Star running back Saquon Barkley is officially abandoning my New York Giants and signing with division rival Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
The deal is worth up to $46.75 million with incentives and guarantees him $26 million, sources told Schefter.
The Giants were apparently not willing to spend that much on the oft-injured star and, after using the franchise tag on him last year, elected to forego that process again this year and let him hit the open market.
![EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 07: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants walks off the field after a win over the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on January 07, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Al Bello/Getty Images](https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1915837205.jpg)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 07: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants walks off the field after a win over the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on January 07, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Al Bello/Getty Images
![ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 22: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants runs the ball during the second quarter against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Scott Cunningham/Getty Images](https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1052777236-scaled.jpg)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 22: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants runs the ball during the second quarter against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
![EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 11: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants celebrates after scoring a five yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sarah Stier/Getty Images](https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1848632361-scaled.jpg)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 11: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants celebrates after scoring a five yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Schefter wrote that the maximum value of the deal, the $46.75 million number, worked out to an average annual value of $15.83 million per year which would be second highest for an NFL running back, just behind Christian McCaffrey’s $16 million per year. (RELATED: Star Wideout Michael Pittman’s Long Contract Saga Ends With Surprisingly Cheap Deal)
Former Giants RB Saquon Barkley reached agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could be worth up to $46.75M and includes $26M fully guaranteed at signing, per sources.
Barkley now beats the franchise tag number and has a maximum… pic.twitter.com/d2TnEWhaQ0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024
However, and this is just a guess considering full details have not yet emerged, the extra $10 million are likely tied to Barkley actually playing a full season, something he’s only really done a couple times in his career. If Barkley only receives his base salary, his average annual value goes down to a still-respectable $12.58 million.
![ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 16: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants carries the ball against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images](https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1034573908-scaled.jpg)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 16: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants carries the ball against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images
While as a Giants fan I understand it probably wasn’t financially responsible to give an aging injury-prone running back that much money, it’s heartbreaking to see him cross the turnpike and head to our bitter rival. (RELATED: Star QB Reportedly Makes Major Move To New Franchise)
I am going to very much miss Saquon Barkley. At his peak, he’s a high-flying, defender-hurdling, juke you out of your shoes running back and an electric entertainer. But the 27-year-old is not the back he once was. Since returning from a 2020 ACL injury he hasn’t been quite as explosive. He had a great 2022 season, earning him a Pro Bowl nod, but his production dropped off again last season as his yards per carry dropped to 3.9, a far cry from the 5.0 he was averaging in his rookie of the year season.
![EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 30: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants scores a touchdown in the fourth Quarter against the New Orleans Saints during their game at MetLife Stadium on September 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Al Bello/Getty Images](https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1047311484-scaled.jpg)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 30: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants scores a touchdown in the fourth Quarter against the New Orleans Saints during their game at MetLife Stadium on September 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Al Bello/Getty Images
Ultimately, I was fully ready to let Saquon go. In today’s NFL, with the incredible amount of depth at the running back position, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to invest heavy long term resources into an oversaturated and easily-injured position group. But the fact that he’s going to Philly makes my blood boil. He’s a good guy and deep down I will always root for him as a human being. But I will be booing him loudly and incessantly every time I see him wearing green for the foreseeable future.