Don't let this year's offseason fool you; the running back position has been devalued in recent seasons. Sure, Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon were selected in the first-round and DeMarco Murray got big money in free agency. But the Baltimore Ravens just got a career year from undrafted free agent Justin Forsett on a league minimum salary. He finished fifth in the NFL in rushing. The Houston Texans have been winning games for years thanks to brilliance of Arian Foster, who also went undrafted. The simple fact is you can usually squeeze solid production out of the position without a significant investment.
That is what makes Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris' looming free agency so interesting. Will they sign Morris to an extension?
"They're talking to left tackle Trent Williams and linebacker Ryan Kerrigan about extensions," ESPN Redskins reporter John Keim wrote. "With Morris' contract up after this season, I'd say there's a 50-percent chance of an extension happening (those would be less odds than the other two). Morris is a durable runner, so that's in his favor for sticking around. But he's also just a two-down back -he's capable of 20 catches a year, but his hands are too inconsistent to play every down. If I'm the Redskins, there's no rush to sign him before the season unless he agrees to a reasonable deal. Williams and Kerrigan play positions where it's harder to find players. I'm a fan of Morris - I think he's a smart running back and knows how to set up defenders. But if [Matt] Jones becomes a big factor than there's no need to pay Morris a big deal."
Morris has rushed for at least 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in three straight seasons while not missing a single game in that span. He is a solid rusher who picks up extra yardage on short runs, but his production has waned as Washington's offense has fallen apart since 2012. Fortunately, offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, the Redskins' first-round pick this year, is a mauler in the run game and should open up a few extra holes for Morris this season.
Assuming the former sixth-round pick tops 1,000 yards again this season while staying healthy, he'll most certainly expect a raise on the $1.54 million in base salary he is earning this year. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Morris seek a deal that averages at least $4 million a year in free agency, putting him in the top ten of running back salaries. Would Washington be willing to pay that?
