DeMarco Murray Worth Big Contract Offer Despite Devalued Running Back Position

You may have to sit down for this—there is a running back who is actually worth a potential big-time contract offer in today’s NFL. 

Sure, the position has been devalued in recent years, and running backs are seen more as replaceable parts than mandatory engines, but there wasn’t a better player at the position in 2014 than DeMarco Murray. It’s not every day that a record-setting back is available in free agency, and he is worth a sizable contract offer from a team that needs more production from the backfield.

Murray only made $1.4 million in 2014, which was a mere 23rd at the position. That is bound to change after a career season.

Still, the fact that the running back position has become devalued has to be taken into consideration when discussing Murray’s impending free agency. After all, seven of the past eight MVPs were quarterbacks, and the game has gradually developed into a pass-first league.

Albert Breer of NFL.com offered one explanation as to why the position is no longer what it used to be:

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Among the NFL's top 10 rushers in 2014, there was one former first-round pick (Lynch), four second-rounders, two third-rounders, a fourth-rounder, a seventh-rounder and a former undrafted free agent (Foster) who also happens to be the most well-compensated of the bunch. And that should drive home the point well enough for everyone. There's supply out there, which hurts demand.

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One need look no further than the fact that LeSean McCoy was just traded for a linebacker who is coming off a devastating ACL injury for proof that running backs are no longer as important as they were in the past.

Still, Murray isn’t just any running back.

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

The first thing that jumps out about Murray eventually hitting the open market is his pure statistical production. He won the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year Award behind an NFL-best 1,845 rushing yards, and his ability to burst through the tackles and pick up difficult yardage up the middle was a major reason why the Cowboys won the NFC East title.

Murray also broke Emmitt Smith’s team record for rushing yards in a single season and set an NFL record for the number of 100-yard games to open a season (eight).

Murray found the end zone 13 times and also mixed in a career-best 416 receiving yards. That ability to get involved in the passing game is absolutely critical in today’s aerial-assault NFL, and he set a career high in catches (57) as well.

It wasn’t just the numbers, though. His durability was critical for Dallas, as he played in all 16 games of a season for the first time of his career. He gutted out the playoff contests with a surgically repaired hand and demonstrated the type of team-first dedication that many sports cliches are born from.

Cowboys Vice President Stephen Jones answered any questions about where the team stands on Murray after that type of season, via Mark Lane of Fox Sports Southwest:

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[Murray] is probably going to, you know, get some peace and see what's out in the market and then we'll talk and see. I do believe deep down he'd love to stay in Dallas. We've had some really good football players go into free agency: Jay Novacek and Darren Woodson and, you know, they still sign with the Cowboys. So, just because you're a free agent doesn't mean you're not necessarily going to end up back in Dallas. We'd love to keep him in Dallas; just see how things play out.

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There is something to be said about seeing how things play out because Murray is 27 years old and tallied a borderline-ridiculous 392 carries in 2014, but he didn’t have a ton of miles on his odometer before the year.

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

The argument can be made that he is a young 27 since he only had 164 carries in 2011, 161 in 2012 and 217 in 2013. That is definitely not an overwhelming amount of touches throughout his career, as the Cowboys often focused on the passing attack with Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.

Murray is a statistical marvel, still three years away from his 30th birthday and coming off a career season that suggests he is just hitting his prime. All of that alone would make him worth a large contract offer, but his impact on the passing game goes beyond the box score.

With Murray in the backfield, opponents are forced to stack the box because of his ability to break through arm tackles and overpower his way to tough yardage up the middle. That opens up the passing attack, which certainly helped Romo and Bryant this season as Dallas took home the division title.

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Whether Murray is opening up more room for Romo or a different quarterback next season remains to be seen, but the running back is worth a large contract offer. 

The Offensive Player of the Year is just hitting his prime. Which team wants him?

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