Ole Miss star Quinshon Judkins concerned about NFL RB market

Add college players to the list of individuals within the football community noticing how NFL teams currently view veteran running backs and the position, in general. 

Ole Miss Rebels ball-carrier Quinshon Judkins recently acknowledged during a conversation with ESPN's Heather Dinich he considers the treatment of NFL running backs "a big concern" heading into his sophomore season. 

"That's why I've improved my game as far as showing what I can do in the passing game," Judkins explained. "I have a lot of receptions, a lot of passing yards. I can not only be used in the backfield but I can also be used in the slot as well." 

Judkins spoke after Monday's deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players came and went without Tony Pollard, Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs receiving noteworthy deals from their teams. Pollard signed his franchise tag earlier this year and is on track to earn $10.091M guaranteed for 2023, but neither Barkley nor Jacobs have yet signed their tags and, thus, cannot be fined for skipping training camp practices. 

It's been suggested running backs such as Barkley and Jacobs should either sit games out or report to their teams but then fake injuries to protest the current market for players at the undervalued position. Judkins sounds open to embracing a position change or serving as a dual-threat offensive weapon similar to Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. 

"So you can put me all over the field no matter what you need me to do as a playmaker," Judkins continued. "I think that as far as the next level, the way they're doing those guys is because I feel like you can only do so much at that position because of the guys who are in the league and dealing with those situations."

Last season, Judkins recorded 1,567 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 274 carries to go along with 15 catches for 132 yards and a single score. 

"You don't have to just run the ball with me, rushing," Judkins added. "You can use me all over the field. I can throw the ball, catch it, whatever you need. I've seen the things that they've done with the running back position and the contracts and the things in the NFL that the running backs are dealing with."