Lofty Expectations For Saquon Barkley With The Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have a new offensive coordinator this year in Kellen Moore and will have a new bell-cow running back in Saquon Barkley. It's a big weapon to add to an offense that already includes one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league in Jalen Hurts. The Eagles could utilize their tight ends more in 2024 in Moore's scheme as well. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has talked to scouts that believe Barkley could see a similar boost that Christian McCaffrey had when he went to the San Francisco 49ers. Barkley is heading to a Philadelphia offense that has never had this kind of supporting cast around him. Injuries have been a concern with the 27-year-old, but if he stays healthy in his first year with the Eagles, Barkley's upside at the RB position is as high as any in the league as a strong RB1 target.
Eagles Won't Be Penalized For Tampering With Saquon Barkley
After a thorough review of the Philadelphia Eagles' signing of running back Saquon Barkley, the NFL informed the team on Thursday that the investigation did not discover sufficient evidence to support a finding that the anti-tampering policy was violated. The league reviewed phone logs, text messages and other documents related to Philadelphia's free-agency strategy and decision to sign Barkley. The NFL also interviewed several members of the organization, including Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni, as well as Barkley and Penn State head coach James Franklin. Unlike the Atlanta Falcons and their pursuit of quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason, the Eagles will not face any fines or loss of future draft picks for their signing of Barkley.
Free-agent running back Saquon Barkley is signing with the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million deal. The deal includes $26 million in guaranteed money and has an additional $9 million available in incentives. After a 2018 rookie season that saw the former Penn State star go for over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns, he has struggled to stay healthy over a chunk of the next five years of his career. He missed 21 games from 2019 to 2021. He bounced back in 2022 with 1,312 rushing yards but regressed to 962 yards in 14 games in 2023. However, the Eagles believe in him as a game-changing running back, as his average salary ($12.58 million) ranks only below Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Jonathan Taylor. Although the Eagles' offensive line could take a hit after the retirement of Jason Kelce, Barkley should be playing behind the best offensive line of his career in 2024. He will have an immediate high-end RB1 upside in fantasy football.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans are both interested in signing free-agent running back Saquon Barkley, according to SNY's Connor Hughes. The New York Giants are also interested in keeping Barkley around, but he may be plucked away by another team. Although the former first-rounder has a lengthy injury history, he's viewed as the best option in a top-heavy free-agent running back market this offseason. The 27-year-old two-time Pro Bowler took a step back in 2023, although he didn't have much of a chance with quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) hurt while running behind an atrocious offensive line. Barkley finished with 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 247 carries while adding 41 catches for 280 yards and four more TDs in 14 games. Regardless of where Barkley is playing in 2024, he'll be a risk/reward RB1 for fantasy managers.
Impending Free-agent running back Saquon Barkley already has several teams interested in signing him. However, most interestingly, the Eagles have emerged as a franchise to watch. The 27-year-old has spent the last six seasons in New York since being taken No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He's had some dominant fantasy seasons, although he was most productive as a rookie. But he's also battled more than his share of injuries over the years, a source of fantasy managers' frequent frustration. Barkley didn't have a horrible year in 2023-24, totaling 10 touchdowns while falling 38 rushing yards short of 1,000. Yet, he missed three more games. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that teams like the Cowboys and Ravens are a few other teams rumored to be in the running to get Barkley to sign on the dotted line. There's also a chance he remains with the Giants. The Eagles also haven't prioritized the running back position, so any potential deal could fall through before it has a chance to start. At any rate, the former Nittany Lion has the talent, but his fantasy outlook primarily hinges on whether he can remain healthy.
The New York Giants are not using the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Saquon Barkley again, according to a source. It means that Barkley will hit the open market next week and will be one of the top free agents in a very good running back class this offseason. The franchise tag for the second straight year on Barkley would have cost the Giants $12.1 million in 2024. The 27-year-old probably won't reach that mark in free agency, but he could come close. The former first-rounder (second overall) in 2018 out of Penn State missed three more games due to injury in 2023 and really didn't have much of a chance behind an atrocious offensive line in New York, finishing with 962 rushing yards and six TDs on 247 carries, adding 41 catches for 280 yards and four more scores. Barkley's 2024 fantasy value will be more clear once we know where he's playing, but as of right now he projects to be a risk/reward low-end RB1.
The New York Giants and impending free-agent running back Saquon Barkley's representatives had a "good (initial) meeting" on Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, according to a source. The Giants are reportedly open to multiple options, including memorializing Barkley's legacy as a Giants, pending an agreement on mutual terms. The 27-year-old is unlikely to receive the franchise tag for the second straight year, although the G-Men aren't ruling it out. If it makes sense financially for both sides, a long-term extension makes the most sense, but the Giants will be way given Barkley's long injury history. Wherever he lands in 2024, Barkley will be a risk/reward RB1 for fantasy managers after he missed three more games with injury in 2023 and finished under 1,000 yards rushing for the third time in his six NFL seasons.
Giants Not Ruling Out Franchise Tag For Saquon Barkley
New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen isn't ruling out using the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Saquon Barkley, even though it was reported on Monday that they were unlikely to use it on him. "The franchise tag is not off the table. He wants a fair deal and I appreciate that," Schoen said. Using the franchise tag on the 27-year-old RB would cost the G-Men around $12.1 million in 2024, and it would be the second straight year they would have used the tag on him. Even after missing more time due to injury in 2023, Barkley would be a hot commodity at the position this offseason if he doesn't end up re-signing in New York. The two-time Pro Bowler averaged 3.9 yards per carry on 247 attempts for 962 rushing yards and six TDs in 14 games in 2023. No matter where he lands, the oft-injured RB will be a risk/reward RB1 for fantasy managers.
The New York Giants will speak with impending free-agent running back Saquon Barkley and explore a new deal with him, but they are unlikely to place the franchise tag on him for $12.109 million in 2024, according to sources. The 27-year-old could very well hit the open market when the new league year opens in March, but there's no denying that Barkley is the essence of New York's offense when he's healthy. The two-time Pro Bowler took a step back in 2023 and missed three games due to injury, finishing with 962 rushing yards on 247 carries (3.9 yards per carry) and six touchdowns while adding 41 catches for 280 yards and four more TDs. Barkley could have a decent market if he reaches free agency, but he'll continue to be a risk/reward RB1 due to his extensive injury history.
Giants Considering Letting Saquon Barkley Test Free Agency?
The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll examined a hypothetical that seems to be gaining some traction lately: That the New York Giants should make an offer to running back Saquon Barkley early this offseason, and if he doesn't accept it, let him test free agency to see what the league thinks he's worth. Then before signing anything, Barkley gives the Giants a chance to match any offer from another team. "I wouldn't be against that. That's fair," Barkley said when posed that scenario last week. Working in Barkley's favor if he hits the open market is the fact that this year's RB class in the draft is considered weak. However, the free-agent class at the position is shaping up to be strong. The RB franchise tag is at $12.1 million in 2024, but the G-Men may prefer not to use it on a 27-year-old who missed another three games with a high-ankle sprain in 2023 and who also averaged under 4.0 yards per carry.
