Eagles Signing Giants RB Saquon Barkley ‘A Real Possibility’: Report
With the New York Giants deciding against franchise-tagging star running back Saquon Barkley, it seems the Philadelphia Eagles may not have to worry about facing the former Penn State star two times a year anymore. Instead, the Eagles could find themselves among the numerous suitors attempting to sign Barkley in free agency.
According to a new report from the New York Post's Ryan Dunleavy, the interest is "mutual" between the Eagles and Barkley.
"That interest is mutual. Saquon to Eagles is a real possibility," Dunleavy writes.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) rushes against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of an NFL game on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in East Rutherford. Nyg Vs Phi
Danielle Parhizkaran/USA Today Network
While last offseason's trade with the Detroit Lions netted the Eagles D'Andre Swift, who replaced Miles Sanders as the top back in Philadelphia, the 25-year-old is also set to enter free agency after just one season.
Swift, the former Georgia Bulldog, is coming off a career year in which he rushed for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns on 229 carries while contributing another 214 yards and a score out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. Not only was Swift productive, but he stayed healthy, something that had eluded him during his three years with the Lions.
However, despite the career year, recent history suggests that the Eagles aren't willing to spend money on the running back position, which not only puts Swift's future in doubt but also Barkley's as it pertains to the Eagles potentially signing him.
After rushing for 962 yards and six touchdowns on 247 carries in 14 games, it is believed Barkley will be looking to cash in this offseason. The latest projections from Spotrac has Barkley's valuation at $9.9 million annually, with a predicted contract of three years worth $29 million.
If the projections are correct, the Eagles have the cap space at $41 million available to add Barkley to their roster. Yet, considering Spotrac's projected deal for Barkley is worth more per year than what the Panthers gave Sanders last offseason, the Eagles may not be actual contenders for his signature.
