Gurley resetting RB market paves way for other stars to do the same

Todd Gurley is famous for his awesome hurdling ability, often leaving NFL defenders snatching at the space he used to be in and helpless to stop him from blazing a trail to the end zone.

The Los Angeles Rams star similarly leapfrogged his fellow running back Le'Veon Bell on Tuesday, landing a four-year extension worth $60 million - the kind of record-breaking deal the disgruntled Pittsburgh Steeler has been fighting for since last offseason in hopes of resetting the stagnant running back market.

The new contract keeps Gurley with the Rams through the 2023 season (Gurley has two years left on his rookie deal). More importantly for the rest of the NFL, the deal's $45 million in guarantees is the most for a running back ever, and the extension's $15-million annual average is tops in the league at the position by some distance (among long-term contracts).

While Bell wasn't the man who finally pushed the running back market to new heights, he did effectively highlight how the NFL had squeezed the position in recent years.

Not until Gurley's deal did anyone at the position exceed Adrian Peterson's yearly average of $14.38 million from a contract signed in 2011. That's a ridiculous length of time considering that the top money for quarterbacks seemingly rises every season.

Moreover, prior to Gurley's extension, only 12 running backs were on deals that averaged at least $5 million per year, and only five earned more than $7 million, according to Spotrac. The latter number is inflated by Bell, who's playing on a $14.54-million franchise tag, and Saquon Barkley, who's on a rookie deal.

By comparison, in 2012, 16 running backs were making an average of at least $5 million, and 11 of them were taking home at least $7 million a season. The latter group was dominated by the elite running backs of the day, including Peterson, Chris Johnson, Arian Foster, and Steven Jackson.

Of course, the NFL has moved away from featured backs. Five runners eclipsed 300 carries in 2012, while only Bell did it last season. However, the top-tier talent at the position is arguably just as good now - which is what makes Gurley's deal so significant to a handful of other stars around the league.

Le'Veon, Zeke, DJ set for big 💰

Along with Gurley and Bell, David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott make up the elite players at the position. All of them are either already looking to get paid or will be very soon.

Bell, 26, has been franchise-tagged for the last two seasons in lieu of a long-term extension as his standoff with the Steelers continues. While his bank account has grown by over $26 million during that time, he appears no closer to inking the kind of deal he believes he deserves as one of the league's most dynamic and well-rounded offensive weapons.

His agent, Adisa Bakari, said his client will likely leave Pittsburgh after the season because of the team's reluctance to meet Bell's guaranteed-money expectations after the franchise-tag deadline passed last week with no deal.

Bell won't hold out and said he intends to play, but it's doesn't look like Pittsburgh will be the team that finally gives him the contract he craves. "It became clear the Steelers wanted to pay the position, not the player," Bakari said.

Related: 5 teams that should be lining up bids for Le'Veon Bell in 2019

Meanwhile, Johnson is entering the final season of his rookie contract. He isn't in the best bargaining position after missing nearly all of last season due to a wrist injury, which is presumably why he decided not to hold out of training camp after staying away from mandatory minicamp to try to force a deal.

The 26-year-old is, however, the clear future of the Cardinals' offense, even with first-round rookie quarterback Josh Rosen waiting in the wings.

Plus, he will only get more expensive if he's allowed to play out his contract and potentially achieve his goal of becoming the third player in NFL history to gain at least 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He nearly hit both marks in 2016, falling just 121 receiving yards short.

Related: Cardinals looking forward to rewarding David Johnson, says GM Keim

Last but not least is Elliott. He's entering the third year of his rookie deal but has the potential to break the market again at this time next summer if he can replicate his first-season success.

He's arguably the best pure runner in the league, as evidenced by his 1,631-yard, 15-touchdown rookie campaign. The Dallas Cowboys have little talent at receiver following the departure of Dez Bryant, so Elliott could also enjoy a Gurley-esque year as a receiver. He almost matched his 2016 receiving totals in 2017 despite playing in five fewer games.

Also working in Elliott's favor is owner Jerry Jones' star-loving attitude and willingness to open his wallet to accommodate that kind of player - though Elliott will have to continue to prove he's as reliable off the field as he is on it following his much-publicized six-game suspension last season.

Related: Bell, Johnson among tailbacks celebrating Gurley's huge extension

It could be up to a year before any of Bell, Elliott, and Johnson join Gurley in the new stratosphere of running-back contracts.

Bell is locked in for the franchise tag this season, but if he hits the free-agent market next year, the sky is the limit for what a running-back-desperate team with boatloads of cap space may offer him.

Johnson could cash in now, but at best, he'd likely only be able to match Gurley's extension because of his injury and being three years older. However, if he bets on himself and replicates his form from 2016 when he led the league in touchdowns, Gurley's deal will be his floor.

Elliott is already the 10th-best paid player at his position in yearly salary thanks to being drafted fourth overall. Now that Gurley's moved into $15-million territory, Elliott could take aim at being the first running back to crack $20 million per season - or at least close to it.

But whenever the trio does put pen to paper, each player will owe a large debt of gratitude to their counterpart in L.A. for getting the rusted gears of the running back market moving.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)