Projecting Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs Contract Extensions After De'Von Achane, Breece Hall Deals

It's been a good offseason to be a star running back in the NFL.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Wednesday the Miami Dolphins and running back De'Von Achane agreed to a four-year, $68 million contract extension. At $17 million per year with $32 million in guarantees, he is now the league's third-highest-paid player at the position.

What's more, the annual per year and guarantee totals are both the most in history for a running back coming off a rookie deal.

This comes after the New York Jets and Breece Hall agreed to a new three-year, $45.75 million deal earlier this month. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported at the time it made Hall the league's third-highest-paid running back at $15.25 million per year.

As is often the case with new deals in the NFL, they are setting the market for the next notable name to sign a new contract.

And those notable names figure to be Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson and Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs since they each have club options for the 2027 season on their respective contracts before potential free agency.

Spinning Bijan TD 🔄

00:21

At this point, Philadelphia Eagles playmaker Saquon Barkley is the highest-paid running back in the league on a per-year basis at $20.6 million. But Robinson and Gibbs could both surpass that total moving forward.

In March, Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac projected Robinson's value at three years and $57 million, "setting him up to push past Barkley's current top mark" in negotiations. However, he may not sit atop the list for long, as Ginnitti noted "Gibbs' rise to the top of this market seems inevitable" with a modeled value of three years and $61 million.

The thought here is Robinson will reset the market at $20.7 million per year before Gibbs checks in above him at $20.8 million per year.

The nature of contracts for star NFL players is once the market is set, the next one is going to be higher. Given the age and overall production of Robinson and Gibbs, who are each 24 years old, there is no reason to think their respective teams will not reward them with massive deals.

Robinson is a two-time Pro Bowler in his first three seasons and was a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2025 with 1,478 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground to go with 79 catches for 820 yards and four scores as a receiver. 

Gibbs has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the league and led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024. He finished the 2025 season with 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground to go with 77 catches for 616 yards and five scores as a receiver.

As long as each star running back continues to produce, they will be in line for head-turning new deals.