Saquon Barkley‘s move to the Philadelphia Eagles was be one of the biggest signings of the offseason. On March 13, 2024, the Eagles officially announced signing Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million contract, with $26 million guaranteed at signing. This deal made Barkley the second-highest-paid running back in NFL history, with a maximum average annual salary of $15.833 million.
Barkley’s departure from the New York Giants came after six seasons with the team. Despite his desire to remain a “Giant for life,” contract negotiations between Barkley and the Giants reached an impasse. The Giants opted not to use the franchise tag on Barkley for the 2024 season, which would have cost them $12.1 million, allowing him to enter free agency.
The move to Philadelphia represents a homecoming of sorts for Saquon Barkley, who was born in the Bronx but raised in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley area. He played college football at Penn State, where he set numerous records and established himself as a top NFL prospect.
In joining the Eagles, Saquon Barkley faces the challenge of adapting to a new offensive system and proving his worth as a high-priced free agent acquisition. The Eagles, who ranked seventh in total offense and eighth in rushing offense last season, are looking to Barkley to elevate their already potent attack.
Barkley’s career has been a mix of brilliance and setbacks. He burst onto the NFL scene in 2018, leading the league in yards from scrimmage (2,028) and winning the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. However, injuries have hampered his production in recent years, causing him to miss at least three games in four of the past five seasons.
Despite these challenges, Saquon Barkley remains one of the NFL’s top running backs. Among active players, he ranks seventh in rushing yards per game (70.4) and tenth in total touches (1,489). His versatility as both a runner and receiver makes him a valuable asset in modern NFL offenses.
Saquon Barkley has the ability to be a game-changing player, when healthy. If Barkley can remain healthy and consistent throughout the season, the Eagles are just a season removed from the Super Bowl appearance, and have the talent (including Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown) to make a deep playoff run..
