Former second-overall pick Saquon Barkley headlines one of the best free agent running back classes in recent memory. With big names like Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and Austin Ekeler also set to hit the open market, most consider Barkley to be the crown prince of the group. It’s easy to see why, as the Penn State product was widely viewed as a generational prospect coming out of college. While injuries have slowed him down a little bit, Barkley remains one of the league’s best dual-threat backs when healthy.
After a lengthy contract battle last year, Barkley spent the 2023 season playing on a modified version of the franchise tag. Starting and appearing in 14 games, the running back compiled 962 rushing yards, 280 receiving yards, and 10 combined touchdowns despite playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the game. Now set to become a free agent, a longtime division rival is reportedly interested in signing Saquon Barkley.
According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, the Philadelphia Eagles want to sign Saquon Barkley as a free agent, and the feeling is apparently mutual.
Philadelphia Eagles Reportedly Want To Sign Free Agent Saquon Barkley
It’s easy to see why the Eagles might want to bring in Saquon Barkley as a free agent. While D’Andre Swift ran for 1,000 yards, the former second-round pick was not nearly as good as his numbers suggested. Swift rarely broke tackles and was mostly the product of an elite offensive line and a dual-threat quarterback in Jalen Hurts. Barkley is a more explosive runner who is harder to take down in the open field.
In a similar vein, one can understand why Saquon Barkley would like to join the Eagles as a free agent. Outside of an outlier 2022 season, the New York Giants have been nothing but awful since Barkley entered the league. The running back has battled through poor quarterback play and even worse blocking and has managed to succeed in the NFL despite his surroundings. Philadelphia’s offensive line and quarterback would make life significantly easier for the former second-overall pick, and he might start looking like his Penn State self with proper support.
Of course, the Eagles will not be the only team interested in signing Saquon Barkley as a free agent. While running backs don’t get paid like they used to, some team out there will view Barkley as less of a pure running back and more of an offensive weapon. In no particular order, these five teams make the most sense as potential landing spots.
Best Team Fits
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are the betting favorites for Derrick Henry, but Saquon Barkley might be the better free agent fit. While Henry is a better pure downhill runner, Barkley is the superior pass-catcher and all-around back. While Henry has yet to show signs of slowing down, he’s handled a much larger workload since entering the NFL and can’t possibly have too much juice left in his tank. Barkley has at least two to three more years of strong play left and makes perfect sense for a team looking to win it all in a crowded AFC.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have a franchise quarterback, talented wide receivers, and over $70 million in cap space. Running back is something of a luxury position in today’s NFL, but the Texans have the resources to invest in a free agent like Saquon Barkley. Devin Singletary did an admirable job last year, but he’s not nearly as dangerous as Barkley. The running back has remained one of the most dangerous threats in football when teams have no reason to respect the pass – just imagine what he can do when defenses have to actually respect his quarterback.
Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones loves having a three-down workhorse, and he thought he had one of those in Tony Pollard. Unfortunately, Pollard fell short of expectations in 2023, and the team might pivot to Saquon Barkley as a free agent. While the running back has a bit of an injury history, he can take care of a three-down workload when on the field.
Chicago Bears
Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert are fine role players, but they shouldn’t be true starters. Saquon Barkley is a significantly better player, and the free agent should be interested in joining the Bears. With Caleb Williams set to take over under center, the Bears could consider investing in the run game to ease the burden on their rookie passer.
Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh is an old-school coach who loves to run the football. With Austin Ekeler likely on the way out, the Chargers will be in the market for a three-down workhorse. Saquon Barkley is probably the best option on the free agent market, and Harbaugh should be ok with cutting a veteran to clear up the money for the Penn State product.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
