Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs Holding In

Robinson and Gibbs entered the league as first-round picks in 2023, and they have offered elite production since then. Their teams made the no-brainer decisions to exercise their fifth-year options during the spring, meaning Robinson and Gibbs are not due to reach free agency until 2028.

Robinson, the eighth overall pick in his class, is scheduled to earn $11.32MM in 2027. Gibbs came off the board four picks later, but because he already has two original-ballot Pro Bowl nods (Robinson has one), he is in line to make $14.29MM in ’27.

Along with making the Pro Bowl in 2025, Robinson earned first-team All-Pro honors at his position and a second-team All-Pro selection as an all-purpose player. Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham made it known in March he wanted to extend Robinson and wide receiver Drake London before the season. Cunningham checked off one of those tasks when London agreed to a four-year, $141MM deal on June 2.

The Falcons were also in talks with Robinson in early June, though nothing has come together with the former Texas star since then. While Jonathan Jones of The Athletic expects Robinson to become the league’s top-paid back this summer, there remains “some distance” in negotiations. Robinson’s decision not to participate in practice on Wednesday was indeed contract-related, a team source confirmed to Josh Kendall of The Athletic.

It’s a similar situation in Detroit. When Eric Woodyard of ESPN asked Lions head coach Dan Campbell about Gibbs on Wednesday, he responded: “This will kind of continue. It’ll come as it comes. I think that’s the best way to say it. This is both sides working through something and we’ll take it as it comes, but that’s where it is.”

Although Gibbs said in early June he was not worried about reaching a deal before the start of the season, the belief is he is seeking a top-market contract for his position, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The Dolphins’ De’Von Achane leads RBs in total value ($64MM) after signing a four-year extension in May. The Eagles’ Saquon Barkley is tops in guarantees ($36MM) and average annual salary ($20.6MM). Aside from those two, the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey ($19MM) and the Ravens’ Derrick Henry ($15MM) are the only backs earning at least $15MM per year. Both Robinson and Gibbs could blow by that figure soon, though it is anyone’s guess who will put pen to paper first.