For the Birds: Saquon Barkley Agrees to Terms with Eagles
The New York Giants will be seeing running back Saquon Barkley again. However, the bad news is that it won't be daily as the 27-year-old Pennsylvania native has agreed to terms on a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles that could soar to as high as $46.75 million with incentives.
Barkley, who last year was unable to agree to a multiyear deal with the Giants to ensure he remained "a Giant for life," will also receive $26 million fully guaranteed at signing.
His new deal's guaranteed money is right about the sum of the franchise tag amount for 2024 and 2025. It comes to a maximum average-per-year salary of $15.833 million, which currently is the second highest for a running back in NFL history, behind Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers ($16.01 million).
The Giants, who are 25-48-1 all-time with Barkley in the lineup, burst onto the scene in 2018 as a rookie after the Giants made him the second overall pick in that year's draft. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year award and topped 2,000 all-purpose yards, becoming just the third rookie to accomplish that.
He also set the record for most rushing touchdowns as a rookie, with 11, topping a franchise record that had stood since 1946. He also bested Reggie Bush's rookie running back reception record of 88 by recording 91 receptions as a rookie.
Barkley, who has two Pro Bowl berths and three 1,000-yard rushing campaigns to his name, has also dealt with an extensive injury history that included a torn ACL in 2020 and ankle sprains sprinkled throughout his career starting in 2019. Still, he was the Giants' best and most productive skill position player on offense, and his departure leaves a major hole in an offense that lacked explosiveness last season.
Bleacher Report insider Jordan Schultz reported that Barkley's decision came down to the Eagles, Bears, and Texans and that the Giants never made an offer to retain Barkley.
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