The notion that a Super Bowl contender should make a substantial investment in a running back was dead. And Saquon Barkley held a shovel.

If the most gifted running back of his generation, one <a href="https://nypost.com/2018/04/26/in-one-pick-defiant-giants-gm-referenced-god-and-went-all-in/">“touched by the hand of God,”</a> couldn’t change the fortunes of a franchise, who could?

Though the decline of the position’s importance predates Barkley’s arrival to the NFL — only one running back since 2007 has been named MVP (Adrian Peterson, 2012) after seven running backs won the award the 16 seasons prior — there has been no running back taken in the top-five of the NFL draft since Barkley was taken No. 2 in 2018. In five of the past six drafts, no running back has been selected inside the top 20.

This season, no running back was among the 100 highest-paid players in the league, with running back holding the lowest franchise tag price ($11.95 million) of any position besides kicker and punter.

John Mara and Joe Schoen’s words will live in infamy, keeping the Giants a punchline and punching bag, as Saquon Barkley leads the Eagles to the Super Bowl.{ai:summary}<p>The value of running backs in the NFL has significantly declined, with no running back selected in the top five of the draft since Saquon Barkley in 2018. This season, running backs are notably absent from the list of the highest-paid players, reflecting their diminished importance in the league. </p><p>Despite Barkley's talent, the trend suggests that franchises are hesitant to invest heavily in the position, as evidenced by the low franchise tag price for running backs. #sports</p>

How Saquon Barkley has flipped the script for running backs with a season for the ages

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