available in 2027.
For Gibbs, the ideal outcome looks more like Achane’s deal structure: four or more years, $25 million-plus annually, and a chance to drive the guaranteed money toward $50 million by spreading the contract over more seasons. Detroit would prefer something friendlier over the long haul, while Atlanta has more room to pay Robinson at the top of the market and still set itself up for another extension sooner.
If Gibbs keeps producing at a healthy clip and matches Robinson’s high-volume output, he’ll have every chance to meet or even pass the contract Robinson is about to land.
In Other News...
NFL Coaches Are Already Sending A Message About Lions OC Drew Petzing
The early read on Drew Petzing is already taking shape in league circles, and it comes with a little more respect than name recognition. The Athletics latest offensive play caller rankings for 2026, built from feedback from defensive play callers and assistant coaches, did not put the new Lions coordinator in the top 10, but it did slot him among the honorable mentions alongside established names such as Sean Payton and Kevin OConnell.
For Detroit, that matters because Petzings track record in Arizona is what got him this kind of attention in the first place. His Cardinals offenses were uneven over three seasons, but the arrow pointed up in 2024, when the unit finished 12th in scoring and showed enough efficiency to put Petzing back on the radar in a serious way. It also puts him in familiar company within the division, with former Lions OC Ben Johnson landing near the top of the list and Packers coach Matt LaFleur right behind him. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie May Already Be Changing The Right Tackle Battle
On the first day of Lions training camp, Blake Miller wasted little time inserting himself into one of the more interesting position battles on the roster. The rookie handled the starting right tackle work and took most of the first-team reps, a notable development for a Detroit offensive line that was a major offseason priority after the unit slipped last year. Veteran Larry Borom, meanwhile, was the one seeing a different kind of usage as the staff sorted through its early options.
Miller said he is already getting more comfortable with the playbook, and that the game is starting to slow down for him as he keeps learning. For a team that invested heavily up front and wants a cleaner year protecting the quarterback and opening running lanes, the early signs at right tackle are worth watching closely, even if camp is only just getting started. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Risk Letting Top Edge Help Slip Away Again
Jadeveon Clowney is once again the kind of pass-rush name that can make sense for a team trying to build around Aidan Hutchinson without overcommitting to one solution. The former No. 1 overall pick is fresh off one of the better seasons of his career with the Cowboys, and his appeal is pretty straightforward: he brings run support, pressure and enough versatility to help an edge group that still needs dependable help.
Detroit has been weighing its options carefully, and that is where the tension comes in. The Lions may be comfortable rolling with DJ Wonnum and rookie Derrick Moore on the outside if the right veteran never materializes, but the longer a player like Clowney remains available, the more it invites another familiar question about whether the team will add the kind of edge help that can change a defense or let another opportunity pass by. [Read more 🡒]