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On Wednesday's 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe, Jonas Knox, Brady Quinn and LaVar Arrington explain why wide receivers are being valued more than ever before, and how it hurts the value of running backs and other positions.
LaVar Arrington: "The one thing that you want to be able to do on the defensive side of the ball is, A) Get to the passer. B) Cover the receiver. You don't necessarily need somebody who's going to be able to stop the run, per se, as your main point of emphasis on the defensive side of the ball.
So now you gotta get somebody on the offense side of the ball that can can stop the pass rush, somebody who can deliver the ball and someone who can catch it. And the order of importance on the field has been placed on the receiver. These agents realize it. The players realize it, and now they're starting to approach contract situations and reviews the same way quarterbacks are."
Jonas Knox: "What do you think it does to the lower levels? Do you think there's coaches out there that are telling players, maybe a guy who's a running back like, 'Hey, dude, for your future, start learning how to catch the ball, start learning the route tree?'"
LaVar Arrington: "I've done it."
Brady Quinn: "That or go to go be a cornerback or another position that's valued, but the tough part about being a running back is the complementary piece is linebacker, and unless you're an edge rusher where you're impacting the quarterback you're not valued as much.
There's five positions that basically take up all the allocation of the salary cap. Quarterback, Tackle, Edge Rusher, Cornerback, Wide Receiver. It's those five positions."
Jonas Knox: "We grew up and running back was such a valuable position and it just feels like every year, there's less and less importance or value placed on the running back spot. It's crazy to see how fast this has turned."