Saquon Barkley has been one of the most electrifying running backs in the NFL since getting drafted by the New York Giants with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
While he found individual honors including NFL Rookie of the Year and multiple Pro Bowls, the Giants struggled to win games with Barkley carrying most of the load much of the time.
There was plenty of speculation this offseason on where Barkley would be playing in 2024 and the dynamic RB was linked to several teams.
He always reiterated he wanted to retire with the New York Giants — but last week — inked a deal with the NFC East Division Rival Eagles.
Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could be worth up to $46.75M and includes $26M fully guaranteed.
ESPN was first to report the agreement.
Saquon Barkley joins Philadelphia as a rare big-money running back for a franchise that has typically avoided them under executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman’s watch. But much like Christian McCaffrey helped an offense loaded with talent at receiver and tight end, Barkley is one of those rare jack-of-all-trades weapons that cane be utilized in various offensive packages, turning a unit from good to great.
The New York Giants placed the franchise tag on Barkley prior to last season, and the two sides were unsuccessful in negotiating a long-term contract extension. New York gave him a $2 million signing bonus on top of the $10.091 salary he commanded from the tag. Barkley could have been tagged again, but the Giants allowed him to hit the open market.
Barkley has shown the promise of a No. 2 pick and why he was viewed as a future dynamo of the league while also battling injuries, running behind a porous offensive line and playing for three different head coaches over six seasons in New York.
The new Philadelphia Eagles RB won 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year after finishing that season with 1,307 rushing yards, 2,028 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns. Barkley had 1,003 yards on the ground in 13 games the following year. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 of the 2020 season, and he missed four weeks in the middle of the next season.
In 2022, Barkley resembled his pre-injury self, as he rushed for a career-best 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns while the Giants had their most successful season since he joined the organization by advancing to the NFC divisional round. He finished third in Comeback Player of the Year voting and was named to his second Pro Bowl.
The Giants regressed in 2023, however, and Barkley, who averaged 3.9 yards per carry and missed three games with a high ankle sprain, mentioned seeking a “clean slate” ahead of the upcoming season.
Saquon Barkley’s 5-Year Old Bashes New York Giants When Learning About Philadelphia Eagles Trade
Shortly after the trade was official, the Eagles social media captured a video from Barkley telling an adorable story between hint and his 5-year-old, Jada, that probably doesn’t have many Giants fans thrilled.
“She knows there’s a lot of history in my career with the Eagles,” Barkley said. “When I told her that we’re going to be going to Philly, she kind of was just like, ‘Does that mean we’re going to win now?’ And I just started smiling again and I was like, ‘Hopefully, hopefully we can win some more games.’ ”
Saquon Barkley is now part of a Philadelphia Eagles offense stacked with talent across the offensive side of the ball, As long as Jalen Hurts does his job and gets the football to the playmakers around him, that offense will be hard to stop.
The Eagles have won 16 of the past 20 matchups between the rivals and have a 94-89-2 record overall against The New York Giants.