The New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen will now receive a crude reminder twice a year of their inability to lock down once-perceived franchise running back, Saquon Barkley.
The 27-year-old star rusher is signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday — the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period ahead of Wednesday’s official start of free agency and the new league year.
Over three years, Barkley will make $37.75 million which could increase to $46.75 million if he hits certain incentives. He is guaranteed at least $26 million.
It vastly exceeds what Schoen and the Giants were willing to pay him. Two seasons ago, they reportedly sent a $13 million per year offer his way, but he turned it down. An inability to work out a deal forced the Giants to exercise the franchise tag, which was modified to give Barkley $10.1 million, which could have increased to $11 million with incentives.
Following the 2023 season in which the former No. 2 overall pick rushed for 962 yards with 10 total touchdowns, both he and Schoen spoke about the desire to work out a long-term deal while avoiding the franchise tag. Schoen did not go that route even after meetings with Barkley’s representation during the 2024 NFL Combine which began late last month in Indianapolis yielded no progress.
That allowed Barkley to become a free agent where he now inks a deal that is worth $15.833 million annually, which is the second-richest deal for a running back in NFL history.
He will also face the Giants twice a year as he remains in the NFC East with an Eagles team that once looked like the class of the NFL last season, only to sputter and run out of gas in the final weeks, leading to an unceremonious exit in the Wild Card round.
Barkley’s addition provides another stellar weapon to a Philadelphia squad that boasts a top-tier quarterback in Jalen Hurts and one of the best young receivers in the game, DeVonta Smith. Meanwhile, the Giants now have to add a running back to their list of offseason needs, which might also include a quarterback if Schoen believes Daniel Jones is not the long-term answer.
New York holds the No. 6 pick at the NFL Draft to potentially address that need, but they also possessed one of the worst offensive lines in NFL history last season.
