The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to sign New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
It’s a three-year, $37.75 million deal that could be worth up to $46.75 million in incentives. Barkley will get $26 million guaranteed at signing.
Barkley will be earning $15.83 million annually, which makes him the second-highest paid halfback in NFL history in terms of yearly salary.
The 27-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Penn State, was selected by the Giants with the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He burst on to the scene during his rookie campaign, racking up 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground while averaging a robust five yards per carry. In addition, he hauled in 91 receptions for 721 yards and four scores. He made the Pro Bowl for his efforts.
However, since then, Barkley’s career has largely been defined by his inability to stay on the field.
Barkley has not played a full season since his debut, and this past year, he missed three games due to an ankle injury. When he was on the field, his production was middling, as he rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns while logging a pedestrian 3.9 yards per attempt. He also caught 41 passes for 280 yards while reaching the end zone four times.
Of course, the Bronx native just two years removed from setting a career-high with 1,312 rushing yards en route to his second trip to the Pro Bowl, so the Eagles obviously hope they are getting that version of Barkley. As a matter of fact, Barkley played in all but one game in 2022.
Philadelphia lost D’Andre Swift to the Chicago Bears earlier on Monday, as Swift agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Bears. However, if healthy, there is no question that Barkley represents an upgrade over Swift, and a significant one, at that.
But that’s the million dollar question, or in Barkley’s case, the $46.75 million question: can he avoid injury?
If Philly is able to keep Saquon Barkley healthy, he may end up haunting the Giants twice a year for the next several seasons.
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