Though he will still play a lot, Saquon Barkley’s tenure with the New York Giants is coming to an end.
When official free agency begins on Monday, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo reported that the running back is expected to sign with the rival Philadelphia Eagles, citing sources.
With his three-year, $37.75 million contract, Saquon Barkley will be the running back with one of the highest current contracts, trailing just Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Jonathan Taylor.
The Giants opted not to place the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley for a second straight year, which would have cost them $12.1 million. Tagging Saquon Barkley in 2023 led to a brief holdout, followed by a revised one-year deal to keep him in New York last season. Still, the Giants, who added veteran RB Devin Singletary later Monday, appeared to want him back – at their price.
“He’s a guy we’d like to have back,” Giants GM Joe Schoen told reporters during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine last month in Indianapolis.
Barkley, 27, was productive in 2023.
In 14 starts, he finished with 962 rush yards and six rushing touchdowns. He also had 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns. However, it was not as good as his outstanding 2022 campaign, in which he amassed 1,650 yards from scrimmage.
In addition, since joining the NFL in 2018 as the second overall pick in the draft, injuries have dogged his career. His ankle issue from previous season caused him to miss three games, which continued into 2021.
In 2020, Barkley also sustained torn ACL and MCLs, which kept him out of action for just two games. This is now two offseasons in a row where the Eagles have made a major move at running back. Last year, they swung a trade during the 2023 NFL Draft to land D’Andre Swift via trade from the Lions. The Eagles are poised to lose Swift, who is expected to sign with the Bears at the start of free agency.
In 10 games against the Eagles (including a 2022 playoff game in Philadelphia), Saquon Barkleyhas rushed 147 times for 676 yards and six TDs, adding 36 receptions for 271 and one TD.
His only two 100-yard rushing games against the Eagles both came in his Offensive Rookie of the Year season in 2018. Now the Giants are set to face their former star at least twice per season. Since Barkley grew up in Coplay, Pennsylvania, which is just outside of Allentown and approximately an hour away from the Eagles’ stadium, the relocation actually takes him a little bit closer to his hometown. And, providing Barkley’s health doesn’t deteriorate once more, it adds another elite player to the Eagles’ offensive line that already includes Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. For more trending news click
