Saquon Barkley’s tenure with the New York Giants is reaching its conclusion, but his presence will continue to be felt, especially by his former team.
According to NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, Barkley is poised to join division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, once free agency officially commences.
Sources indicate that Barkley’s contract with the Eagles will span three years and amount to $37.75 million, positioning him just behind Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Jonathan Taylor in terms of lucrative deals for running backs.
Despite the Giants refraining from placing the franchise tag on Barkley for the second consecutive year, signaling a desire to retain him at a lower cost, negotiations didn’t align with Barkley’s expectations. Giants General Manager Joe Schoen expressed the team’s interest in retaining Barkley during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, but ultimately, they couldn’t reach an agreement.
Barkley’s performance in 2023 was commendable, with 962 rush yards and six rushing touchdowns, along with 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns in 14 starts. However, it fell short of his stellar 2022 season, where he amassed 1,650 scrimmage yards.
Injuries have plagued Barkley’s career since his debut in 2018 as the No. 2 overall draft pick. An ankle injury sidelined him for three games last season, while a torn ACL and MCL limited him to just two games in 2020.
For the Eagles, acquiring Barkley marks another significant offseason move at running back following the trade for D’Andre Swift during the 2023 NFL Draft. As Swift is expected to join the Bears in free agency, Barkley’s arrival bolsters the Eagles’ offensive arsenal alongside Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith.
Notably, Barkley’s new affiliation with the Eagles brings him closer to his hometown of Coplay, Pennsylvania, just outside Allentown, and strengthens the team’s offensive prowess, provided his health remains stable.
