After Week 18’s action, 14 teams will enter the postseason and prepare for a run at the Super Bowl. The players that make up the other 18, however, will start looking ahead to the upcoming offseason and free agency. Big names like Saquon Barkley, Kirk Cousins, and Tee Higgins are all set to hit the open market, and some of the game’s biggest stars will end up on new rosters next year.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and his contract was one of the biggest stories of the previous offseason. The former second-overall pick had a career year in 2022 and should have hit free agency as the top running back on the market. However, the Giants used the franchise tag to keep him in the Big Apple before agreeing to a revised one-year deal.
Unfortunately, the Giants were unable to recapture their 2022 magic and now enter the regular season finale with an uninspiring 5-11 record. Barkley’s production also dropped, but that’s likely due to the terrible environment and supporting cast. When asked about his future, Saquon Barkley didn’t sound too optimistic about his odds of returning to the Giants for another season.
Saquon Barkley: “Out of My Control” If I Return to Giants
Speaking during a locker room interview, Saquon Barkley spoke out about his uncertain future.
“I’ve mentioned before that I wanted to be a Giant for life. That was a goal of mine when I got drafted. I wanted to leave a legacy here, but it’s out of my control. I truly have no say. It’s really up to those guys upstairs.”
Based on this quote, it sounds like Barkley will return to the Giants if the money is even. However, it also sounds like the team and running back aren’t particularly close to finding common ground on a long-term deal. It’s also worth mentioning that the Giants can franchise Barkley as early as February, but it’s anyone’s guess if that happens. The free agent running back market is going to be fascinating this year, as the supply of talented running backs exceeded the demand at this point last year. Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Austin Ekeler all held out for long-term contract, and none of them got what they wanted.
Will the market correct itself now that those aforementioned players are now a year older? That doesn’t seem particularly likely, but it’s worth noting that the 2024 NFL Draft class is supposedly weak at running back. Perhaps teams will be willing to pay up for proven commodities this time around, and these five teams make the most sense as potential Saquon Barkley destinations.
Best Free Agent Team Fits
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are in the best position of any rebuilding team. Armed with the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft, another first-round pick, and over $60 million in cap space, this team has the chance to address every possible need on the roster. With this in mind, they have the resources to overspend on a luxury position like running back. Chances are, the Bears will trade Justin Fields and move forward with Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, and that rookie quarterback will need support. Old-fashioned coaches like Matt Eberflus believe that a good running game can take pressure off a quarterback, and Barkley is the type of guy that defenses will demand extra defensive attention.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens running backs simply cannot stay healthy. J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1 and promising rookie Keaton Mitchell went down with a season-ending ailment of his own. Dobbins is a free agent and probably won’t be back, while Mitchell is far too unproven to be anything more than high-upside depth. With Gus Edwards also hitting the open market, perhaps the Ravens decide to splurge and go after a proven option like Saquon Barkley. Barkley is dangerous in any environment, but he could be unstoppable sharing a backfield with a dual-threat like Lamar Jackson.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys still believe that the running back is a valuable part of any offense. After all, that’s why they used the franchise tag on Tony Pollard last year. After looking like one of the most explosive runners in football while splitting touches with Elliott, Pollard simply doesn’t seem capable of handling a massive workload. The former fourth-round pick has been one of the least impressive backs in the game, and the Cowboys might want someone like Saquon Barkley who can handle 300 touches. Stealing him from a division rival is just a bonus.
New Orleans Saints
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the New Orleans Saints are in salary cap trouble. As of this posting, the team is $76 million over the cap, and they’ll need to make some sacrifices in the coming months. One of those sacrifices could be aging running back Alvin Kamara, as the former third-round pick has battled injuries this year and the Saints can save $11.8 million in cap space by designating him as a post-June 1st cut. If Kamara leaves, the Saints could probably sign Saquon Barkley and still save room against the salary cap.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers didn’t want to pay Austin Ekeler, but maybe they’ll be willing to open the checkbook for Saquon Barkley. After all, Barkley is younger and more athletic than the former undrafted free agent. Barkley’s fate in Los Angeles probably depends on their next head coach. If the Chargers hire Bill Belichick, he might be willing to buy low and take a risk on a talented player.
Main Photo: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports
