Former Second-Overall Pick RB Should Get Interest From Chicago Bears
The @ChicagoBears should welcome @saquon to Chicago! pic.twitter.com/K1Iqu4m1Sr
— Ryan Wiers (@rwierscreative) February 13, 2024
Giants Superstar Running Back Saquon Barkley Set to Become a Free Agent
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on March 5th that Giants running back Saquon Barkley will not receive the Franchise Tag and is set to become a free agent. According to PFF, Barkley’s projected contract is three years, 36 million dollars—an average of 12 million annually. Barkley is the best running back available on the open market; that’s no secret. However, teams aren’t willing to pay a running back a ton of money these days. What makes the Bears uniquely positioned to justify offering Barkley a substantial contract?
Saquon Barkley Would Become the Bears Best Running Back Since Matt Forte
Saquon Barkley stands out as a transformative player at running back, bringing a game-changing impact. While current Bears running backs Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson are solid players, they don’t match Barkley’s caliber. With his three-down workhorse capabilities, exceptional receiving skills, and yards-after-catch ability, Barkley could be the Bears’ equivalent to a “Christian McCaffery.” Pairing him with Caleb Williams or Justin Fields could create a formidable offensive duo. By adding Barkley to their impressive running game, the Bears could become an unstoppable force on offense. Not to mention, Barkley would instantly become the best Bears running back since Matt Forte.
Watch – Related Running Back Draft Target
Are The Chicago Bears Interested in Acquiring a Top-Tier Free Agent Running Back?
Adam Jahns from The Athletic suggests there’s a growing interest within the Bears organization to acquire an impactful running back. Tyler Dragon of USA Today also notes that the Bears are closely monitoring Saquon Barkley. Despite the prevailing belief among many Bears fans that General Manager Ryan Poles tends to be cautious with spending on running backs, an intriguing perspective was raised by Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron.
“The other possibility that has been floated is that the Bears might be interested in upgrading running back and getting Khalil Herbert back to RB2, where he excelled in 2022. I’ve never seen Poles as a ‘spend on a running back’ guy unless he’s a true difference maker, so that will be something to watch.”
Barkley is a “true difference maker” that will revamp the Bears offense. Over The Cap has the Bears at 56.47 million dollars to spend during free agency, so they have the resources necessary to sign a difference-maker like Barkley. There are other positions of need, like Center, Wide Receiver, and Free Safety, that must be addressed. However, if Barkley is available, the Bears should still give it a shot.
Wanting To Be Better
There’s a prevailing sentiment that investing heavily in the running back position may not be a prudent strategy. Studs like Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, and Derrick Henry did not receive the Franchise Tag and were not re-signed. If the Bears have the necessary resources and believe they are ready to compete in the playoffs next season, going for Barkley makes a ton of sense. One lucky team will be pleased when they sign Barkley to a contract. The Bears should be that team to sign Saquon Barkley.
Main Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
