Star running back Saquon Barkley is set to be a free agent for the second consecutive year. However, this time around, the New York Giants aren’t expected to place the franchise tag on him, which will mean Saquon Barkley will be able to test the market.
It will be interesting to see how things unfold as the free agent class for running backs is deep once again. Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard, who were all franchise-tagged last year, are all free agents. Austin Ekeler and Derrick Henry are two of the bigger names joining them.
With franchises around the NFL diminishing the running back market, no one knows what those established veterans will receive in terms of contracts. The running back position is the only one in the NFL that the more success you have, the less value teams around the NFL see in you.
NFL News & Rumors: Saquon Barkley, 2024 NFL Free Agency, New York Giants Updates
Saquon Barkley has not only amassed a lot of wear and tear from college and in his tenure with the Giants, but he has dealt with injuries throughout his career. He has missed at least one game in five straight seasons, missing at least three in four out of those five campaigns.
The No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft enters free agency off an underwhelming campaign as well. He ran for 962 yards on 247 carries, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry. This was the least involved in the passing game he has been in his career as well, catching 41 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns.
Despite that, some analysts believe that Saquon Barkley can still cash in as a free agent this offseason. According to Brad Spielberger of PFF, he is projected to sign a three-year, $36.8 million deal in free agency.
NFL News & Rumors: Saquon Barkley, 2024 NFL Free Agency, New York Giants Updates
It would be a bit surprising if Saquon Barkley was offered that kind of deal by a team. Multi-year, long-term extensions are becoming rare for running backs, especially at that high of annual value.
More than likely, a contending team that sees Saquon Barkley as the finishing piece for their offense will offer him a larger sum on a short-term deal, potentially one season. That seems like the direction the market is heading in, as not a single free agent running back signed for more than $6 million annually in 2023.
Want the latest NFL and NCAA Football analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
